May 2016 ND Propane Gas Association Appliance Training in August NDPGA has scheduled Installing Appliances and Interior Vapor Distribution Systems Book 4.3 for August 1-4 and Basic Electricity for Propane Appliance Service Book 4.4 for August 29 - September 1. The training will consist of 3 days of reviewing the manual to prepare for the certified exam and the 4th day attendees will complete their skills assessment with the instructor. Appliance classes are only offered in ND every 5 to 7 years so make sure to take advantage of this opportunity for your employees to be trained in state. Dave Anderson will be the instructor for the appliance classes. Dave Anderson worked for many years as a Service Technician and Manager for Lakes Gas and Northwest Gas in Central Minnesota. Dave is certified in the complete CETP training curriculum and is registered as a “Subject Matter Expert” with the Propane Education & Research Council. Dave has been providing CETP and refresher training nationwide since 2001. Dave Anderson provides top quality training with maximum retention through the use of the multi-sensory approach, including PowerPoint presentations, DVD, live demonstrations and hands-on exercises. Dave is also available to all members, students and employees to answer questions related to safety, training, codes and curriculum. As the primary training instructor and safety director for the Nebraska Propane Education & Research Council, Dave designed and built the hands-on training facility located at the Central Community College in Hastings Nebraska. This specialized training facility was created to complete skills evaluations for CETP certification and has been furnished with much of the equipment that propane employees use every day. This manual is designed to train installation and service personnel on the interior of a piping system as well as the installation of gas appliances. The course addresses selecting and installing appliances, how to design and install interior venting systems, and designing and installing interior piping and tubing. The topics covered are: Design and installation considerations for gas appliances. Design and installation of natural, direct, and mechanical draft venting systems. Design of interior vapor distribution systems. System pressure and load and other piping considerations. Installing and converting gas appliances. The New Basic Electricity for Propane Appliance Service course enables participants to interpret electrical components and diagrams, and measure electrical quantities, and will aid in preparing for NPGA’s CETP certification. Basic Electricity for Propane Appliance Service is an essential tool for ensuring employee safety and continuing success. Course Goals include: Follow safety procedures Interpret electrical control circuit diagrams for basic appliances Use a digital multimeter Measure voltage, resistance and current at any point in an electrical circuit Identify functions of common sensing devices in basic appliances Identify functions of common controls and components in basic propane appliances, including: Transformers Relays and contactors Motors and capacitors Wall thermostats Limit and fan controls Ignition systems Gas control valves Troubleshoot electrical circuits
Transcript
May 2016
ND Propane Gas Association
Appliance Training in August NDPGA has scheduled Installing Appliances and Interior Vapor Distribution Systems Book 4.3 for August 1-4 and Basic Electricity for Propane Appliance Service Book 4.4 for August 29 - September 1. The training will consist of 3 days of reviewing the manual to prepare for the certified exam and the 4th day attendees will complete their skills assessment with the instructor. Appliance classes are only offered in ND every 5 to 7 years so make sure to take advantage of this opportunity for your employees to be trained in state.
Dave Anderson will be the instructor for the appliance classes. Dave Anderson worked for many years as a Service Technician and Manager for Lakes Gas and Northwest Gas in Central Minnesota. Dave is certified in the complete CETP training curriculum and is registered as a “Subject Matter Expert” with the Propane Education & Research Council. Dave has been
providing CETP and refresher training nationwide since 2001.
Dave Anderson provides top quality training with maximum retention through the use of the multi-sensory approach, including PowerPoint presentations, DVD, live demonstrations and hands-on exercises. Dave is also available to all members, students and employees to answer questions related to safety, training, codes and curriculum.
As the primary training instructor and safety director for the Nebraska Propane Education & Research Council, Dave designed and built the hands-on training facility located at the Central Community College in Hastings Nebraska. This specialized training facility was created to complete skills evaluations for CETP certification and has been furnished with much of the equipment that propane employees use every day.
This manual is designed to train installation and service personnel on the interior of a piping system as well as the installation of gas appliances. The course addresses selecting and
installing appliances, how to design and install interior venting systems, and designing and installing interior piping and tubing.
The topics covered are:
Design and installation considerations for gas appliances.
Design and installation of natural, direct, and mechanical draft venting systems.
Design of interior vapor distribution systems.
System pressure and load and other piping considerations.
Installing and converting gas appliances.
The New Basic Electricity for Propane Appliance Service course enables participants to interpret electrical components and diagrams, and measure electrical quantities, and will aid in preparing for NPGA’s CETP certification. Basic Electricity for Propane Appliance Service is an essential tool for ensuring employee safety and continuing success.
