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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.
1-HR FORUM | EARN 0.5 CUSP POINTS | FEE: COMPLIMENTARY
KNOWLEDGE, INSIGHT AND STRATEGY FOR UTILITY SAFETY & OPS PROFESSIONALS
Simulation technology offers many benefits, including its ability to reduce the likelihood of safety incidents.
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 […]
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Use of the Job Demands-Control model and Conservation of Resources theory can reduce the risk of accidents and injuries.
Empowering Utility Workers: Integrating Job Control and Resource Availability for Enhanced Safety
Subject matter experts provide updates on the evolution of hand protection for electric utility workers.
Hand Protection for Electrical Shock and Arc Flash Hazards
Considered a high-risk activity, aerial line work can be performed safely using various tools, processes and procedures.
Assessing and Mitigating Risk in Helicopter Line Work
Aerial line work using helicopters is a proven method utilized in our industry to perform certain tasks safely and efficiently. Helicopters have supported the utility industry since 1947. Operators conducting aerial work in support of the utility industry encounter different hazards due to various flight profiles, terrain, infrastructure and weather environments. Aerial work concerning the util…
Before implementing training, ensure program trainers will effectively address the unique circumstances faced by trainees.
Training Considerations for Active Shooter Response Programs
Active shooter response training for utility professionals is a subject that shouldn’t be ignored. However, few subjects are as challenging or controversial.
For decades, active shooter response training has been touted as a one-size-fits-all remedy that instills long-lasting, actionable survival skills in one easy application. In reality, off-the-shelf training programs seldom deliver on promi…
The Meter Base Checkout Procedure
To emphasize the critical importance of the meter base checkout procedure, this installment of “Voice of Experience” will cover the proper procedures for (1) checking out a meter base before setting a self-contained meter on new services and (2) resetting a meter after it has been removed and the…
Trailers, Brakes and Common Usage Errors
I perform audits of both utilities and contractors. When I work with them to do those audits, we include trucks and trailers. The trailers I’m talking about here are not the box vans behind tractors, but the general-duty trailers used to haul trenchers, backhoes, wire reels and padmount transform…
Overcoming legacy culture and fostering psychological safety requires an accurate assessment of where you have been, where you are now and where you want to be.
Make It Safe To …
A trainer, speaking to trainees at the start of class: “Welcome, class. You are encouraged to ask questions and participate. Remember, if you have a question, 15% to 20% of the class probably has the same question.”
A trainee, a few hours later: “I have a question.” The trainee then asks the t…
October-November 2024 Q&A
Q: We are looking for some direction and opinions regarding SF6 gas switches. The SF6 switches we use on our campus are older and starting to pose problems. Some are leaking and others are very difficult to operate. Can you help?
A: Sulfur hexafluoride, or SF6, isn’t a topic or problem we can …
Knowing when to perform these tests – and who is responsible for them – is essential to worker safety.
Dielectric Testing for Insulating Aerial Devices
Insulating aerial devices and digger derricks are used to provide a level of protection to their operators and ground personnel who work around energized power lines. Following established safe work procedures is critical, as is testing and maintaining the equipment so that it continues to provid…
Neurodivergent workers may struggle to navigate work systems that don’t accommodate their needs, making them vulnerable to errors, accidents and injuries.
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/f…
Simulation technology offers many benefits, including its ability to reduce the likelihood of safety incidents.
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 be…
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WorkShield Warning Lights
As part of its mission to make the road a safer place, Grote Industries has announced its new line of warning lights, Grote WorkShield. Powered by HINVII technology, WorkShield lamps use minimally visible, low-wavelength light to illuminate high-visibility material, significantly raising its cons…
Safety Management
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/f…
Empowering Utility Workers: Integrating Job Control and Resource Availability for Enhanced Safety
In the utility industry, workplace safety is of vital importance. Utility workers face numerous hazards daily, from working at heights and handling electrical equipment to operating in confined spaces and dealing with extreme weather conditions.
To ensure the well-being of these essential work…
Training Considerations for Active Shooter Response Programs
Active shooter response training for utility professionals is a subject that shouldn’t be ignored. However, few subjects are as challenging or controversial.
For decades, active shooter response training has been touted as a one-size-fits-all remedy that instills long-lasting, actionable survi…
Beyond the Physical Toll: The Collateral Damage of Safety Incidents
While leading a recent workshop at a client location, the introductions began by individually discussing how incidents at work have affected us. One story shared left an impact on all in attendance.
Fifteen years ago, an employee suffered what at the time seemed like a simple and small fractur…
Use of the Job Demands-Control model and Conservation of Resources theory can reduce the risk of accidents and injuries.
