International Operating Engineer - Fall 2015

Education & Training
Job Corps Expands Opportunities in Wyoming
Wind River facility first to specialize in energy field
THE IUOE National Training Fund
Job Corps Program (IUOE Job Corps)
has expanded their opportunity to
recruit and train interested candidates
in the field of heavy equipment
operations and heavy equipment
mechanics at the new Wind River Job
Corps facility located in Riverton,
Wyoming. Under the jurisdiction of
IUOE Local 800, the program will offer
two heavy equipment operator classes
and one heavy equipment mechanic
class.
The program is open not only to
Wyoming residents, but surrounding
states as well. The IUOE Job Corps
is a federally funded program that
offers pre-apprenticeship training to
students between the ages of 16 and
24, who desire to pursue a career in the
construction field.
The Wind River facility is not the only
Job Corps training center in the state,
but is unique in that all the training
offered there has been designed
around the growing energy industry.
In addition to offering the IUOE heavy
equipment and mechanics programs,
the center will include the first-of-itskind
petroleum technician training,
construction welding, carpentry,
electrical and heavy truck driving.
Kevin Miskelly, IUOE Job Corps
National Director, was excited to
speak about the thirteen new pieces
of heavy equipment that were
acquired at the start of the program.
The equipment was purchased from
various manufactures, including
John Deere, Case, Caterpillar, Hamm
and JCB. Miskelly is quick to point
out that “having such a wide range of
equipment offers students a good base
to serve a pre-apprenticeship as they
seek entry into local apprenticeship
programs.” The mechanics shop is
also very well equipped with modern
tooling and a 20 ton gantry crane to
train entry level mechanics.
The IUOE NTF Job Corps Program
at Wind River began to accept
students in late October, with the first
class looking to graduate early in the
summer of 2016. If you are interested
in employing one of the graduates as a
direct entry apprentice, or are looking
to refer a candidate to this program, the
IUOE Job Corps contact information
can be found on the IUOE web site at
www.iuoe.org
TOPCON GPS Training Keeps Instructors
on Cutting Edge of Technology
TO KEEP IUOE instructors at the
top of their game with the latest GPS
equipment training and technology,
the IUOE National Training Fund
hosted a multi-day GPS Tran-the-
Trainer course in August at TOPCON’s
headquarters in Livermore, California.
The course provided valuable
training tools, materials and updates to
GPS equipment that IUOE instructors
can take back to their local union
training programs. A dozen IUOE
instructors from seven locals around
the country participated in the course.
[L to R] 1st Row: Gregg Strede L478, Kelly
Roblee L17, Rich Rose L12, Brad Walker
L649
2nd Row: Jason Smoot L12, Jay Turner L12,
John Leeman L158, Todd Shreves L649
3rd Row: Bob Kahl L66, Ken Bork L139,
Joe Morris L12, Keith Aker L12, John Dice
TOPCON Instructor
HAZMAT
Building Competency in the OSHA Trench, Excavation and
Soil Mechanics Class
TWENTY-NINE INSTRUCTORS
from 23 IUOE Local Union
Apprenticeship and IUOE Job Corps
Training Programs attended the
Trench Safety course in Beckley,
West Virginia from September 15-
17, 2015. Instruction and discussion
topics covered: trench and excavation
associated hazards and safety issues,
requirements for sloping and benching
for different soil classifications,
protective system requirements,
trench box design, tabulated data,
inspection, and the requirements
and responsibilities of an Excavation
Competent Person.
Hands-on activities included
installing hydraulic shoring, operating
two different manufacturers’ quickdisconnect
attachment systems
(Caterpillar & John Deere), identifying
and verifying different trench
configurations by referencing the
OSHA Excavation Standard, and
demonstrating methods of soil testing
using a penetrometer, shearvane, and
thumb and plasticity tests.
Each student was provided the
opportunity to demonstrate a soil
textural classification, also known as
an olive jar test. The test involved using
a sieve and catch pan to fine grade
soil, make the required soil mixture
and place into an olive jar, shake
and spin the jar, then let the mixture
settle, mark the layers, and record
the measurements to determine the
percentage of silt, sand and clay using
the USDA Textural Classification chart.
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INTERNATIONAL OPERATING ENGINEER
FALL 2015 7