North Baldwin Utilities Graduates First Apprenticeship Class as Seven New Apprentices Begin
North Baldwin Utilities has graduated Noah Haskew, Alex Harmon and Dusty Baggett from its first water and wastewater operator apprenticeship class. A second class of seven apprentices has already started training.
BAY MINETTE, Ala. — North Baldwin Utilities has graduated the first class of its water and wastewater operator apprenticeship program, and a second, larger class is already underway.
Noah Haskew, Alex Harmon and Dusty Baggett are the first to complete the NBU apprenticeship program, which is certified by the Alabama Office of Apprenticeship and combines classroom instruction with hands-on training in the field. Seven new apprentices have now started the program: Bryant Hicks, Blaize Thomas, Caleb Rembert, Cade Leachman, Hunter Yarbrough, Mayson Skirvin and Myles Davis.
A first class that helped build the program
As the program’s first participants, Haskew, Harmon and Baggett did more than finish the required training, according to the utility. They also helped NBU shape the program itself. The utility said there was plenty of trial and error, along with a few bumps to work through, and thanked the three for their patience, flexibility and willingness to help improve the experience for the apprentices who follow them.
What apprentices learn
The apprenticeship blends classroom work with practical experience on the job. Training includes:
- Preparation for Alabama Department of Environmental Management Water and/or Wastewater Grade IC operator certifications
- Commercial driver’s license (CDL) training
- Skid-steer operation
- Trenching and shoring
- CPR
- Confined-space safety
- Practical experience in the field
Operator certification is a key credential in the industry. ADEM requires water and wastewater systems in Alabama to be operated by certified operators, who must pass state exams and meet experience requirements for each certification grade. Skills such as trenching and shoring and confined-space entry are central to safe work on underground pipes, manholes, lift stations and treatment facilities, where cave-ins and hazardous atmospheres are among the most serious risks workers face.
An in-house instructor
NBU credited Taylor Heger for stepping up to lead the program as its instructor. Heger recently became certified to teach OSHA confined-space training, which means the utility can now provide that instruction in-house rather than sending employees elsewhere.
The utility also thanked its supervisors, who allowed apprentices time away from their daily duties to study and train. NBU said that support made it possible for the apprentices to learn and grow, strengthening both the program and the utility’s workforce.
Why utilities are growing their own operators
Water and wastewater utilities across the country have been working to replace experienced operators as longtime employees retire. Registered apprenticeships are one way utilities are building that pipeline: apprentices earn a paycheck while they learn, and the structured mix of classroom instruction and on-the-job training is designed to lead to recognized credentials.
In Alabama, registered apprenticeship programs are certified through the Alabama Office of Apprenticeship, which works with employers to set up programs that meet state and federal standards. Programs are offered in fields ranging from manufacturing and construction to health care and public utilities.
For a utility like NBU, the approach means training workers on its own systems and equipment while preparing them for the certifications the job requires.
About North Baldwin Utilities
North Baldwin Utilities is a public utility based in Bay Minette that provides water, wastewater and natural gas service in north Baldwin County. The utility was recently honored as one of the founding members of the Municipal Workers Compensation Fund as that fund marked its 50th anniversary.
The next class begins
The second class of seven apprentices has started its year of training. NBU said it is looking forward to building on lessons learned from the first group as the program continues to grow.
NBU apprenticeship program at a glance
- First graduates: Noah Haskew, Alex Harmon and Dusty Baggett
- New class: Bryant Hicks, Blaize Thomas, Caleb Rembert, Cade Leachman, Hunter Yarbrough, Mayson Skirvin and Myles Davis
- Instructor: Taylor Heger, certified to teach OSHA confined-space training
- Certification: Alabama Office of Apprenticeship
- Training: ADEM Water and/or Wastewater Grade IC preparation, CDL, skid-steer, trenching and shoring, CPR, confined-space safety and field experience
