Apprenticeship Tips...

[sjohnson93]

I'm about to start my electrical apprenticeship a week on Monday. I'm very excited but also a tad nervous. Was just wondering if anybody has any tips etc for me to ensure I really make a good impression at the firm I'll be working for. Anything would be great! THANKS!

 

[trev]

Like I said trev, H & S has gone mental. I was once forced to wear a bump cap, gloves, high viz and steelys on site. Now I dont mind wearing most of the stuff but I was testing social housing all day and wearing gloves was just anoying...I ended up cutting the finger tips off...but what really peed me off was wearing the bump cap!!! These houses where occupied and most of the time the tennant was in there jarmers and slippers..lol How come they didnt need to wear PPE????? Bloody rediculous!!

On a site for NGB a few years back, all the aforementioned PPE was required but you were allowed to cut the finger out of your gloves to make terminating easier. As I said before, WTF? I remember when I was in Saudi, some of the indian and phillipino idea of PPE was wearing flip flops

 

[Jay Sparks]

On a site for NGB a few years back, all the aforementioned PPE was required but you were allowed to cut the finger out of your gloves to make terminating easier. As I said before, WTF? I remember when I was in Saudi, some of the indian and phillipino idea of PPE was wearing flip flops

Ha ha ha, now Ive got a picture in my head of you with a lady boy!!!!lol But that maybe the red wine thinking.lol Sorry, thats Thailand!!lol
Im going to bed, im drunk.....lol

 

[trev]

Lady boys are somewhat frowned upon in Saudi mate

 

[Jay Sparks]

Lady boys are somewhat frowned upon in Saudi mate

So are eastern Europeans in Bradford but there still here..lol
Now I am really going to bed, ive just done my second bottle of red..lol
Night Yall!!

 

[44ALLAN]

I was taught a good apprentice is always busy. If you've nothing to do pick up a broom, tidy out the van or put the kettle on. Good luck mate.

Rubbish...............I used to get my head down for a few winks next to the spark who was kipping !!!
The broom was the 'alarm' 2 doors up from where we were ffs !
Get your priorities right man these guys need proper training fgs !

 

[Knobhead]

Best advice I can give, safety is the most important part of working with electrical equipment and still is 10 years later and always will be.
Don't manage risks - remove them.

Ten years on. Are you safe?

There's something I've found over the years.
The ones that spout safety waffle are the ones that have the accidents.
H&S is something in the back of your mind, if only people would recognise it.

 

[ipf]

Ten years on. Are you safe?

There's something I've found over the years.
The ones that spout safety waffle are the ones that have the accidents.
H&S is something in the back of your mind, if only people would recognise it.

Yep..indented.

 

[brookster]

Ten years on. Are you safe?

There's something I've found over the years.
The ones that spout safety waffle are the ones that have the accidents.
H&S is something in the back of your mind, if only people would recognise it.

Disagree, I'd rather have someone who knew what he was doing safely than someone who is over confident and more likely to kill themselves through being smart arse.
Safety is part of the job not apart from it, less people would die if they done this.

Name a few of these wafflers who have had accidents then or is that just a random claim because you don't like health and safety.

Safety procedures save likes, cutting corners costs lives.

A small question - your mate shouts it's dead and locked off, is it isolated?

 

[Knobhead]

Did I say I didn’t like H&S, I don’t think so.

H&S is something in the back of you’re mind. A sixth sense that you develop, if you survive.

Tell me in you vast array of experience where you excel in safety?

 

[ipf]

Disagree, I'd rather have someone who knew what he was doing safely than someone who is over confident and more likely to kill themselves through being smart arse.
Safety is part of the job not apart from it, less people would die if they done this.

Name a few of these wafflers who have had accidents then or is that just a random claim because you don't like health and safety.

Safety procedures save likes, cutting corners costs lives.

A small question - your mate shouts it's dead and locked off, is it isolated?

Most of the 'wafflers' haven't the faintest idea about life on the tools, simply because they have no experience of it.
They spend most of their time watching some goggle box with another training lecture running or arranging another seminar or course that can make them so much per attendee per half day. More to do with economy than H+S, imo.
Just another example of the Electrical Trainee course money makers.

 

[ipf]

Did I say I didn’t like H&S, I don’t think so.

H&S is something in the back of you’re mind. A sixth sense that you develop, if you survive.

Tell me in you vast array of experience where you excel in safety?

He didn't have the experience to spot your point, pal.

 

[brookster]

Did I say I didn’t like H&S, I don’t think so.

H&S is something in the back of you’re mind. A sixth sense that you develop, if you survive.

Tell me in you vast array of experience where you excel in safety?

Its not about excelling, I just think its important especially for youngsters. Accidents happen I'm not on about ladders ect but things like proving dead, locking off,keys and witnessing it yourself are some of the first things you should learn.
I don't want to get drawn into a slagging match but I do see safety as important.
Should the first thing you do not be to see how to do it safely?
Just the small things like, so the lad knows how to isolate correctly and not plate himself in the process that would be a good start in the sparky trade yes?

Did I say I didn’t like H&S, I don’t think so.

H&S is something in the back of you’re mind. A sixth sense that you develop, if you survive.

