Basic Qualifications of Employees
The Tailgate for this month goes back to the very basics of electrical safety – what OSHA considers the four requirements to be considered a qualified employee. This article is based on my 18 years of experience developing and teaching OSHA 29 CFR 1910.269 classes. OSHA’s 29 CFR 1910.269(a)(2)(ii) standard states that qualified employees shall […]
Felling of Trees Near Power Lines
Here at Western Area Power Administration (WAPA), our line crews are responsible for the operation and maintenance of approximately 17,000 miles of power lines within a 15-state region of the central and western U.S. Within that region are geographic areas where vegetation hazards can pose a threat to the reliability of some of our power […]
T&D Best Practices for Crew Leaders
In iP’s earlier installments of the Supervisory Series (April 2011, June 2011 and August 2011), we discussed the importance of career development for lineworkers targeted for supervisory responsibilities. We also discussed the supervisory skills required to be effective as a crew leader or foreman, including a full article on human behavior and communication skills. In […]
Safety Circuitry: The Power in the Brain
“What was he thinking?!” This frustrated question of supervisors, managers and safety professionals speaks directly to the future of safety in utilities. What are workers thinking when performing unsafe acts or walking past hazards, if indeed they are thinking at all? For companies to realize their goal of zero incidents, an understanding of thought, attention, […]
No-Voltage Testing
This month’s Tailgate Topic covers the important task of no-voltage testing, sometimes referred to as absence of voltage testing or no-potential testing. No lineworker is ever excluded from the requirements of testing conductors to verify the absence of voltage when required, although methods and practices on how this is accomplished will vary among companies. The […]
Substation Safety
This month’s Tailgate covers substation safety. Substations have a set of unique rules that are strictly enforced by the governing utility or municipality, known as the designated authority. This article is only a guide that outlines the basic requirements for personnel entering and working in a substation. By design, substations have exposed energized buss work, […]
Equipment: Back to Basics
In this month’s Tailgate we get back to basics and review some of the fundamental principles of crew safety when handling tools and equipment. Principle 1: Prior to usage, inspect and test all tools and equipment in accordance with your company’s approved procedures.Inspection and testing are cornerstones of worker safety. Inspect tools, equipment, ropes, knots […]
Live-Line Tool Use and Care
After attending a Monday morning safety meeting, a lineman is assigned the task of driving to a remote county road to measure the conductor height of an energized 115-kV transmission line. A rural farmhouse in the vicinity is scheduled to be moved and subsequently would pass directly underneath the transmission conductors. The lineman’s foreman wants […]
Taking Stock of Your Fall Protection Compliance
Resonating throughout the industry today is an increasing concern regarding fall protection compliance – a key component of any powerline safety compliance program. Fall protection compliance has four essential elements: training, proper use and maintenance, inspection and documentation. Drawing from manufacturers’ specifications and OSHA standards, this Tailgate is a comprehensive resource to assist your organization […]
Drop Zone Management: Expanding Our View of Line of Fire
This month’s Tailgate takes a closer look at a line-of-fire issue, specifically the drop hazard created when working aloft. Unfortunately, year after year utility workers are injured when objects are inadvertently dropped from heights, creating a significant threat for those on the ground. As we continue to refine the practices in our profession, the methods […]
Challenges & Successes
Remember when getting that new customer powered was the main issue? How many weeks out were our construction crews and how to deal with customers wanting power yesterday? Those were the good old days; money was rolling in and yearly budgets were more of a joy than they are today. One thing is for sure, […]
High-Pressure Hydraulic Injection Injuries
Hydraulic and diesel fuel systems operate at very high pressures, often 3,000 psi and above. If a loose connection or a defect in a hose should occur, a fine, high-velocity stream of fluid will result. Even for systems pressurized to as little as 100 psi, this fluid stream can penetrate human skin as if it […]
Vehicle Operation Winter Readiness
Much of the country is currently in the throes of winter, dealing with snowy and icy conditions. It can be a dangerous time to be on the road, but the following Tailgate provides information to help you safely combat the perils of winter vehicle operation. Block HeatersMany utility vehicles are equipped with block heaters. Ensure […]
Procedure for Reducing Injuries
Step 1: Turn on Brain. Step 2: Start Working. I wish it were that easy. While reducing injuries is a very appropriate goal, making it happen with your workers is a challenge. This article will review a few proven ways that we can get our workers actively thinking about the potential hazards involved in the […]
Rubber Insulating Line Hose
Rubber insulating line hose (RILH) is a portable safety device designed to cover exposed energized power lines and protect workers from incidental contact. Insulating line hose comes in various configurations and shapes. Its purpose is to completely cover line or equipment to which it is applied. RILH is constructed, tested and maintained according to ASTM […]
Mind Control: Distractions, Stress and Your Ability to Work Safely
Are you easily distracted? If yes, your stress levels likely rise with these distractions and your potential human error risk increases. Sociologist William Helmreich, professor at the City University of New York, states: “The gift of intelligence is critical to survival in everyday situations.” He goes on to say, “This basic intelligence enables people quickly […]
Hand Protection
In the electric, gas and telecommunication construction trades, hands rank at the top of the list of body parts most frequently injured. The following Tailgate provides an overview of work gloves and other considerations to ensure your hands remain injury-free from routine daily tasks. Glove Use in General Work gloves should be used for any […]
Compressed Gas Cylinder Safety
Compressed gas has become very commonplace in the utility industry. Flammable gases are used for cutting, burning and welding. Propane is used to heat mastic for piping or to melt lead for splices. Compressed gas fuels are used for fork trucks while refrigerant gases are used by fleet personnel. As a result, most utility workers […]
Preventing Employee Exposure to Pesticides
Employees may occasionally encounter crops and substations that have recently been sprayed with pesticides. This Tailgate describes what to look for and the safe work practices to use to minimize pesticide exposure. Following are a few definitions relative to helping you fully understand employee protection from pesticides: Pesticide: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) definition of […]
Is Your Company Ready for the Next Disaster?
