Atmos Energy 2015 Annual Report Download - page 5

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Our employees are well-trained professionals.
Field employees spend approximately one-fifth of
their time in the classroom and four-fifths practicing
skills. Back at work, their learning continues with on-
the-job training guided by senior technicians at their
locations. In addition, a cadre of Safety Champions
lead monthly safety huddles to discuss best practices
with their peers.
Continual training and certification for all field
employees is mandatory, so that they meet federal
Operator Qualification (OQ) standards. A field
employee cannot turn a valve, set a meter or locate
an underground pipeline without having up-to-date
OQ certification.
One of the most valuable lessons we teach is not a
technical skill—it’s a leadership skill. Called Coaching
in the Moment, this important technique prepares
our employees to talk courteously, but clearly, with
others about working safely.
Our employees are empowered to protect them-
selves, their fellow workers and the public by commu-
nicating openly and honestly at all times. Safety
is always our first priority.
Table-top safety exercises stress internal de-
velopment and coordination with our communities. At a drill
for our Mississippi Division employees, Scott Powell, Atmos
Energy’s director of safety, security and compliance, outlines a
scenario to test emergency plans and responses and to help
ensure our employees are prepared.
Gas Games, a friendly
competition among Atmos
Energy’s field employees, rein-
forces technical skills and the
underlying principle that safety
is integral to everything we do.
We make annual evaluations of our emer-
gency plans and provide e-learning for field employees to
inform them about changes in procedures, such as installing
excess flow valves on new and replaced customer service lines.
67
Fiscal 2015 Training Hours
Technical training at Vaughan Center 37,209
Offsite technical training 8,988
Safety training 81,945
Operator Qualification and 19,816
compliance training
Technical Training
FISCAL YEAR 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Number of 79 77 53 75 104
Classes
Number of 802 708 415 762 1,070
Employees
Total Training 24,508 20,150 12,123 21,016 37,209
Hours