POWERGRAMS

TARGET ZERO At Alabama Power's Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Training Center in Verbena, the goal is not just for trainees to learn about technologies but to take away a commitment to safety. "We're hoping to instill a safety mindset into those who don't have the opportunity that we have at our company, like the safety messages and the Target Zero campaign," said Manager Joel Owen. "We hope participants have a better safety mindset when they leave here." The Training Center's dedication to safety has paid off – this year it celebrates 30 years without a recordable injury or preventable vehicle accident. "Our main goal is for each employee and trainee to leave the same way they came, returning everyone home safely to their families," Owen said. "We hope we can show them something that can keep them out of danger after they leave here and are working in the field." Thirty years ago, the Corporate Training Department created the Heat Pump Training Center to train dealers and Alabama Power service technicians. A name change in the 1990s – to the HVAC Training Center – emphasized that the curriculum includes a variety of technologies, not just air-to-air heat pumps. The center employees train a variety of people, from HVAC technicians, owners and managers, to school maintenance personnel, apartment maintenance workers, manufacturers, distributors and non-Southern Company utility specialists. "We train HVAC Allies from across the state, APC Marketing and Building Services employees as well as personnel from companies across the nation and even around the world," Owen said. About 36,000 people have trained at the center, hailing from 45 states and Turkey, Nigeria, Canada and the Bahamas. "We have a lot of individuals coming in and out of the training center," Owen said. "Safety depends on our team looking out not only for each other but also for the students who come to the center." Monthly safety meetings let employees discuss stories of close calls and ways they can be avoided. "We talk about potential hazards and dangers that we and our training participants may encounter," Owen said. "Everyone is encouraged to share because the situations become more realistic and people are more aware of what is going on." Owen said this open discussion encourages everyone to actively participate in safely. "There is no way that any one of us could be all over the building at one time to keep an eye on things," Owen said. "It is a joint effort from all of us, and because of that teamwork, we are able to maintain a safe work environment." Marketing Support Director Bill Jones said the center provides an opportunity for Alabama Power employees to teach others how to install and maintain HVAC equipment in the most effective and safest way possible. "I think a lot of training center's safety success can be attributed to the fact that our trainers not only have to look out for themselves and their teammates, but also have to be constantly aware of the safety of their students, and really train them to do things the safe way," Jones said. Jones commends the hard work of the training center staff. "Our team members work around a variety of equipment with moving parts and electrical components and it takes great diligence to maintain safety awareness while training others," Jones said. "We really do have the best of the best at the HVAC Training Center and I am proud they have reached this safety milestone." By Alexis Robinson HVAC Training Center has 30-year safety success Jeff Marquess, Owen, Kamber Nwransky, Jamie Price and David Cunningham About 36,000 people have trained at facility in Verbena. 7 Photos by Wynter Byrd

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