Campus learns what precautions to take when dealing with electrical hazards
Connexus Energy visited the Heavy Duty Truck Technology lab on the Rosemount campus of Dakota County Technical College Tuesday morning, Oct. 22, 2013, to deliver an electrical safety demonstration to the college community. Connexus Energy developed the program and the company’s high-voltage safety demonstration trailer to help achieve the goal of saving lives and reducing preventable power outages. Terry McAlpine, the public safety administrator at Connexus Energy, and Tim White, an experienced Connexus lineman, were the demonstration presenters.
Students from the college’s Electrical Lineworker, Electrical Construction and Maintenance Technology, Heavy Duty Truck Technology and Heavy Construction Equipment Technology programs were on hand for the demonstration. Electrical Lineworker Instructor Steve Addy was happy to see Connexus on campus. “Everything the Connexus experts showed us is relevant to lineworkers,” Addy said. “Having my students hear safety information from an industry voice offers validity. Misconceptions exist about what life is like as a lineworker. This demonstration shows exactly what our graduates will encounter on the job.”
About the Connexus Energy Electrical Safety Demonstration *
Our creative program is designed to teach children and adults in your community the potential dangers of contacting a power line. Providing this safety demonstration in your community is a great way to get people together to learn valuable information that may save a life. We teach electrical safety habits, demonstrate the power of electricity, and show the potential hazards associated with unsafe actions around power lines and household circuitry.
Participants will see firsthand the safety equipment used by electrical lineworkers. They will also get a close-up look at various conductors and components of the electrical distribution system and gain a clearer understanding of how the distribution system operates. A special emphasis on low-voltage power is also stressed during the demonstration, including the value of electrical outlets with a ground fault interrupter (GFI). Connexus Energy’s presentation vividly shows the effects of contact with 7,200 volts of electricity. The demonstration covers safety at work, home and play, including:
- Ladders and antennas
- Construction equipment
- Downed wires
- Digging dangers
- Electric tools and water
* Courtesy of the Connexus Energy website
The electrical safety demonstration was performed with 7,200 volts of electricity. The presenters reported that electrocution is the third leading cause of death in the construction industry. They noted that coming in contact with 7,200 volts is like getting a burn from a 7,000 °F source. Safety equipment and gloves are a different color inside to make it easier to check for punctures.
“The demonstration was really good and very beneficial,” said Josh Carolan, an Electrical Lineworker student. “Learning more about safety makes you think more about electricity and everything that goes with it.”
Brad Hoppe, another Lineworker student, was impressed by two demonstrations in particular, one involving an electric drill and another involving an electrical safety glove. The presenters dropped the running drill in a tank of water. Because the drill was not plugged into a ground fault circuit interrupter, or GFCI, it did not shut off. For the other demo, the presenters poked a hole in a safety glove, inserted a hot dog inside the glove to simulate a human finger and then placed the glove on a live, or “hot,” wire. The connection sizzled the hot dog.
Another demonstration showed how to react when a truck is charged by contact with a downed power line. Two DCTC students participated, one inside the truck to show the proper way to exit the vehicle, and one outside the truck to demonstrate the proper procedures to follow when providing exit instructions.
For questions or to schedule a Connexus Energy Safety Demonstration, please contact Terry McAlpine at 763-323-4233.
For more information about the Electrical Lineworker program at DCTC, contact:
- Steve Addy
Electrical Lineworker Instructor
651-423-8252 - Thomas Erickson
Electrical Lineworker Instructor
651-423-8351
For more information about the Electrical Construction and Maintenance Technology program at DCTC, contact:
- Michael Buck
Electrical Construction and Maintenance Technology Instructor
651-423-8494 - Ronald Gruenes
Electrical Construction and Maintenance Technology Instructor
651-423-8563 - Bruce Hansberger
Electrical Construction and Maintenance Technology Instructor
651-423-8432
For more information about the Heavy Duty Truck Technology program at DCTC, contact:
- Kenneth Klassen
Heavy Duty Truck Technology Instructor
651-423-8402 - Brent Newville
Heavy Duty Truck Technology Instructor
651-423-8327
For more information about the Heavy Construction Equipment Technology program at DCTC, contact:
- Roger Gartner
Heavy Construction Equipment Technology Instructor
651-423-8337 - Daniel Ruzicka
Heavy Construction Equipment Technology Instructor
651-423-8481
