Training and development of protection engineering staff

This paper reviews the changing needs of staff involved in discharging work associated with protection technology, and examines the consequences of decisions made by various groups of personnel in this area. The changing nature of the protection product itself is now impacting on the skills required, and the ever present pressure to minimise costs is affecting the number, and the nature, of staff available. Training which leads to an authorisation to discharge duties is relevant in many areas and ensures competency; in this case training is likely to be vocationally linked and outcome based. Manufacturers should be involved in training exercises where new equipment is introduced, although as equipment becomes more widespread, more use of in-house is appropriate. Simulators provide an excellent route to enabling access training and authorisation. Simulation of plant and the substation environment gives, effectively, hands-on experience of typical equipment and test procedures. Open learning, on-going learning (Continuing Professional Development) and learned society activities all provide viable training routes to utilities staff which are compatible with the work environment. A graphical approach to the evaluation of training needs, its progress and effect has been described. This method allows training to be reviewed in the light of new developments. The role of information technology and artificial intelligence are likely to greatly influence training methods and requirements in the future