Incident Prevention Utility Safety Podcast

Special Episode – iP Utility Safety Conference & Expo Presents SafetyPalooza in Schaumburg, IL May 9-11, 2023

March 22, 2023

Register for the Conference Today – Click to Register

The iP Utility Safety Conference & Expo brings together leading safety and operations minds from across the country for three days of education and networking. If you’re a utility safety or operations professional, this is a can’t-miss event. Come together to gain education, insight & knowledge that will help you and your organization achieve new levels of safety success.

Download the Brochure – Click here

16 min. with Carla Housh and David McPeak, CUSP and Melissa Housh from Utility Business Media

Special Episode – Crash Analysis: A Personal Story – Jim Vaughn, CUSP

February 22, 2023

Jim Vaughn, CUSP tells us a powerful story of beating the odds by following your training. This powerful message Jim shares with the community really puts a focus on why we train, and how it can save lives.

Read Jim’s article in the December 2022/January 2023 issue of Incident Prevention Magazine .

10 min. with Jim Vaughn, CUSP

Special Edition – What’s New In Tools from the iP Utility Safety Conference & Expo Glendale, AZ 2022

January 5, 2023

The iP Utility Safety Conference & Expo brings together leading safety and operations minds from across the country for three days of education and networking. If you’re a utility safety or operations professional, this is a can’t-miss event. Come together to gain education, insight & knowledge that will help you and your organization achieve new levels of safety success. www.UtilitySafetyConference.com

JOIN US FOR 3 DAYS OF EDUCATION, NETWORKING & PRODUCT DISCOVERY.
Visit  https://utilitysafetyconference.com/ to learn more.

25 min. with Kurt Moreland, Associate Publisher with Incident Prevention

Special CUSP Edition – Want To Be One? Ask One!

November 16, 2022

Learn from a current board member and active Certified Utility Safety Professional (CUSP) credential holder Rod Courtney, and the current CUSP Program Director Shawn Talbot talk about common questions about the credential and USOLN.

Visit www.usoln.org to learn more about becoming a CUSP.

23 min. with Rod Courtney, CUSP & CUSP Program Director Shawn Talbot, CAE

Special Episode: Discussing the new Utility Leadership Book ”Frontline Incident Prevention — The Hurdle” with Author David McPeak, CUSP

August 29, 2022

In this special episode, we sit down with the Director of Professional Development for the Incident Prevention Institute, David McPeak, to discuss his new second book, called Frontline Incident Prevention — The Hurdle. Listeners will learn all about why the book is such an impactful and insightful read for anybody who is a utility safety leader or aspiring leader!

If you’d like a copy of the book, you can get it today at Frontline Incident Prevention- The Hurdle

Contact David McPeak at david@utilitybusinessmedia.com

29 min. with David McPeak, CUSP

Special Episode: Talking Lineworker Training & Safety with Tim Vassios

December 15, 2021

Incident Prevention went to Indianola, Iowa to check out a brand new training facility that the Missouri Valley Line Constructors just built to help train tomorrow’s lineworkers on how to safely do the work. In this podcast, Tim Vassios tells us all about how the training process works and why safety is such a vital part of it.

20 min. with Tim Vassios

Special USOLN Episode: An Interview with the Very First CUSP All-Star, Denver DeWees from Farmington Electric

July 29, 2021

In this episode, we sat down to chat with Denver to learn more about the process of becoming a CUSP and how it has helped him achieve more in his career as a utility safety professional.

20 min. with Denver DeWees

Tailgate Topics -Strategies to Handle Workplace Conflict –  Jesse Hardy, CSP, CIT, CUSP

February 7, 2023

Listen to our 2nd installment into our new series “Tailgate Topics hosted by Rod Courtney, CUSP” titled “Strategies to Handle Workplace Conflict” Written by Jesse Hardy, CSP, CIT, CUSP.

“Jack, the people issues are just getting to be too much,” the foreman said. “If it’s not the landowners and members of the public throwing fits and coming into the work zones, it’s our own people getting into conflicts. At best it’s a distraction that steals our focus, and at it’s worst it becomes violent.”

The superintendent replied to the foreman, “I hear you, Billy. Let’s come up with a plan on how to deal with this.”

