Services

• Areas of Consulting Expertise:
• Expert Witness Testimony
• Accident Investigation
• Lineman Testing
• Apprenticeship Training
• Skill Assessment
• Training Program Development
• Safety Program Development
• OSHA 10 hour and 30 hour Courses (General Industry)
• OSHA 10 hour Courses (T & D Specific)
• Lineman Field Skill Training
• Consulting Staff Qualifications:  

* ISPC Consultants are covered by a Professional Liability Insurance Policy underwritten by ICT Insurance Co.

Overview:

Pending legislation will require most utilities (referred to as ‘Host Employers’) to take more of an active role in the safety of contractor personnel working on the utilities’ system In short, the utility will need to ensure and document that its contractors are following accepted safety practices in powerline construction and maintenance. If the utility fails in this responsibility and a contractor employee is injured, the utility could face fines and penalties along with the contractor – and, potentially, additional liability for the injured contractor employee.

How we can help:

ISPC provides Contractors Safety Auditing services to utilities. Our safety experts are certified, experienced and knowledgeable of OSHA standards in powerline construction and maintenance. We help you design a program of monitoring that helps you comply with the standards and significantly reduces the likelihood of contractor injuries which include:

• Documented on-site audits of your contractors
• A critical evaluation of the contractor’s safety policies and practices
• Documented list of deficient areas and specific recommendations on how to correct them
• Follow-up, unannounced visits to ensure compliance

Why use ISPC?

The Institute for Safety in Powerline Construction is a non-profit, unbiased electric utility association focused on safety and training – it’s all we do

ISPC subject matter experts (SME’s) are accomplished, skilled high-voltage line mechanics in their own right, certified in safety and have been called on many times to be expert witnesses in trial cases The legal community respects our expertise.

As an ISPC member company you will receive discounts on all products and services

What does it cost?

• Much, much less than an accident
• Allow us to submit a proposal, customized to your needs

Inquire about this service

Transmission Hot Stick Training
T&D Solutions, LLC
Classroom and practice field training for two transmission 'hot stick' crews, including:

• Hot-Line Tools Care and Maintenance
• Job Planning and Safety
• Insulator Changeout - Suspension - V String - Dead-End

Certificate as a Qualified Worker in Transmission Hot Stick Maintenance awarded.

Project managed by Rick Tobey, CUSA

Lineman Training Assessment - Phase I
Grand Bahamas Power Co.
Assessment of training facilities, tools, equipment, and field resources.  Assessmentof Instructors and training material.  Evaluation and testing of Journeymen Linemen.  Report and recommendations to management.
Project managed by Rick Tobey, CUSA
Lineman Training Assessment - Phase II
Review of Substation operations and procedures.  Evaluation and testing of Substation and Underground personnel.  Training in proper cover and personal protective grounding.  Review of Lineman training material.  Report and recommendations to management.

Project Subject Matter Experts: Rick Tobey, CUSA and Scott Young, Substation SME

Lineman Training School Course Curriculum Development
Southeast Lineman Training Center
Course curriculum redevelopment.  Trainer presentation support material development.  New video and still photography.

Project managed by Rick Tobey, CUSA

Contractor Safety Audit
International Transmission Company, Novi, Michigan
Audit safety practices of contractor work force.  Prepare report outlining observations and recommendations.

Project managed by Morris Mach, CSP

Insulate / Isolate Training and Effective Truck Grounding Practices
City of Alexandria, Louisiana Municipal Electric
Train all line department personnel on effective safety practices on energized lines.

Project managed by Danny Raines.

Development of Lineman Assessment Tool and Lineman Assessments 
Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative, Bastrop, Texas
Develop Industry Standard Lineman knowlege and skill assessment tool.  Conduct assessments of existing experienced personnel and new recruits claiming expereince in the Industry.

Project Managed by Morris Mach, CSP

Description:

Evaluation Placement Testing (EPT) is a service provided by the Institute for Safety in Powerline Construction that assists a company in evaluating the knowledge and skills of their Lineworkers.  There are several reasons a company may want an independent, unbiased evaluation of an employee:

• An experienced new-hire may require a knowledge and skills evaluation to best determine their starting job classification and pay grade.
• Evaluations can provide important information to management on the need for remedial training with existing employee - Lineworkers.
• Company training programs may allow employees to advance to higher levels within the Program based on credit given for prior training and/or current knowledge and skills.  The EPT can help determine where it is best for an employee to start in a company training program.
• Evaluations may be conducted to determine eligability for promotions to a position requiring a specific level of knowledge and skills in powerline construction and maintenance.
• Evaluations can help establish a ‘base line’ of knowledge and skills for an employee to measure against future progress.

The Evaluation Placement Test (EPT):

This proprietary test was developed by ISPC based on the ISPC Lineman Competencies research in which 191 essential competencies were identified for a typical Journeyman Lineman.  The test is comprised of two parts: a knowledge test; a skills proficiency test.  The knowledge test is made up of 75 questions that involve, true/false, multiple choice, matching and short answer questions.  The skills proficiency test is 8 typical working scenerios that requires the Lineworker to perform field-based jobs involving many of the skills required to complete the work in a safe manner, correctly and productively.  Full personal protective equipment that is appropriate for each scenerio is required and, generally, the candidate will be expected to climb a pole to work, work out of a bucket truck, use a truck-mounted digger to install a pole and demonstrate best practices in a number of typical work situations involving many tools of the trade.

Administering the EPT:

It is recommended, but not mandatory, that this Evaluation be performed by ISPC trained Consultants.  However, a company may use the ISPC tests to evaluate their own people, if they wish.

• When ISPC Performs the Evaluation:
  Knowledge Test:  may be taken on-line (proctoring by supervisor required), prior to the Consultant arriving or administered by the Consultant upon arrival.
  Skills Proficiency Test:  conducted on-site by an experienced and trained ISPC Consultant.  On-site support facilities, equipment and tools required.
  
  Price:  $25.00 per on-line test, professional fees (call for quote), plus travel expenses, billed at cost.   (typically, 3 evaluations per day can be conducted)
  
  
• When the Client Performs the Evaluation:
  Knowledge Test: may be taken on-line or administerd by company supervisory personnel (proctored in either case).
  Skills Proficiency Test:  conducted on-site by qualified company personnel.
  
  

Site License:

For Companies considering doing the testing themselves, a Site License is available that allows reproduction of the Test Forms within the Client’s operations only.
Price:  $1,000.00