Page 7 - jan-feb2019

LP gas board | comments & reviews

The following article first appeared in the June/July 2018 edition of the APGA magazine. I have asked
to reprint this article because we are still discovering permit holders that have not applied for Employ-
ee Competency Cards for their “grandfathered” employees due to the belief that the new regulation
does not apply to their particular situation. In many cases, existing long-term employees are assumed
to have completed all previous board requirements negating the need to obtain a card. However,
possession of a card is the only way to ensure that employees are truly “grandfathered” and to protect
against liability exposure.

n April 3, 2017 the board implemented intended to serve as educational tools qualifying
a new examination process for industry one to perform a particular task They are
employees known as Alabama intended to serve as evaluations of the training
OAdministrative Code 530-X-2- 11 and experience an employee has received in an
Employee Competency Requirements On that attempt to ensure a minimum level of knowledge
date, existing employees within the state that and skill is present in the interest of safety
had completed all previous board requirements Successful completion of the various examinations
to work within the industry unsupervised were is not the end of the educational experience
not required to meet the new testing guidelines for industry employees Their employers should
“Approved” existing employees were only required remain vigilant in promoting continual training and
to obtain an Employee Competency Card with instruction
a “grandfathered” status by simply providing Some employers have expressed frustration
evidence of having met the former testing that the board does not provide the questions
requirements Applications to obtain cards for and answers as study guides for the examinations
“grandfathered” employees were requested to Such information would only prove literacy of
have been completed within one year by April 3, examinees rather than a working understanding
2018 of the knowledge and skills desired Instead, the
As we began to process cards for existing board provides specific topics in a study guide for
industry employees, some employers discovered each of the examinations. I agree it is difficult for
that they had not met the previous board a brand new employee to successfully pass these
requirements for employees when first hired in the examinations and evaluations without adequate
past Effective April 2017, these “unapproved” training and experience in advance Quite frankly,
employees were required to complete the new I can’t justify anything to the contrary Common
examination program regardless of the amount questions are “Do you know how long it takes
of time they had worked for the employer Worse to get a new employee trained?” “What if it is
still, some had been working unsupervised which December when I hire a new employee with no
created potential liability exposure for employers prior experience?” The amount of training and
as this was in violation of board code Some experience will vary with each employee as we
employers have yet to obtain a “grandfathered” all learn in different ways and at different speeds,
card for their employees, and they assume that and the hiring of an inexperienced employee in
they have letters in their files clearly demonstrating December will be of limited use regardless of exam
that they completed all the board’s previous grades with the board
employee examination requirements If you have The passing rate on first attempt with
failed to apply with the board and obtain your our exams is approximately 66% While some
employees’ competency cards, are you sure that employees fail on the first try, we see them pass on
your employees are legal to be performing their their second or sometimes third attempt The fact
daily duties? they eventually find success tells me that they have
I hope I have adequately addressed increased in knowledge and exam preparation
“grandfathered” employees and will now move Failure is one of our greatest teachers if used as
on to new hires required to complete the board’s motivation to learn Help your employees prepare
examination requirements First, I would like to for the exams, and use the results as tools to focus
express the purpose of the exams The various training.■
examinations and practical evaluations are not

7 Alabama Propane Gas Association | January / February 2019