IBEW expertise covers just about every aspect of the electrical industry, and sharing some of that knowledge is one way members give back to their communities. For firefighters and other first responders in Illinois, it's the safety training from Chicago Local 134's Robert Hattier that they keep asking for.
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| Demand for the classes has only grown, in part due to the increase in solar energy use spurred by Illinois' 2018 plan to have 25% of its energy come from renewable sources by 2025.
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"He's saved countless lives through all his training, and I have the firefighter testimonials to prove it," said Local 134 Business Manager Don Finn, who also represents the Fifth District on the International Executive Council. "We should sing it from the mountaintops."
Hattier, a Local 134 business representative and executive director of the Illinois IBEW Renewable Energy Fund, has over 20 years of experience in the industry. He shares that knowledge — on topics including solar electricity, energy storage and electric vehicle technology — with firefighters and other first responders, as well as building inspectors and other officials.
Demand for the classes has only grown over the nearly 10 years he's been offering them, Hattier said, in part due to the increase in solar energy use spurred by Illinois' 2018 plan to have 25% of its energy come from renewable sources by 2025. That plan followed a law passed in 2016 with backing from the IBEW.
"The only way the energy transition will be successful is if all industry stakeholders are trained and prepared for the technologies being deployed on our houses, buildings, communities, fields and roadways," Hattier said. "I am honored to have the opportunity to do my part to make that happen."
The main focus of the training, which began as an hourlong class in 2015, is on hazard awareness and effective mitigation strategies. A first responder dealing with an emergency at a solar-powered building or home might encounter inhalation exposure, electrical shock and burns, a roof collapse, chemical spills from batteries or even battery reignition.
These fires can also take roughly 10,000 gallons of water to deal with, which not all trucks have.
"Firefighters and other first responders are the ones who have to interact with these systems when they are in their most hazardous states," Hattier said. "The inclusion of solar and battery storage systems in and on buildings complicates the fire response regardless of the cause of the fire."
The trainings now run about three to four hours — depending in part on how many questions Hattier gets — and also cover industry best practices and relevant codes.
"Responders should know as much as possible about what they're walking into," Hattier said. "The more information they have, the more they can make sure their teams are safe."
To date, Hattier has trained over 3,000 firefighters and first responders at more than 100 fire departments. He's also presented at several fire industry events.
And it's all through word of mouth. Fire departments operate in mutual aid networks, Hattier said, so when he trains one, colleagues in the network often reach out for training.
"It's the best sign that it's a good training," he said.
There are also the testimonials from attendees, like those who attended a recent training at Alton Local 649.
"It was fantastic. We had a parking lot full of fire trucks," Local 649 Assistant Business Manager Ryan Mouser said. "There's not enough of him to go around for what he does."
Mouser said they had about 70 firefighters and first responders attend over the three days the training was offered. It was so popular, in fact, that some attendees asked if they could come back for a second session.
"I had one fireman pull me aside and tell me that they go through a lot of training, and this was the most informative they've gotten," Mouser said. "He was incredibly thankful. This really shines a big, positive light on Brother Hattier, and on the IBEW."
There are other sources for similar training for first responders, but those tend to be online only, Hattier said.
"We have a conversation with them. We answer whatever questions they have. Sometimes they'll go off topic, ask about other energy concerns, and we'll address those too," he said.
An in-person training also opens a dialogue between the IBEW and the fire departments, Hattier noted.
"They know that this is what we do, that we're the experts," he said. "An additional benefit of this training is that fire departments will now reach out when they have any questions regarding electrical systems."
Hattier is working on a train-the-trainer class to allow more members and locals to offer their own training. In the meantime, he said, locals should feel free to follow his example.
"For anyone else who's interested in offering trainings like these, I'd say to start by reaching out to your local fire departments, find out what concerns they have and ask if they have responded to any events involving these technologies. Then invite them to your training centers," he said.