Underground Construction - September 2019 - DW-3

TRAINING IS KEY
to Successful HDD

A shortage of qualified workers is a concern
in most types of construction today, and
underground construction is no exception.
This is particularly true concerning personnel to operate horizontal directional drilling
(HDD) equipment.
The industry has grown significantly
over the years and HDD is being used with
increasing frequency in a wide range of
markets. Contractors often struggle to find
qualified and experienced operators to meet
these growing demands.
To help offset this challenge, Ditch
Witch®, a pioneer in the development of
HDD, has stepped forward with a certified
training program to provide a basic understanding of the technology, and the safe and
productive operation of HDD equipment.
Ditch Witch Certified HDD Training
is free to anyone with internet access and
is available by visiting ditchwitch.com, and
creating a MyDitchWitch account.
The certification program contains six
online modules (see sidebar for details) that
can be completed at the preferred pace of
each participant.
"Expectations for new or novice operators
are that completion of the course should provide a functional knowledge of the directional drilling process, what HDD systems are,
how they work, and an understanding of the
best practices to follow to ensure a successful

utility installation," said Greg Wolfe, Ditch
Witch director of product training.

Certification of Completion

Upon completion of the online modules
and taking a 30-question test, a participant
receives a Certificate of Completion which
can serve as a benchmark for new operators
or be shared with potential employers.
"Obviously, participants and customer
groups learn at different rates, and they
may have different goals," Wolfe continued.
"By keeping information consistent and in
a useable format, training helps bridge the
gap between new operators and the needs
of the ever-growing HDD market."

Online training can be followed by
more in-depth training at any of the nearly
100 North American Ditch Witch dealer
locations and many international dealerships. This can include, but is not limited
to, classroom learning, operating HDD
units in utility-free zones, using the Ditch
Witch HDD Virtual Reality Simulator
and, eventually, job-site training.
"Training is tailored to meet the needs of
the individual or group being trained," said
Wolfe. "We get crews ready."
Certified training content was written
around Ditch Witch Jet Trac® systems.
However, it's also being used for training

DITCH WITCH CERTIFIED HDD TRAINING

The Ditch Witch® Online Certified Training Program contains six modules:
* Best Practices - Preparing a crew, identifying potential job-site obstructions,
damage prevention, emergency procedures
* Operational Overview - Planning, setting up on the job site, drilling,
backreaming, demobilization when the job is complete
* HDD Drilling Fluids - Purpose of using drilling fluids, selecting correct
fluid additives, calculating proper proportions of additives, mixing, proper use
* HDD Tracking - HDD guidance overview, terminology, managing interference,
tracking and communication, data logging and reporting
* HDD Drill Pipe - Terminology, pipe consideration during bore planning,
pipe care and maintenance, drill pipe integrity
* HDD Tooling - Bits and backreamers, quick connect system, pullers
and swivels, transition subs *
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Underground Construction - September 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Underground Construction - September 2019
