Damage Prevention Training

By Kyle Huhn, Quality Control Supervisor, Utility Safety Partners

When training new damage prevention associates (DPAs) at Utility Safety Partners, we recognize that not everyone processes information the same way as their peers. There are four core learning styles: visual, auditory, read/write and kinesthetic. Visual learners process information most effectively through visual aids and cues. They prefer images, diagrams or graphics to help them understand concepts. Auditory learners thrive by listening and speaking, preferring lectures or discussions surrounding topics they are interested in learning about. Read/write learners prefer written content, whether that be textbooks, articles, or even procedural documentation. Lastly, kinesthetic learners function best in hands-on environments, where they can get their hands dirty, both literally and figuratively.

Training is held in a classroom setting, where content is reviewed as a group. This covers a variety of topics, including technical training, customer service, and process review. When learning new software, an operating system or any piece of technology, some people struggle with written or verbal instructions. Visualizing how the information translates into a live environment can be difficult for someone who requires a more hands-on approach, while others might feel overwhelmed without step-by-step written or verbal instructions. Fortunately for new DPAs, they are given an opportunity to learn about the applications we use on a day-to-day basis in every learning style. From flow charts to visual guides, from procedural documentation to practicing in a test environment, and having a trainer provide verbal instructions, all these styles of teaching are used to help DPAs understand the new information they are being exposed to.

Learning how to process a locate request is no different. New DPAs are given an opportunity to listen to past calls that were handled by more experienced agents, practice call role-plays with their trainer and other DPAs, review procedural documentation, and given visual guides to help better understand the information provided by the excavation community at large. Training doesn’t end in the classroom though. New agents are given the opportunity to job shadow experienced DPAs who have a wealth of knowledge from handling locate requests over the years. Additionally, in the past, new DPAs have received the opportunity to meet with a locator to learn and watch the process from their side of things as well.

Learning something new isn’t always easy, but we do our best to help the excavation community learn in their preferred style. Whether that be YouTube videos containing step-by-step instructions on how to process your request, visual guides to help understand what information is being requested, written instructions hosted on our external wiki, or by giving us a call to walk through the process with an experienced DPA; we hope everyone involved in the damage prevention process can learn how to excavate safely.