Three Important Questions

In this month’s Tailgate, we’re going to review answers to three important questions related to workplace conflict and violence, and then we’ll look at how to deal with three areas of conflict in ways that lead to the best possible outcome based on the situation.

View Jesse Hardy’s article here.

33 min. with Jesse Hardy, CSP, CIT, CUSP

Tailgate Topics -Avoid Injuries While Lifting and Moving by Jesse Hardy

October 4, 2022

This new series hosted by Rod Courtney, CUSP will dive deeper into each article from our Incident Prevention Magazine’s section called “Tailgate Topics”. In this episode Rod interviews Jesse Hardy on avoiding injuries while lifting and moving in his Tailgate Topics article in the Aug/Sep issue of Incident Prevention Magazine.

View Jesse Hardy’s article here

17 min. with Jesse Hardy, CUSP

Utility Safety Voice of Experience: Danny Raines, CUSP – Arc Flash Precautions: A Review

March 9, 2023

Listen to Danny has he walks us through a review on a very important topic: Arc Flash Precautions.

Read Danny’s Article here

You can reach Danny at rainesafety@gmail.com.

30 mins. with Danny Raines

Utility Safety Voice of Experience: Danny Raines, CUSP – Danny Raines, CUSP – Stories from Legends of an Ole’ Lineman

January 13, 2023

This book is a collection of stories from lessons learned and mistakes made as I progressed my career at Georgia Power. Applied for and award a position as “Helper on line Crew immediately after graduating High School and retired after 40 years as Safety Consultant for Distribution and Transmission. for GPC. After Lineman, I was awarded Crew Supervisor, Safety and Training, and finally a Safety Consultant’s position for the company. After retiring from GPC, I founded Raines Utility Safety Solutions and am currently the owner and Principal Consultant. I began his career in the electrical utility industry in June 1967 in Macon, Georgia with Georgia Power Company. Served a short time in the U. S. Army in 1968-69 and is a Viet Nam Era disabled veteran. Returning to Georgia Power worked as a lineman until till1985. Worked as contract coordinator over utility crews and line clearing forestry. In late 1996, Danny entered Safety and Health, promoted to Supervisor, Project Manager, and Corporate Safety Consultant for Distribution and Transmission organizations. Danny retired from Georgia Power on December 1st, 2007, as the Safety Consultant for Distribution and Transmission organizations and founded Raines Utility Safety Solutions, LLC. Danny is currently an Affiliate Instructor at Georgia Tech Research Institute in Atlanta, Ga., an electric utility Subject Matter Expert and Consultant in civil cases, supporting electrical Contractors, Co-Ops, and Municipal utility companies across the US.

You can read the current magazine at Incident Prevention Magazine.

27 mins. with Danny Raines

Utility Safety Voice of Experience: Danny Raines, CUSP – Ground Gradient Step Potential and PPE

December 14, 2022

In this episode, Danny Raines, CUSP talks on why, for various reasons, ground gradient step potential hazards are not always considered or thought to be important. I recently received a call from a large investor-owned utility whose employees had differing opinions about using super dielectric overshoes or work boots when setting a pole in an energized line. Some people are of the opinion that if you cover up the lines with a nominal voltage-rated cover, there is no danger of an energized pole and therefore no chance of ground gradient step potential. I believe the manufacturer’s usage suggestion for any cover is for incidental brush contact by a qualified worker, not a boom truck or pole. There is nothing in ASTM D1050, “Standard Specification for Rubber Insulating Line Hose,” stating that hoses can be used for any means or measures other than a qualified electrical worker’s personal protection from energized conductors. Pole shields are another product believed by many to protect workers on the ground who make indirect contact with energized parts. But unless the company is an electric cooperative and lives by the required Rural Electric Safety Achievement Program, which is part of the annual compliance audit by the company that insures most electric cooperatives, the dielectric testing of Salcor line hoses does not happen. Everything, including pole shields, is rated safety equipment.

28 mins. with Danny Raines

Utility Safety Voice of Experience: Lineman’s Stories from Danny Raines, CUSP in Upcoming Book

August 22, 2022

In this episode, Danny Raines, CUSP clears up his semi-retirement while giving you 2 stories from his new upcoming book labeled “A Lineman’s Story” by Danny Raines (Coming Soon!) . Always a popular educator, Danny is in the process of writing a book about his experience of becoming a lineman and ultimately enjoying his chosen career for over 40 years. Here at Incident Prevention, we are all looking forward to reading what Danny has to say once his book becomes available. 