Course Goals include:
Follow safety procedures
Interpret electrical control circuit diagrams for basic appliances
Use a digital multimeter
Measure voltage, resistance and current at any point in an electrical circuit
Identify functions of common sensing devices in basic appliances
Identify functions of common controls and components in basic propane appliances, including:
ND Propane Gas Association 1014 E Central Avenue Bismarck, ND 58501
Phone:701-223-3370
Propane Exceptional Energy
Valued NDPGA Members:
Summer will soon be here. Where does the time go? My oldest daughter Micaela just graduated high school and my son Mykle just turned 21 years old! Time waits for no one that’s for sure.
The past few months have seen a flurry of activity relating to the natural gas vs. propane debate in ND. In late April, Jeff Petrash, the National Propane Gas Association’s expert on the natural gas expansion issue, joined myself and propane marketers from across the state in Fargo for an interim legislative committee meeting. Petrash gave an excellent presentation on what’s happening across the nation regarding the natural gas vs. propane battle.
His expertise resonated well with committee members. NDPGA marketers Joe Fouhy, Dale Beck and Chris Fitterer also made strong impressions with their respective testimonies.
I can’t tell you how great an impact about 10 propane marketers and vendors can make on committee members. Just walking around and visiting with the legislators and sharing concerns on the issue related to their own individual businesses makes all the difference in the world. NDPGA left a very good impression at the meeting.
How much of an impact you might ask? Well, considering at the recent May meeting the proponents of the legislation told members of the Economic Impact Committee they would not be pursuing natural gas expansion legislation in the upcoming session, I would say the powerfulness of marketer testimony and support for your industry at the April meeting sent a resounding message.
So, I’m very happy to report NDPGA has appeared to have fought off this latest assault on your businesses. This isn’t possible without member involvement! Thank you all very much.
One of the points I stressed with committee members leading up to the May meeting was there had been no real public outcry over this issue from anyone except the natural gas companies and a few economic development associations. I shared with them this perspective related to the Bobcat plant in Gwinner:
“You can’t tell me Bobcat, a renowned global company, can’t make a sound investment decision in Gwinner, ND if natural gas is a panacea to plant expansion. Has anyone heard of expansion at the Gwinner plant? Has anyone talked to Doosan about plans to expand in ND?
Mike Rud
Executive Director
May 2016 Page 3
For that matter, if natural gas was the cure-all to all of ND’s rural economic development concerns, state leaders years ago should have gone all in with tax dollars to ensure business growth in these areas. It’s just not that easy to bring manufacturing facilities to any part of ND and never will be. And by the way, instead of commiserating over the lack of natural gas in Gwinner, why aren’t state economic leaders acknowledging propane as a truly safe, reliable and affordable source of fuel as evidenced by Bobcat’s successful plant longevity while using propane as its primary heating source! That’s a head scratcher to say the least. “
“This plea from natural gas companies is a far cry from free enterprise and capitalism on which this country and our state built a successful and fair business foundation. The very principles on which the propane industry was founded in this state.”
NDPGA will continue to tell state leaders if the natural gas companies want to play, then let them pay!
We have a great summer conference lined up for you in Medora. You still have time to register for the informational and educational day of seminars and networking. Hope to see you in the beautiful Badlands in a few weeks.
Keep the Flame lit!!
Mike Rud
Page 4 Propane Exceptional Energy
Page 5
Greetings –
As you know, last week the Department of Labor (DOL) released its final revisions to the regulations governing the exemption from overtime for certain white collar employees. We wanted to take the opportunity to pass on some resources that could be helpful to you and your members. Earlier this week, Gibson Dunn’s Jason Schwartz, who helped to draft RILA’s comments on the proposed rule held a webinar for RILA members on the implications the final rile will have on the retail industry. Please see below for a copy of Jason’s side deck as well as a recording of the presentation. Revised Overtime Pay Regulations Recording of Revised Overtime Pay Regulations Presentation Finally, a copy of the text of the final rule can be seen here, additional fact sheets and background from DOL can be seen here.
If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Best,
Liz Hunger Director, State Government Affairs Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) 703.600.2044 [email protected]
DOL Final Overtime Pay Regulations – Helpful Resources
August 1-2-3-4 Appliance Installation Book 4.3 Ramada Bismarck Hotel August 22 & 23 Basic Pr inciples & Practices Book 1 August 24 & 25 Bobtail Delivery Operations Book 2.2 August 26 DOT Hazardous Material August 26 Propane Cylinder Filling Baymount Inn – Mandan, ND August 29-30-31 September 1 Appliance Service Book 4.4 Ramada Bismarck Hotel – Bismarck September 12-13-14 Placing Vapor Distribution Systems & Appliances into Operation Book 4.2 September 15 Basic & Delivery Refresher Training September 15 Propane Cylinder Filling Ramada Grand Dakota - Dickinson
Page 7
Take a moment and check through your
employee files. You should have certification
documents for their training.
Look today! If you do not have certificates -
your employees may NOT be
certified. Do NOT assume they
are certified.
