Tag: Tailgate Topics

Wood Pole Inspection and Testing

Written by Phillip B. McGee, CUSP on May 13, 2014. Posted in Tailgate Topics.

Even before OSHA created 29 CFR 1910.269 Appendix D, “Methods of Inspecting and Testing Wood Poles,” it seems likely that pole inspection was a rule of thumb for many field employees. After all, they set poles and repeatedly climbed them to handle upgrades, maintenance, wood rot and decay. Today, given OSHA regulations and the fact that pole testing and inspections are not difficult to perform, it would also seem likely that workers would adhere to these practices. Unfortunately, some employees don’t inspect a pole at all before climbing. Others believe they can easily comply with regulations...

A Key to Safety Performance Improvement

Written by Nick Davey on April 9, 2014. Posted in Uncategorized.

I have been intimately involved with safety in one form or another for my entire career. I became an electrician when I was a young man, spent a few decades in power plants as an engineer, held various management positions in the electric transmission and distribution field, and now act as a safety consultant. Over the years I have learned a great deal, and I want to share with you one of the most important lessons I’ve picked up along the way. I’ve noticed over time that many people are interested in safety topics such as the latest human performance tools, the best personal protective equipment...

Are You Your Brother’s Keeper?

Written by Steve Hedden, CUSP on March 4, 2014. Posted in Uncategorized.

“I’m a big boy and I can take care of myself.” How many times have you heard this comment when observing and attempting to challenge risky behavior? Why do we hesitate to question someone else’s actions? And why don’t we listen to co-workers’ concerns? First, I believe we don’t want to deal with the confrontation, and second, we either don’t consider the consequences or we don’t believe the consequences will occur. Why else would we allow a crew member’s unsafe actions to continue? Accountability is not a popular concept in the field. In the field, the final decision about procedure and the...

Improving Safety Through Communication

Written by Michael J. Getman, CUSP, MBA on February 7, 2014. Posted in Uncategorized.

Recently we have heard about serious accidents and fatalities in our industry that have had a significant impact on the injured employees, their fellow workers, their family and friends, and virtually everyone else who knows them. These accidents should not have happened, and when we look at the events leading up to some of them, they could be described by the famous quote from “Cool Hand Luke”: “What we’ve got here is failure to communicate.” Freeman Teague Jr. said, “Nothing is so simple that it cannot be misunderstood.” Think about your most recent conversation regarding a topic not related...

Electrical Capacitors in AC Circuits

Written by John Morton, CUSP on January 13, 2014. Posted in Tailgate Topics.

In this month’s Tailgate, we will discuss the functions of a capacitor in an alternating current (AC) circuit, including charge and discharge, applications and connections in power circuits, and capacitor safety. An electrical capacitor is an electrical device that stores up electricity or electrical energy and improves an AC circuit’s power factor. It has three essential parts. Two are usually metal plates separated and insulated by the third part, known as the dielectric. The capacitor’s charge is dependent upon the size and spacing of the conducting plates and the type of insulating or dielectric...

Using Best Practices to Drive Safety Culture

Written by Tim D. Self, CUSP on December 13, 2013. Posted in Uncategorized.

During the years that I have worked with power companies as a safety and training consultant, I have seen a lot of missed opportunities to create a strong safety culture. Most of us have a keen eye for what the next best practices for compliance may be, and we are good at implementing them, but we don’t always utilize their true potential to drive change, drive culture and really make a difference. Let’s take a look at an example and walk through the missed opportunities to which I am referring. The written job briefing is a well-known best practice that is often used, but do all of yours consist...

Traffic Safety for Lineworkers

Written by Mike Caro, CUSP on November 14, 2013. Posted in Tailgate Topics.

One of the most dangerous tasks lineworkers perform has nothing to do with heights or electricity. Thousands of people die in the United States each year due to traffic accidents that occur in street and highway work zones, and there are always some lineworkers numbered among those fatalities. These accidents are violent, tragic and almost always preventable. The following Tailgate will provide you with information you need to know to keep yourself and your crew safe in work zones. This may sound counterintuitive, but when you are setting up to work next to or perhaps in a street or highway,...

