PG&E Heavy-Equipment Training Simulators 'Paying Off'

Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) launched simulators for heavy-equipment operator training last summer, and recently announced on its company blog that it will continue to invest in this type of virtual, but hands-on instruction.

The technology is comparable to that used by the U.S. military and can have large acquisition costs; however, PG&E cited that because of savings in fuel costs and avoiding rental costs for the equipment, it's "enough to pay for the simulators."

PG&E expects to train 120 employees in 2014 using the simulators, citing the far safer conditions than learning how to operate these heavy-duty vehicles, including backhoes and excavators, in the field. If a trainee gets into an accident, for example, the simulator's software will stop and provide a detailed report as to what happened.

On the long term, PG&E said it would like to take the simulators to other locations so more employees can benefit from the training.

You can watch a video on the company blog PG&E Currents, here.