Job shadow

Ben Shipley

Job Shadow

CLSS 2100

12/1/12

Job Shadowed: Marcos Baruch, GIPP Field Inspector/ Supervisor, Gas Operations.

Company: Southern California Gas Company

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Q: What do you do in your position as a Field Inspector?

A: In my position I deal a lot with gas meters. I focus more on the protection and relocation part of things. We have a program called the Gas Infrastructure Protection Program (GIPP) where we inspect each gas meter we own and make sure that there is no possibility of it getting hit by a vehicle.  Meters that are unprotected are given cement bollards or posts to protect them. The company has lost enough money in these damages that they have developed this program. I over see a crew of 10 people who are responsible for the inspecting of these meters, most of the crew are from other companies working under a contract. I inspect meters that have previously been inspected but are still at a high risk of being damaged. There are some meters that need to be relocated because the area they are in is not safe, I am responsible for relocating the meter and supervise the process.    

Q: What do you spend the most time doing?

A: I probably spend the majority of my time driving. I am constantly traveling to the various meter sites and checking on the crew.

Q: What is does this company do? How big is this company?

A: This company supplies natural gas to all residential and commercial locations throughout Los Angeles county. This company is very big and has many headquarters though out the county.

Q: Where does most of the income come from?  

A: This company makes almost all of its profit from industrial and commercial customers. There are a lot of residential customers but the amount maid from them doesn’t even scratch the surface of the industrial side.

Q: Are you optimistic in this company’s future?

A: Yes I am, this is the only gas company in the county which is owned by Sempra Energy which owns gas companies all over California. And since it is a cleaner energy option than coal or oil, it will be around for a while.

Q: How does advancement work in the gas company? What jobs have you held and where do you want to end up?

A: This company is a union, so everyone pretty much starts out as a meter reader. After you complete one year as a reader you can go on to the various areas you want to. I started out as meter reader then I became a field mechanic, which is responsible for repairing the gas lines and meters. I then applied to this management position which is a temporary position at the moment. I either want to look for another management position, or become a field crew supervisor.

Q: What are some other positions that they offer in this company?

A: This company has many positions, such as labor, management, and also engineering so there are a lot of possible opportunities in this company.

I really enjoyed this job shadow and meeting Marcos. This Shadow that I did was very helpful. I was able to see another possible career opportunity in the field of energy. And I the future of this type of energy seems a little more brighter than the other forms at the moment. So I am highly considering this as a career option. And would be a very good and secure career.