Trenching and Excavations: Considerations for the Competent Person

Written by Charles R. Southerland, CSC, CUSP on October 21, 2013. Posted in Tailgate Topics.

There is no blanket requirement that a competent person must be present at a construction job site at all times. The competent person can periodically leave the site. It is the responsibility of the competent person to make inspections necessary to identify situations that could result in hazardous conditions (e.g., possible cave-ins, indications of failure of protective systems or hazardous atmospheres), and to then ensure that corrective measures are taken. The hazards and conditions at each work site determine whether or not a competent person is required to be present at the job site at...

Emergency Action Plans for Remote Locations

Written by Gary Coleman, CHST, CSP, CUSP, OHST, STSC on September 23, 2013. Posted in Uncategorized.

According to OSHA 29 CFR 1926.35, employers are required to have an emergency action plan (EAP). For the transmission and distribution (T&D) industry, developing an EAP that enables emergency medical service personnel to quickly respond to an injured individual can pose quite a challenge because T&D work is often performed in remote locations. Therefore, depending on the location of the work, the employer will need to consider many action items when developing an effective EAP. Talk to Local RespondersPrior to beginning work on a project, or as soon as possible thereafter, contact the...

Multitasking vs. Switch-Tasking: What’s the Difference?

Written by David McPeak, CUSP, CIT, CHST, CSP, CSSM on August 15, 2013. Posted in Uncategorized.

In computer terms, multitasking is the concurrent operation by one central processing unit of two or more processes. Interestingly enough, this is not accomplished because computers can perform multiple processes at once. They simply give the appearance of multitasking because they can switch between processes thousands of times a second. Multitasking applied to human beings isn’t much different. We have a central processing unit – the brain – and give the illusion of multitasking by switching between tasks performed in the same time frame, but not at the same time. I’m not proposing that...

Understanding Step and Touch Potential

Written by John Boyle on July 12, 2013. Posted in Tailgate Topics.

Summer storm season is upon us and with summer storms come downed wires, broken poles, and trees and branches that sometimes make contact with energized overhead conductors. This Tailgate covers some of the fundamental hazards of working on or around downed energized conductors, and the unseen hazard of step and touch potential. What is Step and Touch Potential?To understand step and touch potential, we first need to understand how energy dissipates across conductive objects. During broken pole or downed wire conditions, some really good conductors exist that provide path to ground including...

OSHA Job Briefing Basics

Written by Will Schnyer on June 19, 2013. Posted in Uncategorized.

A job briefing – sometimes referred to as a job hazard analysis or task hazard analysis – is a tool at our disposal to assist us with safely performing electric utility work. Before we begin, let’s review 29 CFR 1910.269(c) regarding job briefings so we can lay a foundation for using a job briefing effectively. The section states that the “employer shall ensure that the employee in charge conducts a job briefing with the employees involved before they start each job. The briefing shall cover at least the following subjects: hazards associated with the job, work procedures involved, special precautions,...

Bighorn Sheep vs. Lineworkers: What’s the Difference?

Written by Jim Vaughn, CUSP on May 3, 2013. Posted in Uncategorized.

Lineworkers and bighorn sheep share many similarities. Both spend lots of time at height, often in precarious positions. Both are particularly outfitted for their respective specialties – the sheep by nature, the lineworker by technology – to ascend to great height inaccessible to those lesser equipped. Both possess unique skills and emotional constitutions to function in an environment that would make most people dizzy. The differences between bighorn sheep and lineworkers, though, are stark. The sheep makes spectacular runs and leaps from outcropping to outcropping. It does not do this because...

The Globally Harmonized System for Classifying and Labeling Chemicals

Written by Charles R. Southerland, CSC, CUSP on April 22, 2013. Posted in Uncategorized.

The Globally Harmonized System (GHS) is a worldwide system for communicating chemical hazards. It is a common approach to defining and classifying hazards for chemicals, and communicating such information on labels and safety data sheets to employees and users of chemicals. The GHS itself is not a regulation or a standard; the system was founded based on an international recommendation from the United Nations and recently was adopted into OSHA regulations. Additions and changes were made in 29 CFR 1910.1200, commonly known as the Hazard Communication standard or the right-to-know law. OSHA’s...

