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iPi Monthly Forum for Utility Professionals
The iPi monthly forum is where you can get answers to questions you have from subject matter experts like David McPeak, Jim Vaughn, Danny Raines and other utility safety and ops professionals like yourself. Forums will include industry specific topics, challenges, trends, and solutions along with best practices in leadership, operations, and safety.
A layered approach that includes FR/AR undergarments can enhance worker safety, comfort and compliance.
Introducing the USMWF: A Powerful Ally for the Utility Industry
In the world of utility work, where daily tasks often involve inherent risks, the need for a robust support system for workers’ safety and welfare cannot be overstated. This is where the United Support & Memorial for Workplace Fatalities (USMWF) comes in. Established with a mission to honor the memories of fallen workers and advocate for safe workplaces, the USMWF has made remarkable strides…
Reduce Risk with New Strategies for Operator Training
Utilities and utility contractors highly value safety. However, labor shortages can sometimes corner field supervisors into making a judgment call about whether an equipment operator is ready for the task. If Foreman A believes an operator is ready after several weeks of training but Foreman B believes the operator still needs several months, who is right? Training directors can support their fie…
To Improve On-the-Job Safety, Consistency and Continuing Education are Key
It’s a little late to say Happy New Year, but I still want to wish all of you a fantastic and safe 2025. One of my hopes for this year is that I won’t be asked to investigate another incident or fatality – because we’ll all work together to ensure they never occur. We’ve had more than enough injuri…
Bad Attitudes and How to Handle Them
One of the questions I’m most frequently asked during leadership classes is how to handle people with bad attitudes. So, I’d like to take this opportunity to share some highlights from those discussions. I will remind you that leadership is much more of an art than a science. There is no perfect ro…
Safety By Design: A System Approach to Organizational Safety Initiatives
Let’s kick off this new series by considering a simple question: Why do we need safety?
Here’s my answer: Safety is a must because hazards and threats exist in our work environments that could cause harm to both our employees and our organizations.
Any initiative designed to protect workers f…
Rubber Gloves and Chronic Injuries: Are Your Workers at Risk?
When we think about the word “consequences,” we typically consider it in terms of unwanted outcomes; consequences are “bad.” But they can also be good, the desired outcomes of specific, targeted actions. And then there are those times when an action’s consequences seem good – yet they have unexpect…
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Safety By Design: A System Approach to Organizational Safety Initiatives
Let’s kick off this new series by considering a simple question: Why do we need safety?
Here’s my answer: Safety is a must because hazards and threats exist in our work environments that could cause harm to both our employees and our organizations.
Any initiative designed to protect workers f…
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Safety By Design: A System Approach to Organizational Safety Initiatives
Let’s kick off this new series by considering a simple question: Why do we need safety?
Here’s my answer: Safety is a must because hazards and threats exist in our work environments that could cause harm to both our employees and our organizations.
Any initiative designed to protect workers f…
The Roadmap to Gaining Senior Leader Buy-In for Safety Initiatives
In a recent survey we conducted, 97% of safety professionals who responded confirmed that gaining senior leader buy-in for their safety programs was either very important or extremely important to them.
This research project was a joint effort between the National Electrical Contractors Associat…
A Three-Tiered Approach to Securing Buy-In for Safety Initiatives
Despite widespread recognition of the importance of worker safety, gaining consistent buy-in for safety initiatives remains a significant challenge for many safety and operational leaders.
Even with the best intentions and efforts, safety programs too often become temporary “flavors of the month…
Designing Safe and Inclusive Work Systems for a Neurodiverse Workplace
Editor’s Note: Incident Prevention readers’ initial reaction to the following article might be, “HIPAA?” You are encouraged to check for yourself, but HIPAA – the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act – does not apply to the methodologies the author presents (see www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for…
The Roadmap to Gaining Senior Leader Buy-In for Safety Initiatives
In a recent survey we conducted, 97% of safety professionals who responded confirmed that gaining senior leader buy-in for their safety programs was either very important or extremely important to them.
This research project was a joint effort between the National Electrical Contractors Associat…
A Three-Tiered Approach to Securing Buy-In for Safety Initiatives
Despite widespread recognition of the importance of worker safety, gaining consistent buy-in for safety initiatives remains a significant challenge for many safety and operational leaders.
