Professional Development and Networking in a Virtual World: My Experience with ASDSO Dam Safety 2020

Like most of the professional world, the onset of a pandemic induced work stoppage and quarantine presented opportunity where it was once otherwise lost – time for some serious professional development hours and continuing education.  Personally, the accumulated dust on the piano keys, table saw, and Dutch oven was a welcomed indicator that there was now time for all the hobbies and unread books that fell to the wayside before traveling was put on hold.  Professionally, it meant having dedicated time to explore new organizations and attend webinars, conferences and symposia with the click of a button.  With travel time and expenses eliminated, the virtual world attempts to compensate for where it fails in the lack of face-to-face contact, affording me a rise in information exchange and learning.

 The Association of State Dam Safety Officials (ASDSO) was one of the organizations I explored, on the recommendation of a co-worker.  My introduction started with a crash course in dam assessment and inspections over three days of immersive ASDSO taught sessions, scheduled to take place just a few blocks from where I live in Nashville, TN.  Like the rest of 2020 scheduled events, the course was ultimately switched to a virtual format.  The course dove head first into more technical aspects than I anticipated and pressed my memory of fluid mechanics and hydrology from college.  I started with a basic working knowledge of dams, but nothing too extensive, and finished feeling confident about making initial dam assessments and inspections. Material covered everything from risk assessment and hazard creep to inspection procedures, down to the Weir and flow rate equations for sizing up spillways and measuring seepage. Case studies were a central feature to illustrate the development of today’s emergency action plans and legal precedents, which still vary by state.  I was surprised to hear that recreation is the most common purpose of dams in the U.S. (as opposed to flood control, water supply, irrigation, hydropower, etc.), considering the controversy surrounding them.

“Drinking from a firehouse” was the term used to describe the course by the instructors, which was a reference to the amount of material covered and speed at which it was taught, especially for those without an engineering or dam-specific technical background.  The scheduled onsite dam inspection that typically occurs during the last day of the in-person course was missed but the instructors did a great job of compensating for it virtually. 

I was also able to attend the recent annual ASDSO Dam Safety Conference and serve as a representative at our company-sponsored booth.  This would be the first virtual conference I’ve attended following the March closures. 

Networking is one of the many aspects of in-person events that the virtual space fails to replicate.  I may stand corrected when virtual reality becomes as mainstream as the iPhone and FaceTime, but until then it just won’t be the same.  The conference was setup in such a way that encouraged and incentivized striking up dialog with other attendees, visiting booths, and attending sessions, which helped narrow the gap between our world and the Matrix.  Like the course, the general and concurrent sessions were filled with technical demonstrations, modeling, and case studies from various respective dam safety professionals.  Despite the virtual format I was still able to reconnect with colleagues and even make new connections from the safety of my home, thanks to the chat features. 

The conference, along with the course, provided a great introduction to the world of dam safety, albeit virtually.  With travel and work schedules almost back to normal it stands as evidence of a silver-lined shut down. 

Important Changes to SPRAT Certification Requirements Coming April 1, and a Note on ANSI 121 – Tool Tethers

Recently I attended the Society of Professional Rope Access Technicians (SPRAT) Annual Conference in Cancun, Mexico, and brought home updates on some pretty important changes to SPRAT certification requirements that will be posted to www.SPRAT.org and go into effect April 1, 2019.  A sampling of some of the changes are below. Even if industrial rope access is not part of your job, we think it is good for you to be aware of all the qualifications and skills Vertical Access rope access teams bring to your projects.

New SPRAT Certification Requirements Effective April 1st, 2019

Level I Certification requirements (changes)

  • Horizontal Aid climbing (both fixed and movable) has been moved from a Level II skill to Level I
  • The rescue scenario for Level I will now involve the casualty being in ascent, previously a Level II skill
  • Level I testing will include proof of hands on skill with building various load sharing anchors in addition to inspecting ones built by Level II’s and III’s
  • Additional skill assessments for rigging and operating a hauling and lowering system will include lowering and belaying with communication awareness of mechanical advantage (?)

Level II Certification requirements (changes)

  • Vertical aid climbing will be required for a minimum of 10 feet
  • Additional knots to know include friction hitch and load-releasable hitch
  • Additional skills assessment of picking off a casualty through knots
  • Additional skills assessment of rescue from aid traverse (using a rope-to-rope method)
  • Rigging and operating a rope access system pre-rigged to lower

Level III Certification requirements (changes)

  • Demonstrating an understanding of mechanical anchor systems (tripods and beam clamps) will be removed
  • Rescues through knots will be moved to Level II
  • Re-anchor or rope-to-rope rescues skills assessment will need to be performed mid-obstacle
  • Hauling and lowering through knots (pitch head or platform) in both backup and main lines
  • Additional job safety components added to the written test regarding the Job Hazard Analyis or Job Safety Analysis

More information about SPRAT can be found here.

At the conference, we also discussed the 2018 revision to  ANSI 121 – Tool Tethers, that could have impacts across all facets of the construction industry.

 

ANSI 121 – Tool Tethers

ANSI 121 –  Tool Tethers is currently rolling out the 2018 revision to incorporate new regulations in response to increase in incidents.  This update will see impacts across all areas of the construction industry, not just industrial rope access.

At the SPRAT conference, we discussed some of the following from the new revision that will impact the way we approach our rope access work.

  • Modification of tools will no longer be allowed for tethering (no drilling holes, etc)
  • No duct or electrical tape will be allowed – a specialized tape is recommended that acts upon tightness of winding
  • Every component that can easily come off needs a tether (for example, batteries on drills)
  • Locking carabiners with captive eyes need to be used to tether tools and loose accessories that travel with the person
  • Declarations of conformity should be issued by suppliers
  • Label requirement guidelines are detailed in the revision
  • There is now a defined standard on approved containers where tools can be stored without a tether

More information can also be found at https://safetyequipment.org/dropped-object-prevention-resources/