When we ask our Operations Director Christopher Kyndt about the smart meters and charging stations we installed in recent years, he gives us numbers with many zeros. Yet, only one thing counts for every installation: working safely! Together with Chris Bellemans, Technical Trainer at the Circet Academy, they explain their approach in this regard.
Who is who?
Christopher: “On behalf of Fluvius, we replace electricity and gas meters with digital meters. Over the past 4 years, we have already completed 500,000 of these swaps across Flanders.”
Chris: “In addition, we already installed a total of about 20,000 charging stations for electric vehicles. We are currently at 750 to 1000 station installlations per month, carried out by 40 installers, and we have 12 technicians in service & maintenance.”
What are the skills of the ideal Smart Energy technician?
Chris: “Admittedly, we expect a lot from our colleagues who install charging stations or smart meters. In addition to sufficient technical training, they must have IT skills to configure the device, be able to communicate smoothly with the customer, occasionally carry out small excavation or other infrastructure work, find creative solutions for unexpected problems, and so on.”
Christopher: “Not to mention the fact that they are the Circet ambassador for the customer. But even more important than that: our colleagues must perform every action safely. Whether they are working on a digital meter or charging station, they come into contact with electricity or gas and that entails major risks. One wrong move and they might not live to tell the tale.”
“Working safely is the common thread throughout every training. When it comes to safety, there is zero tolerance.” - Chris
And this is where the Circet Academy comes in!
Chris: “Absolutely: every colleague or subcontractor is extensively trained by a technical trainer at the Circet Academy. Like my colleagues, I train groups of 8 to 16 technicians. While we cover the multiple facets of the job, working safely remains the common thread. When it comes to safety, there is zero tolerance.”
Christopher: “It’s okay to make mistakes, but working unsafely is totally out of the question. For example, everyone must wear the correct personal protective equipment (PPE), carry out an LMRA (Last Minute Risk Analysis) before starting a job and answer a number of safety questions. An accident can happen in the blink of an eye, but by carefully following all safety regulations, we can minimise the risk.”
“There is a continuous flow of information from our technical teams in the field to the Circet Academy and back again.” -Christopher)
Applying the regulations in day-to-day activities is even more important than the training in the Academy itself, how do you monitor that?
Chris: “The training doesn’t stop when colleagues walk out of the Academy. For example, colleagues receive a short test on their tablet at the start of each job. Whenever they answer one of the safety questions incorrectly, they are given the correct answer with some explanations. Those who repeatedly give incorrect answers will receive additional training or work under the supervision of a mentor for a while.”
Christopher: “The scores are also analysed in their entirety, so that we know where to adjust our training or provide additional explanations. In addition, the project coordinator also shares feedback and tips with the Academy, as does the team of quality officers. They carry out quality checks which they report to Operations. With this approach, we work together to ensure that the information in the training courses always remains up-to-date and that we place the right emphasis. There is a continuous flow of information from our technical teams in the field to the Circet Academy and back again.”