2015 Spring Operations

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1 2015 Spring Operations C o n f e r e n c e P r e s e n t e d b y t h e f o l l o w i n g N G A C o m m i t t e e s C u s t o m e r S e r v i ce / U t i l i z a t i o n S a f e t y a n d H e a l t h Wo r k f o r ce M a n a g e m e n t C o n s t r u c t i o n a n d M a i n t e n a n ce April 9-10, 2015 Sheraton Stamford Hotel Stamford, CT

2 2015 Spring Operations C o n f e r e n ce V i s i t O u r E x h i b i t i n g C o m p a n i e s Eastcom Associates, Inc. Engineers Construction Inc. Feeney Brothers Excavation Corp. Heath Consultants Incorporated Kerr Engineered Sales Co. Mulcare Pipeline Solutions, Inc. Performance Pipe, CPChem Precision Pipeline Solutions, LLC Premier Utility Services, LLC ProTek Locating, Inc. R.W. Lyall & Co., Inc. SENSIT Technologies

3 2015 Spring Operations C o n f e r e n c e Program at-a-glance Tracks CS/Utilization Safety & Health Workforce Management Construction & Maintenance Day 1, April 9, 2015 GENERAL SESSION 10:00-11:00 Welcome - Opening Remarks - Exhibitor Presentations BREAKOUT SESSIONS Paul Pirro Jack Yablonsky Dave Newman Bill Snyder 11:00-11:15 Public Service E&G Berkshire Gas Company South Jersey Gas National Fuel Committee Chair Committee Chair Committee Chair Committee Chair 11:15-12:15 Gas Outage Management Improving the Safety Culture in the Workplace Improving the Safety Culture in the Workplace Contractor Work Management Software 12:15-1:30 LUNCH LUNCH LUNCH LUNCH 1:30-2:15 Advances is Leak Detection Tools and Practices Employee Driver Safety Policies Utility Contractor Training Program Records Management and Mobile Solutions 2:15-3:15 Inside Leak and Atmospheric Corrosion Inspection Study Advances in Ergonomic Office Design Optimizing Field Crew Sizes Enhancements to Pipe Joining Materials and Techniques 3:15-3:30 BREAK BREAK BREAK BREAK 3:30-4:30 Effective and Ergonomic Bar-hole Techniques and Tools Effective and Ergonomic Bar-hole Techniques and Tools Roundtable discussion: The challenges faced today by utilities and contractors related to workforce management Roundtable discussion: Tools and practices used to stop gas flow Day 2, April 10, :30-9:15 Aegis Emergency Call Center Training Roundtable discussion: Challenges faced by safety and health managers How to Hire the Appropriate Operations Employees Directional Drilling Best Practices 9:15-10:00 Regulator Selection for High Efficiency Equipment Maintaining Safe Worksite Practices Operations Training Partnerships with Community Colleges Cast Iron Winter Patrol Practices 10:00-10:15 BREAK BREAK BREAK BREAK 10:15-11:00 NGA/SGA Mutual Aid Agreement and Procedures Training Techniques and Tools to Effectively Locate Gas Mains and Services Onboarding Training for New Hires to Shorten their Learning Curve Training Techniques and Tools to Effectively Locate Gas Mains and Services 11:15-12:00 Issues Roundtable and Wrap -up Issues Roundtable and Wrap- up Issues Roundtable and Wrap-up Issues Roundtable and Wrap-up

