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 unexpected, adverse side effects that may go unrecognized until an injury occurs. This is precisely the case with rubber gloves. For two decades, I have been warning our industry that overuse of rubber gloves can result in damage to workers’ hands. I knew this was a possibility because of my own hand…

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 injuries and deaths in our industry’s history, including just this past year. That’s why I want to ask each person reading this to make sure you’re taking the time needed to perform your tasks safely. We must continue the important work of preventing incidents and strive to significantly lower serious…

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-Risk Environment Whether it’s in a power generation plant, a substation, or a transmission or distribution setting, a high-voltage environment is inherently hazardous. Workers are routinely exposed to electrical potential that can cause severe electric shocks, arc flashes and burns. Equipment mainte…

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 from…

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 pro…

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 sma…