The BP Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion and ongoing spill is only the latest in a series of dramatic high-profile disasters. A decade that began with the devastation of 9/11 has also featured Hurricane Katrina, massive flooding and destructive wildfires in the U.S.; high magnitude earthquakes in China, Haiti, and Chile with the resulting Tsunami […]
Line of Fire
“Line of fire” is a military term that describes the path of a discharged missile or firearm. It’s the path an object will travel. In utility work there are many objects that have potential to create line of fire exposure. Awareness is the first defense. Be alert for conditions that may change where the line […]
Best Practices
Prior to 1950, sources report that 30 percent of all linemen were electrocuted on the job. As a result, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has ranked “Lineman” as one of the 10 most dangerous jobs. Since then, insulated equipment such as fiberglass tools and rubber goods, along with well-documented safety techniques and work standards, […]
Heard It Through the Grapevine
When searching for ways to improve safety and safety culture, many companies administer safety perception surveys to identify areas for improvement. A common category that is probed is management’s support for safety. When positive perceptions are identified, many organizations will move on to other categories. However, it is important to understand what is influencing a […]
Error-Free Performance: Part II
This month we continue with the remaining tools that will help you with error-free performance. First, a quick recap: • Human error is normal, but can be provoked by practices found in the workplace and by traps in organizational processes, procedures and culture. • When applied in the moment, a series of techniques called “tools” […]
No Substitute
Hydraulic tools and equipment have come a long way over the past several decades and even over the last several years. Utilities and many other industries rely on hydraulic tools, equipment and systems to get the job done. Getting the job done is always a big concern, but the priority should always be on getting […]
Error-Free Performance
Have you ever: • Driven through a stop sign without realizing it because you were deep in thought? • Lost your place while reading a book? • Gotten distracted while performing a task and ended up having to do it again? • Found yourself writing the wrong year on a check in January? • Taken […]
Confused About Arc Flash Compliance?
If you’re in a quandary over arc flash compliance, you’re not alone, according to Incident Prevention’s recent survey. Are you confused concerning arc flash compliance? Join the crowd of electric utility professionals who are struggling to understand arc flash implementation issues. A recent survey conducted by Incident Prevention indicated there is no standard method for […]
How Safe Are Your Ground Grids?
Ground grids provide a fundamental safety feature in substations and should be tested periodically. Unfortunately, some are approaching 100 years old and haven’t been tested in many years. The most important and critical components of an electrical utility infrastructure are supply stations. In the early days, supply stations contained generation equipment to supply power in […]
Arc Suppression Blanket Installation
Use of arc suppression blankets can help reduce arc flash/blast injuries. When properly installed, arc suppression blankets absorb or deflect heat and blast energy emitted from an arc event, reducing the event’s impact on workers. Proper understanding of the elements involved in an arc flash is key to designing an installation. Heat is a major […]
A FULL Commitment
We all know the data. Typically, one third to one half of our field injuries are musculoskeletal disorders such as strains and sprains, rotator cuff syndrome, lower back disorders and tendonitis. Workers’ compensation costs for these injuries far exceed those for acute incidents such as burns, cuts and even fractures. Sometimes we conclude that a […]
NESC-2012-Part 4: Summary of Change Proposals
NESC-2012 change proposals have been published and are available for comment through May 1, 2010. Subcommittee 8, Work Rules Sections 40-44, is responsible for the changes to Part 4 of the NESC. The main change proposal includes a requirement for employers to determine potential electric arc exposures for employees who work on or near lines, […]
What Do We Do About Arc Hazard?
