Taking the “Hit-and-Miss” Out of Pipe Installation Training

I used to allow myself to be lulled into thinking that the basic skills and knowledge needed to install pipe were being taught to each of my employees. We had our own in-house training that was given once a year. If a new person was hired and the course had already happened, he or she was simply thrown into a crew and learned by watching and listening to the others. That worker could potentially become the “old hand” who taught the next “newbie” who missed the once-a-year training. Considering the pitfalls of pipe installation, that process was not only hit-and-miss, but also downright scary!

That realization hit me about five years ago when I began to notice that, from time to time, we were having belly or deflection problems. I reviewed our yearly training program and discovered that the basics of pipe installation — things like bedding, haunching, pipe cover, grade control and the sequence of installation — were not being covered like they should be. That fact combined with new workers winging it until the next annual training session rolled around led me to consult with NUCA members and staff about the possibility of creating an interactive computer training program that contractors could use to teach their crews the basics whenever and wherever such training was needed.

NUCA staff and I met with Wisconsin-based VISTA Training Inc. Over the next several years, more meetings were held to better define the needs. Once the basic concept was in place, NUCA’s Education Committee helped write a script with VISTA for a series of DVDs that would cover not only the basics of actually putting the pipe in the trench, but also information about important things like utility markings, overhead power lines, water main tie-ins, job layout, etc.
The footage was shot on actual jobsites. The material was previewed, re-shot and refined. Finally, in October 2007, the NUCA Foundation for Education and Research announced the release of “Excavations, Trenching, Manholes and Backfilling,” the first of a five-CD Pipe Installation Training Series affectionately known as Pipelayer. I am very proud to own a copy of the first chapter. Every member of my office staff and all of my foremen and superintendents have taken the 90-minute, computer-based training. Soon it will be extended to other field personnel.

Training is never cheap. That said, at first glance, the first chapter of Pipelayer might seem expensive — $1,750 for members and $2,500 for non-members — but when you break it down according to the number of people you can eventually train, you begin to see that it’s well worth the price. And, we don’t want to lose sight of the belly and deflection problems that don’t happen and therefore don’t cost us money. Money saved is just as important as money earned.

If you’re still not convinced, go on the NUCA Web site at www.nuca.com to preview a segment from the Bedding section that includes photographs, videos, animations and quiz samples. Like I did some five years ago, you might just discover that your training program is not all you thought it was and that a Pipelayer is just what you need.

Regards,


     Terry Dillon