Operator Training

PURPOSE: This rule establishes criteria for approval of training courses. (1) Only training related to water system operations and maintenance, treatment facilities or distribution systems approved by the department will be given credit. (A) Training requirements for renewal will be based on the level of certification held by the operator. (B) Training should include an update of new regulation requirements. (C) Not more than one-half (1/2) of the total renewal training hours required in a renewal period shall be credited from safety, supervisory, management, administration and financial training and general computer courses. (2) The following are examples of acceptable training for renewal credit and are not intended to be all-inclusive. Renewal training may include: (A) Information on regulations, operations, maintenance, construction, testing, record keeping, and repair of equipment including pumps, control valves, altitude valves, fire hydrants, flush hydrants, chlorinators, chemical feeders, elevated tanks, standpipes, reservoirs, pressure tanks, bladder tanks, filters, backflow devices, meters, control systems, and standby power generators; (B) Information on operations and process control of water treatment system processes including aeration, rapid mix, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, disinfection, chemical oxidation, chemical precipitation, pH adjustment, stabilization, fluoridation, absorption, ion exchange, reverse osmosis, sludge handling, sequestration, and corrosion control; (C) Information applicable to water systems on mathematics, chemistry, geology, hydrology, limnology, meteorology, microbiology, hydraulics, cartography, and epidemiology; (D) Sampling and laboratory techniques for all samples, and analytical analysis required under Chapters 4, 5 and 15 of 10 CSR 60 and as needed for process control; (E) Safety practices applicable to water system operations including cardiopulmonary resuscitation, first-aid, confined space entry, shoring and trenching, hazardous materials handling, electrical safety, traffic control at construction sites, self-contained breathing apparatus, chlorine repair kit, and tower climbing; (F) Common operational/maintenance system procedures including development and implementation of a main flushing program, entire system disinfection and flushing, main repair including disinfection flushing, pressure testing, fire flow measurement, leak detection, tower inspection for sanitary defects, draw-down testing, and loss/leakage calculations; and (G) Computer classes directly intended for use at water utilities. Examples include but are not limited to: Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) and other water system operational programming, spreadsheets and databases for tracking and trending laboratory results, scheduling and tracking maintenance. Similar training intended for other types of utilities will be considered on a case-by-case basis. (3) The following examples provide guidance on unacceptable training for renewal credit and are not intended to be all-inclusive: (A) Introduction to English; (B) History; (C) Welding; (D) Small motor repair; (E) Lawnmower safety; and (F) Commercial drivers license training. (4) All organizations or individuals sponsoring training for water system operators shall submit the following to the department for approval. This information should be submitted to the department at least thirty (30) days prior to the training: (A) Date and location of the training; (B) Name, address and telephone number of person to contact regarding the training; (C) Course outline showing the topic(s) to be presented and time allotted for each (including beginning and ending times); (D) The name(s) of the instructor(s) and his/her qualifications (not just title or company name); (E) List of any audiovisual materials to be used such as videotapes, slides, slide/tape presentations, films and overheads; and 7DEOH0LQLPXP7UDLQLQJ5HTXLUHG SHU5HQHZDO&\FOH  &HUWLILFDWLRQ/HYHO 0LQLPXP7UDLQLQJ 5HTXLUHG $ KRXUV % KRXUV & KRXUV ' KRXUV '6,,, KRXUV '6,, KRXUV '6, KRXUV  (F) Handouts. (5) The department should be notified at least thirty (30) days in advance of any subsequent session(s) of an approved course. (6) Credit is based upon actual contact time in the training. All breaks and meal times must be noted on the agenda and will not count toward contact time. Excessive time allotted for introductions or welcomes will not count toward contact. (7) For multiday courses, no credit will be given prior to the completion of the course. The completion date is the last day of the course. An eighty percent (80%) attendance, based on the total course length in hours, is required to receive credit. (8) The minimum length of a training course eligible for renewal credit shall be one (1) contact hour. Training credit for a course shall be rounded down to the nearest one-half (0.5) hour. Approved training issued continuing education units (CEUs) will be given credit at the rate of ten (10.0) hours per one (1.0) CEU. (9) Training provided by the national offices of organizations involved in water treatment or distribution, wastewater treatment, backflow prevention and other related fields or other out-of-state entities will be reviewed for renewal credit on an individual basis. The operator is responsible for retaining proof of training attended and must provide documentation that meets the requirements of section (4) of this rule. (10) All approvals will be by written correspondence. The approval will include a course attendance roster form that will show the course name, coordinator, date, location, course identification number and amount of renewal credit. (11) Advertisement of any training shall not state that the program has been approved for credit until the department has issued its formal approval and assigned a course identification number and amount of credit. Any advertisement that states that the training is department-approved must include the course identification number and amount of credit. (12) Each organization or individual providing training should provide certificates of completion to the attendees. The certificate should include the following: (A) Attendee’s name; (B) Name of the course; (C) Credit; (D) Course identification number; (E) Date that the course was held; (F) Location of the course; and (G) Name of the course coordinator or instructor. (13) Training providers shall submit the course attendance roster to the department within fifteen (15) working days of the completion of the course. Information on the roster shall include: (A) Name of the course; (B) Credit; (C) Course identification number; (D) Date that the course was held; (E) Location of the course; (F) Name of the course coordinator or instructor; (G) Names of all attendees; (H) Certificate number of all attendees, if applicable; and (I) For multiday training courses, which sessions the individual attended. (14) The department shall make known by a public means which courses and seminars are approved. (15) Renewal credit shall be valid only for the renewal period in which it was earned. Renewal credit in excess of the required hours for the renewal period may not be carried over into any subsequent renewal training period. AUTHORITY: section 640.100, RSMo 2000.* Original rule filed July 15, 1991, effective March 1, 1992. Amended: Filed Nov. 15, 2000, effective Aug. 1, 2001. *Original authority: 640.100, RSMo 1939, amended 1978, 1981, 1982, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999.