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As utility companies go,
the Bamberg Board of Public
Works is highly regulated with
employees having to meet
stringent requirements for
certification, training and
continuing education, is the
message BPW General
Manager Bruce Ellis and
Assistant Manager Will Martin
tried to get across to Board of
Public Works Commissioners
at their monthly meeting.
The Bamberg BPW falls
under 10-different regulatory
agencies including: S.C. D.H.E.C., U.S. E.P.A., S.C.
Department of Labor,
O.S.H.A., U.S. Department of
Transportation, F.E.R.C. and
U.S. Department of Energy
just to name a few.
BPW workers are required
to have certification, training
and continuing education in 16
different areas including:
Water Treatment Operators,
Water Distribution Operators,
Physical/Chemical Wastewater
Treatment Operators and
Electrical Lineman Training,
which it was noted is an eight-week program that takes about
four to five years to complete.
It was also noted that the
training for the Lineman
Program is the same as
employees at S.C. E. & G and
all the other utilities receive.
General Manager Bruce
Ellis stated that in case of an
accident the first thing that
O.S.H.A. will want to know is
“if your linemen are certified.”
Ellis stated that the BPW is
regulated down to even the
color of their employees’
uniforms. He noted that the
D.O.T requires that the BPW
have mandatory drug testing
program. “That’s why we have
mandatory drug testing, we
don’t have a choice,” Ellis
said.
It was noted that the next
thing D.O.T will require is a
use of electronic
communication devices (Cell
phone) Policy, which will
regulate how and when to use
cell phones or pagers.
“The reason we are
pointing all of this out is to let
you know, we do have to have
a lot of training to keep up
with all of these federal and
state certifications and
regulations,” Ellis commented.
“That’s a heck of a lot to
keep up with,” Board of Public
Works Chairman Carl Kilgus
said. Ellis said “a big thing
now” is the BPW will have to
do more to develop storm
water procedures and waste
water treatment facilities will
have to have a program to
include measurable run offs.
“We’re doing some in
house conservation and trying
to save money on energy,
we’re putting forth a good
effort to save energy,” Ellis
said. |
