The regional professional skills competition among repair and maintenance teams for 0.4-10 kV distribution electrical networks concluded with a victory for the electricians of Lepel RES.

The regional professional skills competition among repair and maintenance teams for 0.4-10 kV distribution electrical networks concluded with a victory for the electricians of Lepel RES. The team won a GAZ-3309 truck for their organisation. However, it is too early to rest on their laurels and relax – a competition of the strongest at the national level lies ahead.

Two Sergueis, Lyakh and Kulesh, are honing their theoretical knowledge at computer terminals using special software. Several answer options are offered. From the outside, without reading closely, it resembles a driving theory test. Evgeny Rud studies special literature, and foreman Andrey Martinkevich prepares accompanying documentation. Pavel Azevich, who is on holiday, is the only one missing from the full team. The electricians have a sense of déjà vu, as they recently completed similar tasks before the regional stage.

In general, various divisions of the energy system compete annually. Representatives of 0.4-10 kV distribution electrical networks compete once every three years.

The current team first competed in 2014 and achieved unexpected success. Their predecessors did not advance beyond the regional level. The selection for the national team was initially conducted within the RES. The following criteria were considered: experience, physical fitness, personal qualities, etc. Then, the team competed among the Polotsk networks, which include seven districts in addition to ours. After becoming the best in the zonal and regional selections, the team represented RUP "Vitebskenergo" in Grodno. True masters of their craft from all over the country gathered there. The Lepel team took third place then, losing by just one point to their colleagues from Minsk.

* * *

Whether our electricians will be able to fully replicate or even surpass their achievements of three years ago remains to be seen. But for now, they have two months of continuous preparation, a business trip to Vitebsk for training in real competition conditions, and, most importantly, a valuable prize.

They stayed at "Luches". An unforgettable view opened up from the observation deck on the fourteenth floor of the building. The night city from such a height is an amazing sight, even for climbers, which each team member is. But this is a small lyrical digression.

The three days of competition were demanding both mentally and physically. Firstly, the weather conditions took their toll. Secondly, no other discipline, not even in sports, features such a complex judging system involving fourteen judges and up to two hundred points. Thirdly, it is difficult to identify a leader during the process. If one emerges, the most challenging stage, theoretical questions, is still held on the last day and significantly influences the outcome. Naturally, tension reaches its peak by this point.

* * *

What do these competitions entail? The winning electricians from the zonal stages gather with their work vehicles in the region. The Lepel team set off in the vehicle they won last time. They brought all their tools, over forty items, and their equipment. Every single unit, no matter how small, must be accompanied by documents: a technical passport and a certificate of conformity. Otherwise, a judge may deduct points or even disqualify a participant from the task.

After the ceremonial assembly comes the draw. The vast training ground is divided into several sectors, and the teams compete in parallel. The first challenge was "Replacement of Self-Supporting Insulated Wire." It might seem like a task they encounter daily. However, this assumption is mistaken. The issue lies with the wire itself, which resembles a sturdy cable. Due to its durability (approximately seventy years), it rarely requires intervention. However, in our district, as in many others, it has not been widely installed due to its high cost. Consequently, electricians have less practical experience with it. Despite this nuance, the team completes the task in an hour and a half.

Next was the replacement of a ten kV reinforced concrete pole. Speed was encouraged in each task, but the fastest completion was the removal of the casualty and their resuscitation on the second day – two minutes and thirty-three seconds. A life-sized, ninety-kilogram training robot named "Gosha" was suspended from the wires. Electrician Sergey Kulesh rushed to its aid and impressed even the judges with his skill in ascending the "pole" using "claws." The heavy "casualty" was lowered with a rope and received emergency medical assistance. The improved sixth-generation mannequin revived after indirect cardiac massage and artificial respiration. However, sensitive sensors indicated a "broken rib." A point was deducted. No arguments that this was a sign of high-quality resuscitation swayed the judge.

A point of contention also arose during the "Fire Extinguishing at a KTP" (complete transformer substation) competition. According to the female judge, electrician Sergey Lyakh approached the fire source at a distance of less than a meter, which is unacceptable and subject to a penalty. The young man was confident that he had not violated the distance. In her explanation, she made a slip of the tongue, repeating her words with gestures. Apparently, the woman was unaware that the length of an average person's outstretched arms is directly proportional to their height, and therefore, there was no violation. Next, by lot, was the "phase-to-neutral" loop. The wire resistance was measured. The final stage was the replacement of a bushing insulator on the KTP. This is meticulous work requiring great precision – over nine measurements were taken, a schedule was compiled, and everything was calculated using formulas, of which there are many, and… they reached the finish line.

The remaining task was to pass the theory test – over a thousand questions. If, up to this point, the team had worked collaboratively, distributing responsibilities, then with the computer, each participant was on their own. The best performer was Evgeny Rud, who answered flawlessly, as did two of his colleagues, but he simply did it faster. Now, a few more details about him and his colleagues.

The young man started working at the RES (District Electric Networks) almost immediately after his army service – in 2003. He decided to follow in the footsteps of his father, who had worked in the power grids his entire life. Within the team, he has a reputation as a disciplined and kind person, which is evident even upon first meeting. Sergey Kulesh and Sergey Lyakh share only their names. The former tried his hand in various fields, even outside the republic, but truly found his place in 2006, where he has been working to this day. His character is straightforward, sociable, and quick. Sergey Lyakh's work record shows only one place of employment, which he did not join by chance. He spent a long time choosing where to study and settled on power engineering – a field he believes is always in demand and relevant. If he hadn't become an electrician, it seems he would have made a good soldier. He speaks to the point and sparingly, carries himself with confidence and strictness. Andrey Martinkevich is the most experienced member of the team. He has worked for sixteen years, the last ten of which as a KTP master. He knows how to organise a team, how to encourage, where to make a joke, and commands respect from his subordinates.

Viktor Ermoshkin deserves special mention. At the previous competition, he travelled with the team as the chief engineer and has not left them now, having become the head. He was present at all stages personally and defended the interests of his subordinates as best he could.

Evgenia LYAKH.
In the photo:; Viktor Ermoshkin, Andrey Martinkevich, Sergey Lyakh, Evgeny Rud, Sergey Kulesh (from right to left) near the won car.
Photo by author.