To check on the status of your
CETP records, please contact
Industrial Training Services at
270-753-2150.
Industrial Training only has records of Certified
Employee Training Tests. They do not have
records of HazMat or refresher training.
They can reprint your employee’s certificates for
a minimal fee.
Duty to Warn / Consumer Safety Consumer safety message documents are available to help enhance your consumer safety program. These documents were carefully developed using the language and instructions presented in PERC consumer safety brochures and booklets.
Click Here to view the safety message documents and a user guide. The guide gives quick and easy instructions to help you or your print vendor access and download all of the documents. The safety message documents can easily be incorporated onto the back side of your:
invoices
meter tickets
bill stuffers
service work orders
statements
Provide the highest degree of care to your customers by ensuring they receive constant reminders of propane safety information.
Duty to warn is a concept that ar ises in the law
of torts in a number of circumstances, indicating
that a party will be held liable for injuries caused
to another, where the party had the opportunity to
warn the other of a hazard and failed to do so.
Propane marketers have a legal obligation to warn
their customers of the a product's potential dangers
and to advise them of any precautions they should
take.
The Propane Education & Research Council’s
(PERC’s) material is recommended to be used for
duty to warn because it is based on research
prepared by experts. Safety information needs to
be given to consumers on a repetitive basis
through written, verbal, emails and website. If
you don’t have your own web site, refer your
customers to www.usepropane.com
Periodic mailings are very important and
documentation is essential. Keep a file of your
mailing. Include a copy of the brochure, mailing
list, date of the mailing and receipt of postage.
Mail a copy to your business to ensure the mailing
At the 2016 NPGA Southeastern Convention in Nashville many had the pleasure of meeting someone special. His name is Blue, and he’s the new consumer-facing spokesperson (spokedog) to help propane-related
businesses improve familiarity and favorability around propane in 2016. At his keynote speech during the event, Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) CEO, Roy Willis, introduced the upcoming integrated campaign, and discussed how PERC will work to strengthen consumers’ emotional connection to propane as a brand. PERC, industry volunteers and The Richards Group, which serves as PERC’s advertising agency for the project, came up with Blue, a dog named for the color of a propane flame. Blue, the dog, accompanies his owner, a hard-working propane delivery driver, who provides service to friends and the community.
Industry leaders have been collaborating with PERC to develop a campaign designed to improve the familiarity and favorability of propane. After surveying thousands of people and sharing campaign ideas with focus groups, numerous opportunities to educate current and prospective users on the many benefits of propane were identified. Last February, a new $10-million consumer
New “Proudly Propane” Consumer Campaign To Launch Summer 2016 education campaign was approved for 2016 that uses the tagline “Proudly Propane” to create an emotional connection with consumers and marketers. At that meeting, Cory Green, brand planning director for The Richards Group, said “Proudly Propane” will be the brand affiliation statement. It’s about the propane customer seeing his or her backyard tank as “a point of pride because that thing allows me to live the independent lifestyle that I am so proud of and so honored to live.” “It’s less about the stigma and about being proud of propane and being proud to use it.” Customers, he added, can become advocates who are so passionate about the brand that they want to talk about it with others.
The consumer education campaign targets the 35 to 65 age demographic that includes people with limited or no access to natural gas. They are honest, straightforward, reliable people who value their independence, are self-sufficient and take pride in how they live. The campaign goal is to improve familiarity and favorability among current and prospective propane users. The national campaign is expected to launch summer 2016 and include TV, radio, print and digital.
Watch for email updates and follow propanecouncil.org for all of the latest news about the campaign. To build awareness and grow gallons in your market, campaign materials from the online catalog will be available beginning in June.
Beyond the Code—EMC Requirements
Dealers document leak checks for:
All new customers
Interruption of service
Out of gas
Suspected leak
Current customer locations should be scheduled for periodic reviews and leak checks, documenting results.
CETP Training class on hire and a refresher class at least every three years
Minimum classes taken should be Basic Principles and Practices and Bobtail Delivery
What does EMC look for?
Are employees CETP trained?
Do all customers have a leak check in file?
Is the LP bulk plant in compliance with code?
Is Duty to Warn information sent to customers on a regular basis and is it documented?
Top Recommendations:
Train employees and/or complete refreshers
Document the customers you serve with leak check information in file
Pipe-away the regulator vent at a customer location
Remote pulls on bulk plants—for installation or repair
A written Out of Gas policy documented Learn More
EMC will conduct a training session at the June meeting in Medora to review propane procedures required by EMC and to answer questions. Read the brochure for more about the EMC Propane Program. _______________________________________ Find an EMC agent: www.emcins.com/AboutEMC/agentloc/index.asp Petroleum Marketers brochure: www.emcins.com/Docs/ofiLib/MK/AA065000999_20160330.pdf
