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District 3 embarks on equipment training

Snow already has made scattered appearances in southwest Idaho, and District 3 is preparing for sequels that inevitibly will arrive in the weeks ahead. The district recently conducted its first formal equipment training, with an emphasis on winter maintenance. A dozen new maintenance employees went through the first training. 
 
“This district has always struggled to find adequate equipment training for our personnel,” said district Engineering Manager Dave Kuisti, “so we have started our own formal program by training some trainers and buying some instructional materials.”
 
The District 3 training was focused on dump trucks and loaders with an emphasis on winter maintenance. New maintenance employees in the district that had little or no snow plow experience were targeted for the course.
 
“So far, all of the feedback I’ve gotten from both the instructors and students has been positive,” said District EEO/Safety Officer Eric Copeland.
 
Copeland said District 3 plans additional formal training next spring with three components: Loader/ dump truck, grader/roller and backhoe. In addition, the district plans to upgrade its formal snow plow training for new hires.

Published 11-11-2011