To be absolutely clear – there is an arc hazard in the utility workplace. There is also a need for protecting employees with arc protective clothing. If you are responsible for hazard mediation, you should have an arc protection program or at least a plan to begin a program. Regularly, people call me and ask […]
Maturity Matters
As a safety professional, immaturity matters because you are forced to deal with it daily. In spite of the challenges, your task remains the same – to navigate through the immaturity and do your job well. “The ideal safety culture is one that will sustain itself when management is not around,” comments Doug Gants, Western […]
How Good Are Your Tailgates?
Job brief, pre-task brief, pre-job brief or tailgate conference – no matter the name, each item has the same purpose. The question is, how well do you brief to ensure your crew is prepared? This Tailgate Topic will cover the basics and maybe even raise a few questions. Why We Brief Understanding the value of […]
Aerial Lifts
Whatever you call your boom-supported lift – an aerial lift, bucket truck, cherry picker or the like – the purpose of the device is the same: to get people to elevated work positions. Even though aerial lifts allow elevated work tasks to be performed with ease, comfort and safety, improper lift operation can quickly result […]
Soil Resistivity Testing & Grounding System Design: Part II of II
The sole purpose of the design exercise for grounding systems is to make the performance predictable upon installation. For ground system designs, there are several options for the design process or the method of manipulating the data by formulas, spreadsheets, or software. Likewise, there are alternatives for the design result or the actual instructions showing […]
Seamless and Compliant
Training gas and electric utility personnel for over 100 years, the not-for-profit Midwest ENERGY Association (MEA), established in 1905, has seen firsthand how the highest level of safety, operations, and leadership training for employees has become not only more important, but also increasingly challenging. Today, MEA continues to deliver to its members and other subscribers […]
Huge Steps
If you’ve tuned into the news in the last two years, you have undoubtedly seen reports of crane accidents that have occurred across the country. There have been many injuries and in some cases fatalities due to the highly populated areas in which these events have taken place. As a result, the Occupational Health and […]
Know the Signs and Symptoms of Heat-Related Illnesses
With the summer upon us, one concern that always seems to sneak up on workers during high heat periods are heat-related illnesses. Working in a hot, humid environment can be difficult or even fatal if you ignore the signs and symptoms of heat-related disorders. Heat can create a number of safety problems and illnesses due […]
Floodwater Hazards and Precautions
Storms and heavy rains can produce significant flooding in some areas. These conditions can pose several unique hazards for injury and disease. This Tailgate Topic is intended to help you recognize and avoid these potential dangers to protect your health and safety. Floodwaters can carry infectious materials that may be harmful if proper precautions are […]
Making Safety a Core Value
E.ON U.S. recently introduced its next phase of safety development at its Operation Safety Summit. “Safety excellence” is more than a catch phrase at E.ON U.S., a natural gas and electric distribution and generation company based in Louisville, Kentucky. For more than a decade, the company has consistently achieved next steps in safety excellence, and […]
Succession Syndrome
Why both technical and soft skills training are vital for first-time managers The old cliche continues to stand the test of time, “…we don’t plan to fail, we fail to plan.” As it pertains to the plan for you and your workforce, the paradigms continue to change and the threat of failure continues to lurk […]
Soil Resistivity Testing & Grounding System Design: Part I of II
For utilities designing site-specific grounding systems, soil resistivity testing is an absolutely necessary step. Soil resistivity data is required for the ground system to meet a specific performance requirement. With resistivity data, the design becomes predictable so that you know the final ground resistance to expect after installation. Soil resistivity testing literally collects data on […]
Making the Right Choice
Choosing the correct fall protection equipment for climbing transmission structures Your company is or will be outfitting distribution linemen with fall protection belts that stop falls immediately on cutout. Why then, when considering fall protection equipment for transmission climbers, would you choose equipment that allows linemen to fall over four feet, hitting numerous step bolts […]
Hidden Traps of Generator Use and Backfeed
The small generator is a godsend to those who need electric power where no electricity is found and the popularity of generator use by homeowners is growing by leaps and bound. Unfortunately, not everyone who owns a generator uses it in the safest manner. As a result, they create hazards for utility workers who may […]
Going With the Wind
Despite the economic downturn, the wind energy industry is growing rapidly and establishing itself as a prominent, sustainable solution that will help generate enough power to help meet current and future demands for renewable energy. Global leaders recognize that wind power can and will be one of the largest sources of new electricity generation. The […]
Aerial Rescue
The Department of Labor, Bureau of Statistics, says tower climbers have “the most dangerous job in America.” Steve Fleming, Director of Antenna & Tower Training at Safety One International (www.SafetyOneInc.com), says that on average accidents on towers and cranes lead to 25 deaths per year. Fleming further suggested that close to 80 percent of the […]
Stuck in the Mud
With the winter thaw occurring in many parts of the country, this TailGate Topic focuses on changing field conditions. Many times our tasks require us to work off the beaten path, placing us in muddy locations. Getting stuck becomes a reality when heavy vehicles are driven over muddy ground. Recovering a vehicle from the mud […]
High Visibility and Arc Ratings for Flame Resistance
Two standards are needed to specify clothing for high visibility and flame resistance. Most companies in the U.S. choose ANSI 107 (for high visibility) and ASTM F1506 (for flame-resistance clothing complying with NFPA 70E or OSHA 1910.269). Citing both means you will have clothing (shirts and vests primarily) that are highly visible and arc- and […]
Distribution Dispatcher or System Operator?
