BUTLER TWP — Butler County Community College has joined forces with the Gas Technology Institute to offer a monthlong program focused on the skills needed to secure a job in the natural gas industry.

The college's Utility Worker/Field Skills Training Certificate program will blend classroom instruction, hands-on experiences and field work including heavy equipment operator training, excavation safety, pipeline installation and maintenance, and underground pipeline locating.

The program will be held 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays, from March 13 through April 7 at BC3's Public Safety Training facility.

BC3 instructors will cover topics including an introduction to natural gas, OSHA safety and health standards, fire safety, excavation safety, safe driving and traffic control flagging.

GTI trainers will cover topics including hands-on pipe installation and maintenance. Additional lessons will cover excavating near a natural gas pipeline, vacuum excavation, leak surveys and horizontal directional drilling.