Working Safely with Chain Saws

Written by John Boyle on March 15, 2013. Posted in Tailgate Topics.

The chain saw has become an invaluable tool for lineworkers and arborists who maintain electrical systems, whether it is used for accessing areas for routine maintenance, for tree trimming to ensure circuit reliability or to clear problem areas during storm restoration efforts. The chain saw is also responsible for approximately 30,000 injuries a year. To help you avoid becoming a statistic, this Tailgate covers the basics of chain saw safety. Before Starting the Saw• Check controls, chain tension, and all bolts and handles to ensure they are functioning properly and adjusted according to the...

Soil Classification and Excavation Safety

Written by Lester Apley, CHST, CUSP on February 12, 2013. Posted in Tailgate Topics.

An excavation – the act of creating a man-made cut, cavity, trench or depression in the earth’s surface – is one of the most hazardous activities that we deal with in construction. This Tailgate will shed light on proper soil classification, slope angle calculations and a simple rule that will help your employees make safe excavation decisions. Four Types of SoilEmployees who work on excavations must be trained in the four soil classifications: stable rock, Type A, Type B and Type C. In general, stable rock is not common because we disturb it by excavating, leaving us with the following three...

Live-Line Work on the Jersey Shore

Written by Will Schnyer on January 14, 2013. Posted in Tailgate Topics.

Early on October 29, 2012, Hurricane Sandy made landfall on the Eastern Seaboard. She spanned 1,100 miles and was the largest Atlantic hurricane on record. Sandy’s impact was devastating, taking the lives of at least 131 people, leaving 7.5 million customers without electricity and causing billions of dollars in damage. Answering the CallOn November 1, 2012, thousands of electric utility personnel and contractors answered the call to assist East Coast utilities with repairing damaged distribution and transmission power line infrastructure. Three U.S. Department of Energy power marketing agencies...

Managing Cold Stress

Written by John Boyle on December 17, 2012. Posted in Tailgate Topics.

Cold weather has returned to most parts of the U.S. To help you make it through yet another winter, this Tailgate focuses on how to protect yourself from cold stress-related illnesses and injuries. How Cold is Too Cold?Four factors contribute to cold stress: cold temperatures, high or cold wind, dampness and cold water. Cold air, water and snow all draw heat from the body, and a cold environment forces the body to work harder to maintain its temperature. Wind chill – the combination of air temperature and wind speed – also has an influence on cold stress. For example, when you’re outside in...

Care and Maintenance of Climbers

Written by John Boyle on November 15, 2012. Posted in Tailgate Topics.

Climbers are the most distinguishable tool of the line trade. They are offered in a variety of materials, including titanium, aluminum and steel. Styles include permanent and removable gaff, adjustable and nonadjustable climbers. This month’s Tailgate addresses the maintenance and care of climbers. Inspection of ClimbersVisually inspect climbers prior to use and at any time damage is suspected. Inspect for these conditions: • Loose, dull, short or improperly sharpened gaffs.• Cracked or chipped gaff points.• Breaks, cracks or fractures on leg irons.• Thin foot plates on leg irons.• Loose adjustable...

Detecting Shock Hazards at Transmission Line Work Sites

Written by Gary Zevenbergen on October 11, 2012. Posted in Worksite Safety, Tailgate Topics.

The line crew’s job for the day is to replace a 115-kV wooden H-frame transmission structure. No problem – this crew has done this type of work a number of times in the last few years. Upon arrival at the job site, the bucket truck and crane are arranged according to the job plan. A tailgate safety meeting is conducted, during which the clearance is reviewed and the points of isolation are identified. The work procedure is analyzed, including a discussion of the possible hazards and grounding plan for this work site. It is noted that, although not visible from this work site, this transmission...

Care of Portable Ladders

Written by John Boyle on October 11, 2012. Posted in Tailgate Topics.