Information technology has profoundly transformed the electric distribution dispatching center. Historically, a dispatching center’s primary responsibility was to receive outage calls, assign daily work and communicate to field crews via the company radio. The days of receiving outage calls and searching for sectionalizing devices on a paper mapping system, however, have been replaced by computer […]
Machine Safety
With winter upon us, one hazard frequently overlooked is machine safety—especially when the topic involves entanglement. With more clothing being worn to keep us warm, loose jackets and baggy clothing create opportunities for machinery and rotating equipment to grab a garment and pull an individual into the equipment. A person can be easily entangled when […]
Meeting the Challenge
Progress Energy is a Fortune 250 investor-owned electric utility company that comprises generation, transmission and distribution businesses and a general services company. Progress Energy’s 11,000 employees serve 2.9 million customers over a 50,000-square-mile retail service area in North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida. The generation business is made up of four nuclear, 16 fossil, four […]
How to Choose and Use Ergonomic Hand Tools
Drop into any hardware store or home improvement center, and you’re likely to find aisles full of tools labeled “ergonomic.” But what exactly does that mean? Simply put, ergonomics is the science of designing and producing tools and other work-related implements that improve a worker’s efficiency while reducing discomfort, fatigue, and risk of injury. “Ergonomically […]
What’s in a Number?
Does it really mean anything if the RAI (Recordable Accident Incident Rate) for your non-payroll workers (hereafter referred to as “contractors”) is 6.2? At Entergy, where our most important value is to “Create and Sustain a Safe Working Environment,” numbers like those can be very important. Utilities that utilize a large number of contractors realize […]
Strategies for Safety in the Wind Industry
For the wind power industry, practicing safety has always been more than a mission—it’s required. After all, a wind technician may be working in a space the size of a bathroom located on a tower 80 meters tall, surrounded by massive mechanical and high voltage electrical equipment, in a harsh climate, far from medical services. […]
Preventing Underground Damage
Construction professionals understand the importance of not damaging buried utilities while performing any type of new construction and maintenance work. Even so, accidental strikes of underground utility lines continue to interrupt essential services, cause millions of dollars in damage, result in serious injuries, and in some cases, loss of life. As utility easements become more […]
Training Second Point of Contact
The second point of contact is common terminology that is utilized industry wide when discussing energized work methods, such as rubber gloving or hot sticking. Ignoring the hazards of the second point of contact is the primary contributor to electrical contacts while working with rubber gloves or hot sticks. A study conducted by the National […]
Human Performance
The Generic Error Modeling System (GEMS) has developed a framework for understanding error types and designing error prevention strategies. During just about every conference at which I speak at least one person asks, “Okay, what is this human performance stuff?” I typically answer by making an analogy to behavior-based safety programs that are directed at […]
Arc Flash – Are You in Compliance?
Some utility personnel have resisted arc-flash compliance with the presumption that arc flashes and blasts are not a major issue for the utility industry. Organizations and standards committees such as IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers), NFPA70E (National Fire Protection Association), EPRI (Electric Power Research Institute), CRN (Cooperative Research Network) and others confirm this […]
Safety Culture Success
Organizations rely on numerous metrics—from incident rates to absenteeism—to help quantify and evaluate safety performance. But as lagging indicators, such metrics tell us little about the root causes of safety. Do employees truly buy into the organization’s safety policies and procedures?� Do workers get actively involved in the safety reporting process?� These are questions that […]
Free Climbing vs. Safer Climbing
San Diego Gas & Electric recently hosted a Western Fall Restraint Conference. SDG&E is moving forward in establishing safer climbing practices and knew they would benefit from bringing their western partners together to share what has worked for them in launching a new program, best practices, equipment concerns and overall experiences. There were approximately 50 […]
Safety Information Superhighway
Designing an integrated safety information system creates a platform for safety predictive modeling Picture this—an electronic employee self-service compliance system, a web-based field safety observation system and a completely integrated management access self-service electronic incident reporting system all linked together, giving your company the tools to discover trends in knowledge, behavior and accident specifics. If […]