Managing Personnel is subject of June 1 training session: The next session in MEUW’s long-standing Management Training Program (MTP) will focus on matters related to managing employees. The one-day training class will be led by Attorney Steve Zach of Boardman & Clark law firm in Madison. Among the topics to be covered are hiring and selection, discipline, and discrimination and harassment. The training (Session E in the series) is set for Wednesday, June 1, at the Glacier Canyon Lodge in Wisconsin Dells. Complete details about the subject matter and a biography of the instructor are available on MEUW.org.
MEUW’s Board of Directors recently approved plans for an overhaul of the MTP that will take effect in 2023. Full details will be communicated this summer. The final session in the series (MTP Session F focuses on Customer Service and Public Relations) will be in held in October.
MEUW’s 2022 Annual Business Meeting was held in Madison on May 13, in accordance with the association’s Bylaws. The draft minutes of the meeting are available here.
Crane certification training kicks off: Upcoming on-the-job training sessions in MEUW’s Electric Utility Safety and Training Program will focus on the OSHA crane certification standard. Earlier this year, the MEUW Board of Directors approved plans to use training time for onsite sessions conducted by Mark Zielsdorf and Randy Larson to complete the hands-on and practical examinations required to certify electric employees. The cost for standalone training by a third party group is estimated to have exceeded $1,000 per person. The MEUW Board’s decision means the certifcation training for electric employees is included as part of MEUW’s training program fees.
As a reminder, the OSHA standard exempts the digger/derrick and its operator for maintenance of the electric-distribution system. However, if the digger/derrick is used for lifting materials or to operate in work environments for non-electric work or for system construction, the operator must be certified as a mobile crane operator. The training provided by MEUW is intended to ensure municipal electric employees can become certified to comply with the standard.
We recognize that other non-electric employees also use the digger/derrick to complete non-electric utility tasks. As such, those employees are welcome to attend the MEUW training and achieve the requisite certification. The fee for non-electric employees (e.g., streets, water, or wastewater utility workers) to participate is $50 per person. That amount will be billed directly to the municipality. Questions about the training or the fees should be directed to MEUW’s Manager of Safety Services Mike Czuprynko.
Locating Workshop coming to Lake Mills on June 28: MEUW is holding a one-day hands-on training class regarding underground facility locating this summer. Participants will learn about locating theory, proper use of the transmitter and receiver, and have the opportunity to practice locating. The workshop is being held on Tuesday, June 28, at Lake Mills City Hall. Full details and registration information is available here.
It’s time to re-certify WisDOT Flagger training: Since June 1, 2020, all flaggers working on Wisconsin state highways have been required to be certified in a state-specific flagger training curriculum. Any worker who is certified is required to take a refresher course every two years and demonstrate the flagging skills.
More than 200 MEUW member employees took part in webinars in the spring of 2020 and are now subject to re-certification. Those who work in communities that participate in MEUW’s Regional Safety Management Program (RSMP) are eligible for re-certification through that program. Those who are not part of RSMP may enroll in one of the three WisDOT Flagger Certification classes MEUW plans to host on July 12, 13, and 28. The two-hour training will be conducted using Microsoft Teams and can be accessed from any Internet-connected device. The cost to participate is $55 per person. Registration will open June 1. Remember that certification only applies to flagging on Interstate, U.S., and numbered highways.
MEUW Catalog showcases training offerings: MEUW has a comprehensive listing of fee-based offerings available to members, including à la carte training classes, on-demand inspections, and other services. The catalog is available here. Municipalities interested in taking advantage of any of the service offerings are encouraged to contact MEUW Manager of Safety Services Mike Czuprynko at (608) 478-2530 for scheduling.
MEUW Weekly transitioning to a summer schedule: A reminder that MEUW will not distribute an e-newsletter every week during the summer. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, MEUW Weekly will be sent only once per month (on the third Tuesdays of June, July, and August). MEUW’s monthly newsletter, Live Lines, will continue to be published on the first Tuesday of every month. Look for the next edition of MEUW Weekly in your inbox on Tuesday, June 21.