A well-maintained ladder that is properly used will provide a safe, substantial working position. This Tailgate discusses the proper practices for safe ladder use. Common sense and good judgment are needed when using a ladder, especially when ideal conditions do not exist at the job site. Inspection and minor maintenance as described below are the responsibilities of each worker who uses ladders to access heights. InspectionOnly use ladders approved by your company. As a rule, ensure your ladder is maintained in good condition at all times and inspected before each use. Make certain that the...

A Mirror: Your Most Important PPE

Written by David McPeak, CUSP, CIT, CHST, CSP, CSSM on September 13, 2012. Posted in Tailgate Topics.

Look around your job site. There are hazards including suspended loads, moving equipment, heat, electricity, insects, falling objects, poison oak and traffic. Assuming you work for a company with an effective safety program, they have trained you in hazard identification and mitigation. Your mitigation plan to control some hazards includes PPE. You inspect it, store it properly and wear it as directed. In short, you protect it so it can protect you. You are covered in PPE from head to toe and ready to go to work. Or are you? Have you forgotten the most important PPE you will ever use – a mirror? You...

The Value of Personal Protective Equipment

Written by Will Schnyer on July 18, 2012. Posted in Tailgate Topics.

Earlier this year I transitioned from an IBEW bargaining unit line foreman to a division maintenance manager. The transition is somewhat hard to fathom because it seems like it was just yesterday that I started my career in the electric utility industry. I can still visualize the day I started as an overhead distribution helper. I reported to the superintendent of the maintenance facility on a Monday morning and received the standard welcome aboard speech. When finished, he walked me out of his office and handed me off to an overhead distribution line crew foreman. The foreman looked at me,...

Safe Digging – Get the 411 on 811

Written by John Boyle and Kurt Kollwelter on June 7, 2012. Posted in Tailgate Topics.

Over the past 40 years, much attention has been given to the protection of underground facilities and utilities. This month’s Tailgate focuses on working on or in close proximity to those facilities and utilities. Prior to Digging Before digging, a call must be made to your state’s one-call facility. 811 is the national Call Before You Dig phone number designated by the Federal Communications Commission. It was established to eliminate the confusion of multiple numbers because it’s easy to use and remember, and it’s the same for every state. Depending on state law, it takes 48 to...

Combating Overuse and Overexertion Injuries

Written by John Boyle on May 15, 2012. Posted in Tailgate Topics.

This month’s Tailgate focuses on what we can do to combat overuse and overexertion injuries. As every utility employee knows, our work at times is hard, dirty and dangerous. The demands of our job require much physical work. Whether climbing poles or towers, hand-digging holes or moving material from street to rear property, the machines most used and abused are our bodies. All this wear and tear takes its toll, and eventually the body signals overuse through pain and swelling. The types of injuries that can be inflicted often include back pain and problems with joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments,...

Safe Use of Portable Electric Tools, Cords and Generators

Written by John Boyle on April 16, 2012. Posted in Tailgate Topics.

This month’s Tailgate is a review of some basic safety precautions to take when using portable electric tools and equipment. The focus is on prevention of electrical shock, specifically when using 120-volt AC portable electric tools, cords and generators. To simplify the issues, it is best to break down the equipment into the following risk categories: Category 1 – High Risk: This covers portable electric tools and cords used exclusively through temporary wiring. It also includes portable electric tools and cords whose source of power may vary from permanent to temporary – this excludes portable...

Communication: The Key to Great Safety

Written by John Boyle on March 14, 2012. Posted in Tailgate Topics.

You’re a crew leader or even a supervisor and you really know your stuff, yet your crews aren’t quite following your direction. Something is amiss, but you can’t figure it out. Or maybe you’re a journeyman lineman, but your apprentice continues to not follow your direction. It’s becoming a problem for both of you that you’re not sure how to fix. In both cases, maybe it’s due to poor communication. We all can speak a language – some of us can speak many languages – but are we really communicating? Are you being heard? Most importantly, are you being understood? Communication and safety go hand...

Safety Leadership in a Written Pre-Job Briefing

Written by Tim D. Self, CUSP on February 16, 2012. Posted in Tailgate Topics.