4 10:00-11:00 GENERAL SESSION 2015 NGA Spring Operations Conference Track A - Customer Service / Utilization Day 1 - April 9, :00 10:00 Registration and Continental Breakfast Opening Remarks Bill Wells, Director, Field Operations, New Jersey Natural Gas Exhibitor Presentations 11:00 11:15 11:15 12:15 WELCOME 12:15-1:30 LUNCH 1:30 2:15 2:15 3:15 3:15-3:30 BREAK 3:30 4:30 Chair, Paul Pirro, Public Service Electric & Gas GAS OUTAGE MANAGEMENT Jim Marean, Gas Technology Institute (GTI) GTI will share its findings on current LDC practices used to track outages and service restoration. GTI s efforts to develop outage software for the gas industry will also be discussed. ADVANCES IN LEAK DETECTION TOOLS AND PRACTICES Richard Trieste, Con Edison New leak detection tools and practices that have been evaluated, tested and implemented by Con Edison, will be discussed. INSIDE LEAK AND ATMOSPHERIC CORROSION INSPECTION STUDY AND RESIDENTIAL METHANE DETECTORS Paul Armstrong, Gas Technology Institute (GTI) GTI recently completed a study based on historical utility data on leaks and corrosion on inside piping that has determined that the risk of failure is much lower than outside or buried pipe. GTI will present the results and discuss how companies can use it with DIMP to push out inspection intervals. EFFECTIVE AND ERGONOMIC BAR-HOLE TECHNIQUES AND TOOLS Eric Six, Heath Proper bar-hole tools, procedures and techniques will be presented that both improve leak detection and lower the risk of employee injuries. Day 2 - April 10, :30 8:30 Registration and Continental Breakfast 8:30 9:15 9:15 10:00 AEGIS EMERGENCY CALL CENTER TRAINING Scott Macomber and Anthony Tetto, Aegis Best practices training for emergency call center employees to improve response and minimize damage loss will be discussed. REGULATOR SELECTION FOR HIGH EFFICIENCY EQUIPMENT Jason Rosen, Follin-Flo Controls This presentation focuses on pressure control and how the new generation of high efficiency gas equipment requires careful regulator selection to meet code, safety and performance requirements. There has been an increase in concern from installers over "defective regulators". The solution is often a question of proper selection & installation of the regulator. 10:00 10:15 BREAK 10:15 11:00 NGA/SGA MUTUAL AID AGREEMENT AND PROCEDURES Dan Dessanti, Northeast Gas Association NGA and the Southern Gas Association (SGA) have partnered to develop a common mutual aid agreement with participants in 27 states. Changes to the agreement and procedures that reflect lessons learned from Sandy and other major events, will be covered. ISSUES ROUNDTABLE AND WRAP -UP

5 10:00-11:00 GENERAL SESSION 2015 NGA Spring Operations Conference Track B - Safety & Health - Environment Day 1 - April 9, :00 10:00 Registration and Continental Breakfast Opening Remarks Bill Wells, Director, Field Operations, New Jersey Natural Gas Exhibitor Presentations 11:00 11:15 11:15 12:15 WELCOME Chair, Jack Yablonsky, Berkshire Gas Company IMPROVING THE SAFETY CULTURE IN THE WORKPLACE Glenn Meyers, Orange & Rockland, Dave Newman, South Jersey Gas Panelists focus on how to instill a workplace culture that makes reducing the risk of injuries to employees and the public a top priority, including: taking the proper steps to eliminate workplace injuries doing the right thing when completing a task and going beyond regulatory compliance eliminating first, second and third party damages 12:15-1:30 LUNCH 1:30 2:15 EMPLOYEE DRIVER SAFETY POLICIES Dave Attig, Vermont Gas and other panelists Changes in distracted driving laws and concerns for employee safety, have induced many companies to review and change their policies. Join the discussion and share your companies policy. 2:15 3:15 3:15-3:30 BREAK ADVANCES IN ERGONOMIC OFFICE DESIGN Tom Turpin, South Jersey Gas South Jersey Gas will share how changes in office design and furnishings lowered fatigue and reduced employee complaints related to discomfort. 3:30 4:30 EFFECTIVE AND ERGONOMIC BAR-HOLE TECHNIQUES AND TOOLS Eric Six, Heath Proper bar-hole tools, procedures and techniques will be presented that both improve leak detection and lower the risk of employee injuries. Day 2 - April 10, :30 8:30 Registration and Continental Breakfast 8:30 9:15 ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION THE CHALLENGES FACED BY SAFETY AND HEALTH MANAGERS A look at the top issues managers face to improve their companies safety & health programs. Do you have similar challenges and how are you addressing them? 9:15 10:00 10:00 10:15 BREAK 10:15 11:00 MAINTAINING SAFE WORKSITE PRACTICES Chris McCarthy, Bond Brothers A major operating contractor will present its safety program designed to ensure that its employees maintain safe practices and procedures in order to limit the risk of injury. TRAINING TECHNIQUES AND TOOLS TO EFFECTIVELY LOCATE GAS MAINS AND SERVICES Maria Diaz, New Jersey Natural Gas and Bill Gorman, Premier Utility Services This session covers what NJNG requires from its in-house and contractor crews to locate gas mains and services, as well as other utilities buried assets. The techniques and training used and challenges faced to eliminate damages will be covered. A contractor s perspective will also be discussed. ISSUES ROUNDTABLE AND WRAP -UP