Even with the best intentions and efforts, safety programs too often become temporary “flavors of the month…
Designing Safe and Inclusive Work Systems for a Neurodiverse Workplace
Editor’s Note: Incident Prevention readers’ initial reaction to the following article might be, “HIPAA?” You are encouraged to check for yourself, but HIPAA – the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act – does not apply to the methodologies the author presents (see www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for…
Research indicates use of these practical tactics can help safety professionals garner greater leadership support for their programs.
The Roadmap to Gaining Senior Leader Buy-In for Safety Initiatives
In a recent survey we conducted, 97% of safety professionals who responded confirmed that gaining senior leader buy-in for their safety programs was either very important or extremely important to them.
This research project was a joint effort between the National Electrical Contractors Associat…
Getting to the Heart of At-Risk Behaviors with Facilitative Learning
In a recent workshop with a client in southeast Louisiana, a breakout session reached a tipping point. The rhythmic flow of dialogue among the seven supervisors in the group found an unscripted but purposeful path of its own. The task given to the group involved identifying at-risk behaviors or sho…
Worksite Safety
Optimizing Arc Flash Protection: The Crucial Role of Layered Clothing
Given the arc flash hazards and other risks that exist in electric utility work environments, an employer’s commitment to employee safety must never falter. It is essential for workers to wear personal protective equipment in these environments; in particular, prior to exposure, workers must don fl…
‘The Worst Day of My Life’
This story is about a devastating accident that took the life of one of my best friends many years ago. I have always been somewhat reluctant to speak or write about it because dealing with my friend’s family in the aftermath of his death was extremely painful. As time has marched on, however, I’ve…
Equipment Stabilization Considerations for Utility Operations
Utility workers face numerous challenges in their quest to build, maintain and improve infrastructure. One significant yet sometimes overlooked challenge is the risk associated with equipment instability. Crucial aspects of equipment setup include stabilization of the machine and selection of appro…
Introducing the USMWF: A Powerful Ally for the Utility Industry
In the world of utility work, where daily tasks often involve inherent risks, the need for a robust support system for workers’ safety and welfare cannot be overstated. This is where the United Support & Memorial for Workplace Fatalities (USMWF) comes in. Established with a mission to honor the…
‘The Worst Day of My Life’
This story is about a devastating accident that took the life of one of my best friends many years ago. I have always been somewhat reluctant to speak or write about it because dealing with my friend’s family in the aftermath of his death was extremely painful. As time has marched on, however, I’ve…
Equipment Stabilization Considerations for Utility Operations
Utility workers face numerous challenges in their quest to build, maintain and improve infrastructure. One significant yet sometimes overlooked challenge is the risk associated with equipment instability. Crucial aspects of equipment setup include stabilization of the machine and selection of appro…
Introducing the USMWF: A Powerful Ally for the Utility Industry
In the world of utility work, where daily tasks often involve inherent risks, the need for a robust support system for workers’ safety and welfare cannot be overstated. This is where the United Support & Memorial for Workplace Fatalities (USMWF) comes in. Established with a mission to honor the…
Rediscover Your Inner Superhero
Several years ago, a good friend of mine who worked in the utility industry drove his truck headlong into a tractor-trailer parked along a highway shoulder. In the blink of an eye, he was gone, leaving his wife a widow and their children without a father.
Fast-forward one year later. After conducting some training sessions with a utility company in Mississippi, a co-worker and I were driving home to South Carolina. My co-worker was asleep in the passenger seat, and everything was going smoothly as I navigated the truck and trailer east on I-20 under a clear, starry sky.
I had the radio…
Targeted Training: Reducing Stress-Related Cognitive Load in Lineworkers
Lineworkers are accustomed to hearing that they must completely focus on the task they’re performing. For safety reasons, staying fully present and mentally focused on the work at hand is critical in the high-stakes, hazardous environments these employees often find themselves in.
Maintaining fu…
The Dangers of Distraction: Staying Focused in a High-Risk Environment
Working in a high-voltage environment means working in a high-risk environment. Doing so demands technical expertise, attention to detail and unwavering focus. When your mind wanders in such an environment – even for a split second – the consequences can be catastrophic.
Understanding the High-R…
