The primary goal of safety is to prevent injuries. We achieve that goal in most cases, though our rare failures often overshadow our frequent successes. And while it’s essential to analyze failures and apply lessons learned, it’s equally if not more important to highlight and replicate our successes. So, let’s explore how to define success, reinforce success and, most critically, ensure repeated and continuous success. Success Defined Success can be defined as desired behaviors achieving desired results – with extreme preference given to behaviors. From that definition, and in order fro…

Q: Here in Australia, we recently read Jim Vaughn’s “Trainer the Trainer 101: Substation Entry Policies” (https://incident-prevention.com/blog/train-the-trainer-101-substation-entry-policies/). We have a 415-volt substation on-site; its doors and cabinets are locked. However, we are not comfortable allowing entry to the substation without some control over who is able to enter and the qualifications they must have. Do you know of any reference materials pertaining to entry requirements for non-qualified electricians, or is allowing them entry simply a no-no? We appreciate any help you can p…

I was so excited when I became a journeyman lineman in the early 1970s. In those days, there was no such thing as a journeyman ticket – a union member or business agent would let you know that you had arrived. Seniority alone was the driver. I was a union lineman in IBEW 84/896 located in Macon, Georgia. As there was no junior apprenticeship development program at the time, the senior linemen on the crews taught young apprentices. Apprentice school consisted of a two-week class to determine if an apprentice could climb a 40-foot pole well enough to become a journeyman. There was also a s…

Employers in our industry must have policies and procedures in place that align with OSHA’s qualified worker requirements. Each employer also must be able to defend its interpretation of those requirements. Many can’t do it. This is something I come across in almost every OSHA and civil litigation case I work on. Whether it’s General Industry (29 CFR 1910.269) or Construction (1926 Subpart V), the requirements are the same. If an employer assumes a journeyman’s ticket is proof of qualification, they have made a mistake. The employer’s duty is not met by third-party certification alone under…

The holiday season is a wonderful time to spend with family and friends and to reflect on our gratitude for all the blessings we have. The joy and love we share during this magical season often graces us with memories we’ll cherish for years to come. But once the holidays are over and Monday rolls around again, it’s time to get back to work. How do you come down from your emotional high and begin to refocus on your work responsibilities? It’s all about dialing in. Each of us has an internal switch that we must flip to help ensure we stick around to make more beautiful memories with…

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…

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 Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings (see more at www.osha.gov/heat-exposure/rulemaking). Would you know what to do if one of your co-workers collapsed on the job due to heat-related illness? Let’s say you are working in the right-of-way. It’s a simple pole transfer, but it’s being done out of the hooks. T…