OSHA 1910.269(c) states that an employer must ensure that a pre-job briefing is conducted and that it covers the following details of the job: • Hazards • Work procedures • Special precautions • Energy source controls• Personal protective equipment requirements A Valuable IdeaCompanies are moving to a written pre-job briefing to document compliance with OSHA standards. A written pre-job briefing policy is the best practice, but a written pre-job briefing never audited is a missed opportunity in establishing a strong safety culture. Safety leadership begins at the top. People sometimes...

Basic Qualifications of Employees

Written by Chuck Woodings, CUSP on January 19, 2012. Posted in Tailgate Topics.

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 be trained and competent in:• The skills and techniques necessary to distinguish exposed live parts from other parts of electric equipment;• The skills and techniques necessary to determine the nominal voltage of exposed live parts;• The minimum approach...

Felling of Trees Near Power Lines

Written by Will Schnyer on December 16, 2011. Posted in Tailgate Topics.

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 lines. To identify these hazards, WAPA utilizes both routine aerial and ground patrols to collect and monitor vegetation data. The criteria we use to establish vegetation minimum clearance distances is based on the OSHA 29 CFR 1910.333 minimum approach distance...

No-Voltage Testing

Written by John Boyle on October 17, 2011. Posted in Tailgate Topics.

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 following is a basic overview of how to test both exposed conductors and cable. The steps provided here are demonstrative in nature and not intended to replace your local rules and procedures. This Tailgate also covers the general...

Substation Safety

Written by John Boyle on September 15, 2011. Posted in Tailgate Topics.

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, which is often found in low proximity to the ground. Only qualified workers are allowed to perform and direct work; nonqualified workers must be under the supervision of a qualified worker. Extreme care should be taken when moving equipment...

A Second Look at Safety Glasses

Written by John Boyle on August 2, 2011. Posted in Tailgate Topics.

Safety glasses weren’t always considered part of everyday utility construction equipment. It was during the mid-1980s when companies really started embracing the use of safety glasses as mandatory personal protective equipment (PPE). Today you cannot step foot on a utility construction site without proper PPE, including safety glasses. Much has been accomplished in eyewear design, fit and comfort over the past 25 years, and many eye injuries have been avoided as a result of these significant changes. The purpose of this Tailgate is to cover some of the basics of safety glasses, as well as address...

Equipment: Back to Basics

Written by John Boyle on July 6, 2011. Posted in Tailgate Topics.

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 and rigging as required by your company’s procedure or, if no such procedure exists, on a routine basis. Be sure to pay special attention to calibration dates, testing dates and manufacturer expiration dates. Principle 2: Never...

Live-Line Tool Use and Care

Written by Will Schnyer on June 7, 2011. Posted in Tailgate Topics.

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 to know if the top of the house will encroach on the minimum approach distance to live parts as it passes underneath the conductors. The lineman arrives at the site. He parks his utility truck on the side of the road and turns on his vehicle...

Taking Stock of Your Fall Protection Compliance

Written by Tim D. Self, CUSP on May 12, 2011. Posted in Tailgate Topics.

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 in building a fall protection program that meets required compliance safety standards. OSHA requires that all employees working at heights above 4 feet be trained...

Drop Zone Management: Expanding Our View of Line of Fire

Written by John Boyle on April 14, 2011. Posted in Tailgate Topics.

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 traditionally used for working aloft need to be examined and possibly modified. This will bring more control and safety to those on the ground who are near the overhead work being performed. Since the Beginning of Line WorkAnytime overhead...

High-Pressure Hydraulic Injection Injuries

Written by John Boyle and John Wisniewski on February 16, 2011. Posted in Tailgate Topics.

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 were a hypodermic needle. Initially, an accidental fluid injection beneath the skin may only produce a slight stinging sensation. There is a danger that one will ignore this, thinking it will get better with time. Most often it does not. Within a very short time the wound may begin to throb...

Vehicle Operation Winter Readiness

Written by John Boyle on January 21, 2011. Posted in Tailgate Topics.

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 the heater is used when temperatures are expected to be below freezing (32 degrees Fahrenheit). Facts about Block Heaters• Many vehicle block heaters are rated at 800 watts, which cost approximately 10 cents per hour to use.• A block heater only needs to be...