6 2015 NGA Spring Operations Conference Track C - Workforce Management 10:00-11:00 GENERAL SESSION Day 1 - April 9, :00 10:00 Registration and Continental Breakfast Opening Remarks Bill Wells, Director, Field Operations, New Jersey Natural Gas Exhibitor Presentations 11:00 11:15 11:15 12:15 WELCOME Chair, Dave Newman, South Jersey Gas Company IMPROVING THE SAFETY CULTURE IN THE WORKPLACE Glenn Meyers, Orange & Rockland, Dave Newman, South Jersey Gas Panelists focus on how to instill a workplace culture that makes reducing the risk of injuries to employees and the public a top priority, including: taking the proper steps to eliminate workplace injuries doing the right thing when completing a task and going beyond regulatory compliance eliminating first, second and third party damages 12:15-1:30 LUNCH 1:30 2:15 2:15 3:15 UTILITY CONTRACTOR TRAINING PROGRAM Bob Wilson and Steve Bell, National Grid National Grid recently implemented a new contractor training program. Bob and Steve will share the components of the program and how other utilities can join and implement this program for their contractors. OPTIMIZING FIELD CREW SIZES Mark Albert, AGI Construction A major contractor will discuss how to determine the optimum crew size by job type, experience level and qualifications. 3:15-3:30 BREAK 3:30 4:30 ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION: THE CHALLENGES FACED TODAY BY UTILITIES AND CONTRACTORS RELATED TO WORKFORCE MANAGEMENT. What are the top issues and how companies have addressed them will be discussed. Day 2 - April 10, :30 8:30 Registration and Continental Breakfast 8:30 9:15 9:15 10:00 HOW TO HIRE THE APPROPRIATE OPERATIONS EMPLOYEES Bill Gorman, Premier Utility Services - Panel A panel of utility and contractor representatives share information about the best locations to search for strong candidates, as well as interview techniques and tests used to optimize hiring. Operations Training Partnerships with Community Colleges Ken Lomax, Eversource and Dave Newman, South Jersey Gas - Panel A panel of LDCs and contractors will discuss how they have forged fruitful relationships with educational institutions that have yielded high quality employee candidates. 10:00 10:15 BREAK 10:15 11:00 ONBOARDING TRAINING FOR NEW HIRES TO SHORTEN THEIR LEARNING CURVE Chris Aguiar, R.H. White Construction This session focuses on training programs for new hires, both initially, and to progress them to take on more advanced tasks using a systematic approach. ISSUES ROUNDTABLE AND WRAP -UP