Empowering Utility Workers: Integrating Job Control and Resource Availability for Enhanced Safety
In the utility industry, workplace safety is of vital importance. Utility workers face numerous hazards daily, from working at heights and handling electrical equipment to operating in confined spaces and dealing with extreme weather conditions.
To ensure the well-being of these essential work…
Before implementing training, ensure program trainers will effectively address the unique circumstances faced by trainees.
Training Considerations for Active Shooter Response Programs
Active shooter response training for utility professionals is a subject that shouldn’t be ignored. However, few subjects are as challenging or controversial.
For decades, active shooter response training has been touted as a one-size-fits-all remedy that instills long-lasting, actionable survi…
Workplace incidents and injuries can have far-reaching consequences that extend beyond the immediate physical harm suffered by an employee.
Beyond the Physical Toll: The Collateral Damage of Safety Incidents
While leading a recent workshop at a client location, the introductions began by individually discussing how incidents at work have affected us. One story shared left an impact on all in attendance.
Fifteen years ago, an employee suffered what at the time seemed like a simple and small fractur…
As organizations navigate an increasingly complex business landscape, the importance of frontline leadership development cannot be overstated.
The Transformative Impact of Training for Frontline Managers
Frontline managers are crucial because they bridge organizational goals and frontline employees. They significantly influence workplace dynamics and performance outcomes. In this context, my company surveyed 110 safety professionals and interviewed 10 safety professionals across various industrie…
As organizations navigate an increasingly complex business landscape, the importance of frontline leadership development cannot be overstated.
The Transformative Impact of Training for Frontline Managers
Frontline managers are crucial because they bridge organizational goals and frontline employees. They significantly influence workplace dynamics and performance outcomes. In this context, my company surveyed 110 safety professionals and interviewed 10 safety professionals across various industries – including co…
This educational technique is ideally suited as a resource for those wanting to improve the effectiveness of safety training.
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 s…
Few utility businesses currently meet all of the transformational ESG requirements, placing them at odds with the future of work.
ESG: Health and Safety Obstacle or Opportunity?
Over the past few years, much has been written and discussed about the role of environmental, social and governance, commonly referred to as ESG. Investors and customers are increasingly applying these nonfinancial factors as part of their analysis process to identify material risks and growth op…
A simple change in language can lead to more productive incident investigations – and fewer incidents overall.
Pattern Disruption: Don’t Start with ‘Why’
In the northern latitudes, Mother Nature is deeply vested in a cycle of pattern disruption. The four seasons change the ecosystems and habitats. As the seasons shift in New York, the lake that I live on moves from a warm thermocline with colder layers on the bottom and warmer water on top to the …
Worksite Safety
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 be…
Hand Protection for Electrical Shock and Arc Flash Hazards
Hand protection has evolved in recent times, perhaps making the greatest advancements in the past decade. Although the primary focus of this article is hand protection for electrical shock and arc flash hazards, it also explores the multihazard protection incorporated into newer-generation hand p…
Dielectric Testing for Insulating Aerial Devices
Insulating aerial devices and digger derricks are used to provide a level of protection to their operators and ground personnel who work around energized power lines. Following established safe work procedures is critical, as is testing and maintaining the equipment so that it continues to provid…
Assessing and Mitigating Risk in Helicopter Line Work
Aerial line work using helicopters is a proven method utilized in our industry to perform certain tasks safely and efficiently. Helicopters have supported the utility industry since 1947. Operators conducting aerial work in support of the utility industry encounter different hazards due to variou…
Subject matter experts provide updates on the evolution of hand protection for electric utility workers.
Hand Protection for Electrical Shock and Arc Flash Hazards
Hand protection has evolved in recent times, perhaps making the greatest advancements in the past decade. Although the primary focus of this article is hand protection for electrical shock and arc flash hazards, it also explores the multihazard protection incorporated into newer-generation hand p…
Knowing when to perform these tests – and who is responsible for them – is essential to worker safety.
Dielectric Testing for Insulating Aerial Devices
Insulating aerial devices and digger derricks are used to provide a level of protection to their operators and ground personnel who work around energized power lines. Following established safe work procedures is critical, as is testing and maintaining the equipment so that it continues to provid…
Considered a high-risk activity, aerial line work can be performed safely using various tools, processes and procedures.
