ALBAT Apprentices use EDXtreme for Training in Outside Electrical Construction
Due to the nature of electrical construction industry work, The American Line Builders Joint Apprenticeship & Training Committee (ALBAT) apprentices learn their career skill through practical, “hands-on” training, reinforced by classroom instruction. With courses covering topics such as Rigging Essentials and OSHA 10 Electrical Transmission and Distribution, it is important that the apprentices have hands-on experience of the tools and equipment used in the trade.
Daniel Doss, Director at ALBAT, explains, “The Dynamometer is used for apprentices to test fundamental knowledge on processes of working on transmission lines. One example is learning how to measure the tension/sagging on lines, which is absolutely vital to health and safety, so a crucial skill to learn.”
While erecting an overhead line, it is very important that the conductors are under a safe tension. If the conductor wires are too stretched, the stress in the conductor can reach unsafe value and in certain cases may break due to excessive tension. Over tensioning of the conductors also puts great strain on the supporting poles, which can result in their collapse in extreme weather conditions. In an overhead line, the sag should be adjusted so that tension in the conductors is within the recommended safe limits. Dillon dynamometers are often used in these circumstances, offering a portable, factory pre-calibrated solution which is ready to work out of the box.
ALBAT is a cooperative labor-management training program funded and administered by the American Line Builders Chapter of NECA and the 4th and 6th Districts of the IBEW. The program provides world-class training for individuals in the skills of performing outside electrical construction and utility work. ALBAT works with the electrical training ALLIANCE (ETA) who develops and standardizes training to educate the members of the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), the largest electrical union in the world. With such a huge and far-reaching role in the training of new and upcoming outside electrical workers, ALBAT must ensure that the training they offer is second-to-none.”
“As part of the practical training, we use real-life simulations to test the apprentices’ knowledge. We use Dillon dynamometers because Dillon is such as well-known brand within our industry. Using the same equipment for training as is being used out in the field really helps our apprentices to become familiar with the tools of the trade.”
