Most Con Ed workers found out of compliance with state regs

[hrmjustin]

David Giambusso

Nearly 70 percent of Con Edison workers responsible for the utility's sprawling natural gas network were found to be be out of compliance with state safety regulations because they had not taken an annual qualification test, according to papers filed with the Public Service Commission.

The numbers improved after Con Ed tested the workers, with those who failed sent for retraining, utility officials said.

Following a deadly gas explosion in March in East Harlem, federal, state and city agencies began looking into the state of the city's gas system. In May, Con Edison reported that it had discovered a lapse in the state-mandated qualification process. A month later, the P.S.C. declared an official investigation and demanded Con Edison turn over documents relating to their testing records and practices.

In its latest filing with the P.S.C., Con Edison reported 186 employees and 115 contractors—301 out of 443 in all, or just under 68 percent—were found to have not taken an annual test required by the state for recertification in gas-pipe fitting, according to documents filed with the commission Monday.

http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/albany/2014/07/8549882/most-con-ed-workers-found-out-compliance-state-regs