Skip to main content

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING?

JUNE-JULY 2015 Archive

Distribution Switching Safety

| Mike Caro, CUSP |

Lineworkers face no shortage of hazards during the course of a day, but switching is among those that give me the most pause. Opening and closing circuits, tying circuits together, breaking loads, transferring loads, tying or breaking substations – if any of these procedures go wrong, the results can be catastrophic. And while it always […]

Read more
Tompkins-2-Web.jpg

Understanding OSHA Electric Power Training Requirements

| Pam Tompkins, CSP, CUSP |

Are your employees performing work on or near electric power generation, transmission or distribution facilities? If so, whether they are performing electrical or nonelectrical work, electrical training is required. The training provided must ensure employees can identify electrical hazards and employ safe work methods to remove or control the hazards for their safety. Covered Work […]

Read more
Elchemmas-2-Web.jpg

Making the Switch

| Raffi Elchemmas, AEP, MBA | , ,

It is an undisputed and well-known fact that workers’ use of manual tools increases repetitive movement, introduces awkward working postures and elevates the risk of ergonomic injuries and illnesses. Throughout the past decade, the utility industry has done a great job of recognizing these ergonomic safety issues, and a number of utility tool manufacturers have […]

Read more
Sang-2-Web.jpg

How to Navigate the FR Clothing Marketplace

| Derek Sang, CSHEP, QSSP | ,

When the original version of the OSHA 1910.269 standard was published, flame-resistant (FR) clothing wasn’t even mentioned. The dangers associated with electric arcs were known, but the standard only required that an employer not allow an employee to wear clothing that, when exposed to flames or electric arcs, could increase the extent of injury sustained […]

Read more
McMillan-1-Web.jpg

Arrive Alive

| Laura McMillan | , ,

On a clear, sunny day following a fierce thunderstorm the night before, Mark drove off to work. The schedule for the day was busy with repairing downed lines in several heavily trafficked neighborhoods followed by some scheduled maintenance at a router station. Mark met up with his crew, reviewed the schedule and then the team […]

Read more
Vaughn 1

Train the Trainer 101: Back to Basics: ‘Gentlemen, This is a Football’

| Jim Vaughn, CUSP | , ,

I recently spent several weeks studying an incident, trying to understand how it had happened and – more importantly – how it could have been prevented. Maybe the answer was associated with human performance, or maybe culture, or it could have been procedures, or … well, maybe it could have been associated with any number […]

Read more

Voice of Experience: Fundamentals of Underground Padmount Transformers

| Danny Raines, CUSP | , , ,

In recent months Incident Prevention has received several questions about underground (UD) padmount transformers, so in this installment of “Voice of Experience,” I’d like to take the time to cover the general aspects of these types of transformers. To begin, there are a few different types of single-phase and three-phase UD padmounts: live front with […]

Read more

June 2015 Q&A

| Jim Vaughn, CUSP | , , ,

Q: Are there any changes to steel-toe boot requirements for lineworkers in the recently revised OSHA 1910.269 standard? A: OSHA still leaves it to employers to decide whether hard-toe or protective footwear is required. As with all other PPE, the decision should be made based on risks and history. Wearing safety footwear is not required […]

Read more
Toolbox-Art-Web.jpg

June 2015 Management Toolbox

| Kate Wade

Pros and Cons of 360-Degree FeedbackArguably the most common types of workplace performance reviews are those that involve only supervisors and their direct reports. However, there is another type of appraisal system that continues to gain in popularity: 360-degree feedback, in which individuals receive input about their performance from co-workers at all levels of the […]

Read more

The Most Important Tool on the Job Site

| Jordan Hollingsworth, CHST, CSP, CUSP, and Joe Clady |

Utility workers should be familiar with OSHA 29 CFR 1910.269(c) and 1926.952, which require a job briefing before work begins. OSHA expects each briefing to include a discussion of hazards, work procedures, any special precautions, controls for energy sources and personal protective equipment needed for safe work. Performing such briefings provides basic regulatory compliance, but […]

Read more

Incident Prevention Magazine Series