Description of the Mesa Hotline School

The Mesa Hotline School serves as a model for providing training for privately-owned and non-profit utilities companies. Manufacturers and consultants combine in a total effort to offer the ultimate in repair and maintenance of electrical transmission and distribution.

The school held the first two weeks in May, is unique in that it is the only program of its type in the western United States. The school consists of two one-week sessions. It enrolls participants from Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Wyoming, Nevada, Kansas, Oregon, Washington, California, New Mexico, Nebraska, Alaska, and other states. Experienced instructors from manufacturers and companies are screened by the instructional committees of the school to provide the expert training necessary to keep a constant flow of electrical power to consumers.

The initial members of the school donated time, materials, and equipment to get the field training area established. Since that time, the one-time membership fee has been set at $1000.00 payable to Mesa Hotline School. A registration fee of $75.00 per member-student is paid to the school each year to cover the awards dinner, school education materials, and field refreshments. Non-members may send students to the school by paying a $175.00 fee per student.

With the expansion of the school to include training opportunities in underground installations and maintenance, the school provides instruction in about every type of line work that will confront workers on the job. The school is designed to acquaint and upgrade linemen with approved practices and supervising skills used in the industry, realizing that after the training is received, it must be practiced to achieve proficiency.

The Hotline School believes that each employer has the obligation to furnish each of his employees employment and places of employment, free from recognized hazards causing, or likely to cause, death or serious physical harm, and the employer has the specific duty of complying with safety and health standards promulgated under the "Williams-Steiger Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970." Each employee has the duty to comply with these safety and health standards and all rules, regulations, and orders issued pursuant to the Act which are applicable to his own actions and conduct.

The school will continue to stress the importance of safety and strive to educate and train participants in the methods and procedures necessary for safe, efficient operation. The CREA Safety Rules Manual, available from Colorado Rural Electric Association, has been adopted as the safety rules of the Hotline School.

The Mesa Hotline School is held in Grand Junction, Colorado, utilizing the electric lineman training grounds at the south campus of Mesa State College located at the intersection of D and 29 Roads.

All registration inquiries about the Mesa Hotline School may be directed to:

MESA STATE COLLEGE COMMUNITY EDUCATION CENTER
2508 BLICHMANN AVE
GRAND JUNCTION, CO 81505
PHONE: (970) 255-2800
FAX: (970) 255-2809

"Training plus supervision equals safety plus efficiency."