February 2023 Newsletter

SELCAT Spotlight

In this issue

Know Your Knots

Know how to tie a Running Bowline....PG 3

January 2023 Graduates

Help congratulate our most recent Top Outs.......PG 3

Photo Challenge-It’s A Family Tradition

52nd Outside Apprenticeship Conference

The 52nd Outside Apprenticeship Conference "OAC" was recently held on February 26th - February 28th at the McCormick Ranch in Scottsdale, AZ. Each year one of the AJATC apprenticeships takes turn hosting the annual conference in conjunction with the Electrical Training Alliance. This years conference was hosted by NW Line Apprenticeship. The OAC brings together all NINE of the AJATC Apprenticeships from across the country to discuss issues within the apprenticeships and trade and to keep up to date on what each apprenticeship has going on in their area. Guest speakers at the conference included newly appointed IBEW president Mr. Kenneth Copper, NECA president Mr. David Long, key note speaker was Mr. Johnny Joey Jones from Team Never Quit. Mr. Jones is a veteran and resides in Atlanta, GA. The conference included speakers from LINECO, Milwaukee, Buckingham, ATP, and many more. The Electrical Training Alliance gave many updates on the curriculum, the VEEP program and many other exciting things in the works! We look forward to next years conference in Clearwater, FL hosted by ALBAT. Last but not least, a HUGE thanks to the team at NW Line JATC for hosting an amazing conference!

Receive a SELCAT koozie and have your photo in a video of you and someone else in your family that's in the trade PG 5

Watch Your Step

Read safety tips to follow while working inside a substation PG 4

From left to right, Directors of each of the Outside AJATC apprenticeships in the country: Terry Lowen, NW Line JATC; Deborah Kelly, Alaska AJATC; Danny Haddad, SELCAT; Jason Lauze, NEAT; Mark Hannah, ALBAT; Robbie Foxen, Mo Valley; Don Jamison, Cal-Nevada JATC; Jeremy Whitaker, MSLCAT; and Alex Trujillo, SWLCAT.

Apprenticeships by the numbers.....2022

A Message from the Executive Director

I would like to report that we are now over 800 apprentices, this is huge for SELCAT, we have grown by almost 300 apprentices since last year. I would like to thank everyone that worked so hard to make this happen. The interview committees for being here and doing the long days of interviews, the staff that worked so hard on putting these packets together for the committees and sitting thru all of the interviews.

As we continue our growth, we must also continue growing our systems, and staff. As we work on all of this, I ask for your patients when contacting us, we field hundreds of call a day, and the best form is to email if it’s not that urgent

Our continued efforts for the weeklong classes will move forward as we may start these class the second half of the year, the Instructors lead by Luke Tyler have been tasked with multiple FTS revamps that are in the works These changes will be great additions to FTS and will lead to more streamline education

As always, we are here if you need us, “to be successful one must always take ownership of their success”.

Thank you and God Bless!

Danny Haddad

SELCAT Spotlight

Journeyman Lineman:

Brandon Honea

Cory Anthony Briggs

Robert Berryhill

Chase Marcus Effler

Grainger Leggett

Nathaniel Thorne

KNOWYOURKNOTS.. KNOWYOURKNOTS.. KNOWYOURKNOTS..

Running

Journeyman Underground

Technician: Jonathan Pereira

The running bowline makes an excellent slip knot or noose. It runs freely on the standing part of the rope. It is very strong and efficient, and can be untied easily.

To tie a running bowline:

1.)Make an overhand loop with the end of the rope held toward you.

2.) Holding the loop with your thumb and fingers, bring the standing part of the rope so it lies behind the loop.

3.)Take the end of the rope in behind the standing part, bring it up and feed it through the loop.

4.)Pass it behind the standing part of the loop, and bring it back down through the loop.

CLEARANCE:

WATCH YOUR STEP!

When working within a Substation, pay attention to your surroundings to avoid accidents. Here are a few safety tips to help you get around safely in a Substation:

Keep enough clearance from energized parts to avoid accidental contact. If you can't avoid them, live parts should be guarded or enclosed.

Minimum Height:

A minimum height from the ground to any ungrounded part of an electrical installation should be 8 feet 6 inches, so a person staying on the ground can't easily touch a Substation element or it's part which may become energized accidentally.

Illumination:

There should be sufficient lighting for personnel to see clearly and perform any work safely. Required lighting levels are specified in the NESC.

Passageways:

All passageways and stairs should be wide enough for workers to navigate them safely. Adequate railing should be provided and any floor openings should have guard rails.

Evacuation Routes:

All exits should be clearly marked and should be free from obstruction. Depending on the function of the building (control house, etc.) it may require several exits to avoid a worker being trapped during fires, etc.

SELCAT Spotlight

WATCH YOUR STEP!

Grounding:

All substation metallic structures, fences, and equipment tanks should be connected to a station ground grid which was designed to ensure that step-and-touch potential values are lower than the ones stipulated in the applicable standards. Anytime work is within an enclosed area such as a substation, pre-arrange a rally point

Hoffman Boots

If you are an apprentice, and need to purchase new boots, check out Hoffman Boots! They offer $40.00 off your order! At checkout, use code: school23

www.hoffmanboots.com

IT'S A

Family Tradition!

Did you get into line work because of a close friend or family member? Send a photo of you with the person responsible for helping you get into line work for a special "It's a Family Tradition" video All submissions will receive a SELCAT Koozie Text submissions with names & mailing address to: 678-633-1575

Deadline is April 15th