Computer based training

The Potomac Electric Power Co. (PEPCO) has completed a pilot of its new CBT training system for Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) compliance and is now implementing the program systemwide.

CBT has fullfilled PEPCO's purpose, which was to reduce the cost of providing compliance training. Since the program's implementation, the utility has realized an 80% to 90% savings.

In addition, the system helps PEPCO address its need for efficiency and productivity in its line and service work force - a need that has become more critical as equipment, work processes and OSHA regulations have grown more complex. The utility also can train at opportune times, for example, during periods of rain or lighter workload.

Fifty PEPCO T&D utility workers, including line mechanics, cable splicer mechanics and conduit installers, took part in the pilot. At Carolina Power & Light (CP&L), 75 western region employees participated, including operation supervisors, resource coordinators, substation maintenance workers, service coordinators and one safety representative.

PEPCO offered the Vivid Learning System on CD-ROM, which covers the 26 sections of the OSHA safety standard in 20 lessons, on subjects such as job briefings, hand and portable hand tools, grounding, enclosed spaces and excavations.

The student can control his or her own pace of study by dwelling on unfamiliar topics and skipping familiar topics by passing the test. The computer draws the tests randomly from a pool of questions for each lesson, and gives feedback on incorrect answers. Students need an 80% score to move on to the next lesson.

A system administrator oversees the program application and can access automatic reports that show who has taken what training class and who is delinquent. The administrator can set up work groups with similar training requirements and choose training options. The program maintains the records needed to audit the training sessions and establish compliance requirements.

CBT provides consistency as well as the ability to test employees at a relatively low cost. PEPCO intends to place the program on its internal network so employees can access it 24 hr a day.

CBT also allows instructors more time to give additional specific help to a student and provide training in skills-oriented tasks that require hands-on training and practice, such as cable splicing or pole rigging.