Assessing and Mitigating Risk in Helicopter Line Work
Aerial line work using helicopters is a proven method utilized in our industry to perform certain tasks safely and efficiently. Helicopters have supported the utility industry since 1947. Operators conducting aerial work in support of the utility industry encounter different hazards due to variou…
Lightning Safety in Outdoor Work Environments
Outdoor workers across various industries face numerous hazards on the job site. One sometimes overlooked yet potentially deadly threat is lightning. A leading cause of weather-related deaths in the United States, lightning strikes pose a significant risk to workers, surroundings and equipment. According to OSHA, in the U.S., over 300 people are struck by lightning every year, often causing victims injury, disability and even death. Understanding the dangers of lightning and implementing proper safety protocols, including the use of advanced detection technology, is critical for reducing ri…
Dan Gibson
Mental Rehearsals: Responding to Heat Emergencies
While temperatures have begun to cool across the country, heat emergencies can still occur. And because heat is the leading cause of death among all hazardous weather conditions in the U.S., OSHA recently published its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoo…
Bill Martin, CUSP, NRP, RN, DIMM
Proactive Risk Reduction: The Key to Sustainable Success
In an increasingly complex and volatile business landscape, the ability to proactively identify, assess and mitigate risks is not merely a valuable skill – it’s a strategic imperative for sustainable success. As leaders, entrepreneurs and innovators, our capacity to anticipate and navigate risks …
Robert (RL) Eisenbach, CUSP
The Evolution of Tree-Trimming Safety Practices
Horace Shelton, CUSP
The Best Practice
R. Neal Gracey
Saving Lives with Quality CPR
Bill Martin, CUSP, NRP, RN, DIMM
Expand Pre-Job Briefings to Include Your Hydro-Excavator Partners
Phillip Ramey II
Do You Really Care?
John Fischer
Overcoming legacy culture and fostering psychological safety requires an accurate assessment of where you have been, where you are now and where you want to be.
Make It Safe To …
A trainer, speaking to trainees at the start of class: “Welcome, class. You are encouraged to ask questions and participate. Remember, if you have a question, 15% to 20% of the class probably has the same question.”
A trainee, a few hours later: “I have a question.” The trainee then asks the t…
Train your frontline workers in this type of planning and execution using the energy wheel and the hierarchy of controls.
Preventing SIFs with Above-the-Line Work Planning and Execution
Are the things that hurt people the same as the things that kill people? Should safety focus on preventing serious injuries and fatalities (SIFs)? In this article, I’m not going to attempt to answer either of those questions. Instead, I’m going to do two other things. First, I’ll provide you with…
Begin every day and every task safely.
START Work Authority
Stop-work authority is crucial in our industry. Understand me when I say this: If people aren’t using stop-work authority, they don’t have that authority even if it’s promoted on a bulletin board somewhere.
With that said, I want to propose START (self, task, assess, reduce, thrive) work autho…
The practice of receiving feedback will make you better at giving it.
Receiving Feedback
Most leadership development programs talk about the vital skill of giving feedback, as they should. I hope you’ve been trained on coaching and feedback and that you practice and enhance those skills frequently.
But what about receiving feedback? That is another skill that can be learned, pract…
The Meter Base Checkout Procedure
To emphasize the critical importance of the meter base checkout procedure, this installment of “Voice of Experience” will cover the proper procedures for (1) checking out a meter base before setting a self-contained meter on new services and (2) resetting a meter after it has been removed and the…
What Tasks Can Lone Workers Perform?
Over the course of my career in the utility industry, I’ve often been asked what tasks lone workers are allowed to perform on their own. It’s sometimes a hotly debated topic – both legally and ethically – and the answer is very much based on the employer. Each employer determines which tasks are …
Apprentice Development Programs: What Should be Included?
Over the years, I have received many questions asking what it takes to become a journeyman lineworker after being hired as an apprentice. In response, I have prepared the following overview of the skills training I believe needs to be covered. Please note that this is only an overview; some compa…
Ruling Spans and Proper Conductor Sag
The cold winter weather of recent months has prompted many conversations about proper sagging and tension on transmission and distribution conductors. Improper sagging and excessively high tension on conductors – past their rated breaking strength – have caused unscheduled system outages, but suc…
October-November 2024 Q&A
Q: We are looking for some direction and opinions regarding SF6 gas switches. The SF6 switches we use on our campus are older and starting to pose problems. Some are leaking and others are very difficult to operate. Can you help?
A: Sulfur hexafluoride, or SF6, isn’t a topic or problem we can effectively deal with in this venue, but we can offer some direction along practical lines as SF6 ha…
August-September 2024 Q&A
Q: How high can we stack poles in a pole yard? I can’t find any references in OSHA or ANSI C2/the National Electrical Safety Code. Is there a standard?
A: Your question provides us with an example of when a standard governing our industry is not necessarily found in the National Electrical Safety Code, OSHA 29 CFR 1910.269 (General Industry) or OSHA 1926 Subpart V (Construction).
What you…