Tell me in you vast array of experience where you excel in safety?

The very thing that develops this 'sixth sense' (sorry I only have 5) is health and safety, where else you gonna learn it?
And for the if you survive comment really? what the hell does that mean its not a Terminator movie.

 

[Knobhead]

Before I retired I was an AP and then an SAP if you know what that is. It’s not something you take on lightly.
MV equipment requires respect and knowledge. Could you handle ensuring your work team is safe? Would you be willing to put you’re name on the work permit that other peoples lives depend on?
You want to know about safe isolation and lock off procedures?

 

[brookster]

Before I retired I was an AP and then an SAP if you know what that is. It’s not something you take on lightly.
MV equipment requires respect and knowledge. Could you handle ensuring your work team is safe? Would you be willing to put you’re name on the work permit that other peoples lives depend on?
You want to know about safe isolation and lock off procedures?

I was a CP so you outrank me, I took permits not signed them so it was my --- working on the gear not yours.
I've also heard about AP's switching main incomers to circuit earth so your grade means nothing.

 

[Knobhead]

Then respect to you Sir.

As a CP which industry, I’m not trying to trip you. I started in M&Q.

 

[brookster]

Then respect to you Sir.

As a CP which industry, I’m not trying to trip you. I started in M&Q.

High Voltage (11KV)

 

[Knobhead]

I was a CP so you outrank me, I took permits not signed them so it was my --- working on the gear not yours.
I've also heard about AP's switching main incomers to circuit earth so your grade means nothing.

Touché

 

[brookster]

Previous work defines how I look at safety, I think it's healthy most people over 40 don't like the culture but I was brought up with it. Part of the job now guys and it's not going anywhere embrace it .

 

[Knobhead]

High Voltage (11KV)

33KV but under direct instruction from the board area control.

Our system was old, to close the 33KV breakers needed two signals. One from our intake substation and one from the area control.

We had four 20MVA 33/11KV transformers.

 

[brookster]

33KV but under direct instruction from the board area control.

Our system was old, to close the 33KV breakers needed two signals. One from our intake substation and one from the area control.

We had four 20MVA 33/11KV transformers.

I worked in on a large military installation and various MOD sites on MVA gens, VMV, Brush, MVA and KVA trannys 33/11 11/415, 6.6@60hz, MCGG, Vips, frequency changers, VCB,OCB,SF6 and various RMU's and a bunch of other related stuffs.
Working in Oil sector now.

 

[Knobhead]

I was a CP so you outrank me, I took permits not signed them so it was my --- working on the gear not yours.
I've also heard about AP's switching main incomers to circuit earth so your grade means nothing.

That interests me. It can’t be done by accident. It would need a deliberate act of crass stupidity to close a live feeder to earth. The moment the breaker contacts start to get near a live terminal the sound gives it away.

 

[mark ju]

Interesting as it is, getting back to the original question..
Some very good advice given, particularly about not lazing around and talking or texting on mobiles. Winds people up seeing lads spending most of their time doing that.
Also, learn to take a joke, because believe me you will be the butt of them many a time.
Also try not to get too lippy.
One other thing, when you get to do a bit of conduit work, try not to start grunting and puffing the minute you have to put a bit of effort into it and complain that your arms/ back/ wrists ache after only five minutes work.
Other than that you'll be fine I'm sure. Someone in management has decided you deserve the chance so prove them right.

 

[Sparkysoldman]

Well done and good luck

to me the most important non work related advice is DONT TAKE YOU PHONE AND IF U DO LEAVE IT IN THE VAN

If you've got nothing to do pick up a broom or sort out the van
Dont be scared to ask questions most professionals will be proud to pass on knowledge
Buy a reasonable (not to expensive) set of tools and look after them replace any that get damaged with the best you can afford (they are the ones u are using most)

above all enjoy and you will find you learn fast

 

[Hawk81]

No offence here Tony but nearly every thread I read ends up in being about you and your great experience. Granted you do have a wonderful vast knowledge but can the threads stay on topic more often.

 

[Stroppy]

I agree they need to stop treating us like kids

As someone once pointed out to me: H&S wouldn't need to treat us like kids if idiots didn't try to do things like working balanced on the top of four paint pots as they haven't got a ladder, then try to sue their employer for millions when they fall off their paint-tower and break themselves.

Reminds me of an apprentice I worked with a while ago who wasn't the sharpest tool in the box, and was up a stepladder doing chases with an angle grinder, but had the ladder side-on so he pushed himself over on it, with the grinder still going. Could have been very nasty - my toolbox was nearby and could have been cut up...

 

[stuartcourt]

I am not saying we dont need H&S as I believe things have got a million times better from when I started, but they need to concentrate for example on farmers who move dangerous tractors to out of the way fields not kick you off site for standing on a crate (the sue the --- off anyone another thread)

 

[Des 56]

H+S also has a negative impact

When someone learns to look after their own rear end,it instills greater thought on the job or the project to be undertaken

A high dose of this modern overbearing culture,it strips a persons personal responsibility to a bare minimum to the point where reliance on others for your own welfare sometimes ends up creating a more dangerous workplace for that individual