7 10:00-11:00 GENERAL SESSION 2015 NGA Spring Operations Conference Track D - Construction and Maintenance Day 1 - April 9, :00 10:00 Registration and Continental Breakfast Opening Remarks Bill Wells, Director, Field Operations, New Jersey Natural Gas Exhibitor Presentations 11:00 11:15 11:15 12:15 WELCOME Chair, William Snyder, National Fuel CONTRACTOR WORK MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE Eric Gaunt, AGI Construction This presentation details how two contractors worked together to build their own custom work management software utilizing both open source technology and LEAN process improvement techniques. Project Management, Field Data Capture, Data Mining/ Analytics, and LEAN Process Techniques will be covered. 12:15-1:30 LUNCH 1:30 2:15 2:15 3:15 RECORDS MANAGEMENT AND MOBILE SOLUTIONS Lauren Toczylowski, Con Edison and Alice Burns, Celerity Consulting, Mobile solutions and best practices in records management for utilities will be presented. Con Edison has been working with Celerity Consulting on a number of key issues including plastic fusion and latent damage where mobile solutions to assist with data capture and reporting can be deployed. ENHANCEMENTS TO PIPE JOINING MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES Performance Pipe Representative Learn about new materials and techniques that are being utilized, as well as important pipe joining considerations. 3:15-3:30 BREAK 3:30 4:30 ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION: TOOLS AND PRACTICES USED TO STOP GAS FLOW Moderated by Bill Snyder, National Fuel Proper procedures and practices to eliminate incidents will be discussed. Day 2 - April 10, :30 9:15 9:15 10:00 7:30 8:30 Registration and Continental Breakfast DIRECTIONAL DRILLING BEST PRACTICES Dennis Walsh, Woodard and Curran, Dan D Eletto, National Grid The benefits of employing directional drilling, as well as the proper procedures to eliminate damage risk will be discussed. Planning, design, bid package development and construction management will be covered. CAST IRON WINTER PATROL PRACTICES Paul Armstrong, Gas Technology Institute (GTI) and Saadat Khan, National Grid Changes in Cast Iron Winter Patrol Practices based on New Data and Analyses by GTI will be discussed. 10:00 10:15 BREAK 10:15 11:00 TRAINING TECHNIQUES AND TOOLS TO EFFECTIVELY LOCATE GAS MAINS AND SERVICES Maria Diaz, New Jersey Natural Gas and Bill Gorman, Premier Utility Services This session covers what NJNG requires from its in-house and contractor crews to locate gas mains and services, as well as other utilities buried assets. The techniques and training used and challenges faced to eliminate damages will be covered. A contractor s perspective will also be discussed. ISSUES ROUNDTABLE AND WRAP -UP

8 2015 NGA Spring Operations Conference GENERAL INFORMATION April 9 and 10, 2015 Sheraton Stamford Hotel, Stamford, CT Who Should Attend NGA s 2015 Spring conference is open to natural gas distribution company operations personnel with interests in construction, maintenance, measurement, customer service, utilization, workforce management and environment; members of the regulatory community as well as NGA trade allies Registration Click HERE to Register Online registration is available on NGA s website Member Rate: $ Non-Member Rate: $ Registration Deadline: April 5, 2015 Cancellation Policy: Attendees are responsible for the registration fee. There will be no refunds issued to registrants who cancel after 12:00 noon on March 26, 2015 Substitutions are always allowed. No refunds for no shows. About Exhibiting The exhibit is limited to 12 companies and will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. If you are interested in exhibiting, then you need to lock in your space immediately by contacting NGA. Basic Exhibit One 6 foot draped table, no backdrop; 1 or 2 chairs, electricity on a need basis only, signage, and company recognition. The exhibit will be placed in the conference room where all meals will be held. Tables will be arranged around the perimeter of the room. The Exhibit Registration Fee includes the basic exhibit and one individual; and scheduled meals and breaks. You are also invited to attend the sessions. Additional company representatives can register at the conference rate ($295.00/$425.00) INTRODUCING NGA S EVENT APP DOWNLOADING NGA S APP: 1. Download Eventsential app from itunes store, Amazon, or from Google Play. 2. Search for App logo Eventsential. 3. Open the App and see a list of all association logos. 4. Tap the NGA logo and see all event logos. 5. Tap desired event. 6. Each event has a custom logo, title, and color Hotel Accommodations Sheraton Stamford Hotel 700 East Main Street Stamford, CT Sold Out Overnight accommodations are the responsibility of each individual. NGA has secured a block of rooms with a rate of $ per night. To make your reservation, call the hotel at or online ( To receive the group rate, please be sure to mention Northeast Gas Association. Cut-off date is March 25, Travel Directions Personalized travel directions can be obtained by visiting the Sheraton Stamford website - Conference Contact If you have questions regarding the conference, including the exhibit, please contact Eileen Sitte, NGA, at (117) esitte@northeastgas.org. Northeast Gas Association 75 second Avenue, Suite 510, Needham, MA 02494