25 min. with Danny Raines

Utility Safety Voice of Experience: Installing Fiber Optic Cable in Electrical Supply Spaces

January 25, 2022

In this episode, Danny offers listeners additional commentary on “Installing Fiber Optic Cable in Electrical Supply Spaces,” which he wrote about in the December 2021-January 2022 issue of Incident Prevention magazine. You can read the article at https://bit.ly/fiberopticinelectrical.

20 min. with Danny Raines

Utility Safety Voice of Experience with Danny Raines: System Grounding for Worker Protection Against Induced Voltages

September 23, 2021

In this episode, Danny offers listeners additional commentary on “System Grounding for Worker Protection Against Induced Voltages,” which he wrote about in the June-July 2021 issue of Incident Prevention magazine. You can read the article at https://bit.ly/systemgrounding.

20 min. with Danny Raines

Utility Safety Voice of Experience with Danny Raines: Overhead Line Work, Then and Now

June 2, 2021

In this episode, Danny offers listeners additional commentary on “Overhead Line Work, Then and Now,” which he wrote about in the June-July 2021 issue of Incident Prevention magazine. You can read the article at https://incident-prevention.com/ip-articles/overhead-line-work-then-and-now.

20 min. with Danny Raines

Utility Safety Voice of Experience with Danny Raines: Who is in Charge of System Operations?

April 19, 2021

In this episode, Danny provides additional views and perspectives from his April-May 2021 column called “System Operations: Who’s In Charge?” You can read this article by going to incident-prevention.com. Let’s join Danny to learn why it’s important to slow down, or even stop work, when something doesn’t seem right about the job.

20 min. with Danny Raines

Utility Safety Voice of Experience with Danny Raines: My Male Breast Cancer Survivor Story

March 5, 2021

American entrepreneur Jim Rohn once said, “Take care of your body; it’s the only place you have to live.” In this episode, we talk about a different type of safety than we usually do—and that safety revolves around personal health and the dangers of a less-talked-about cancer: male breast cancer.

20 min. with Danny Raines

Utility Safety Voice of Experience with Danny Raines: Understanding Lone Worker Limitations

January 26, 2021

Welcome to an all-new podcast based on Incident Prevention magazine’s popular column called the Voice of Experience, written by Danny Raines, CUSP. Danny worked for Georgia Power for 40 years and has been consulting and educating utilities and utility contractors ever since. He’s been one of the most popular speakers at the iP Utility Safety Conference & Expo our annual conferences and at iP Institute’s online webinar education events.

We’re excited to bring Danny’s extensive knowledge and experience to our podcast by launching this Voice of Experience channel. We hope you will join us as Danny provides utility safety and operations professionals like you with impactful insights and observations.

In this episode, Danny talks in greater detail about lone worker limitations, a subject he covered in his column for the December 2020-January 2021 issue of Incident Prevention magazine.This podcast is published by the team at Incident Prevention magazine. Learn more at incident-prevention.com/podcasts.

Utility Safety Solutions: 2022 FR Update Live From the Expo floor at the Utility Safety Conference & Expo

June 6, 2022

Kurt reports in from the expo floor of the Utility Safety Conference & Expo to provide you with a comprehensive look at what’s new in the FR industry!

20 min. with several FR clothing exhibitors

Utility Safety Solutions: Learn How Intellishift’s Telematics and AI Camera Solutions are Improving Utility Fleet Safety

April 19, 2022

Kurt reports in from the NAFA conference where he met up with Intellishift’s Jordan Kittle to talk all about how the company is making innovative technology solutions that improve utility fleet safety as well as a conversation about a celebrity encounter with LeBron James.

20 min. with Intellishift’s Jordan Kittle

Utility Safety Solutions: Talking Traffic Safety with Traffix Devices

March 24, 2022

Kurt Moreland reports live from the American Traffic Safety Services Association show where he talks all about utility traffic safety solutions with representatives from Traffix Devices. From cones and attenuators to barrels and flashing devices, you’ll learn about tools that can help your team stay safer on the roads. And, the Traffix Devices team even shares an amusing celebrity encounter story involving a famous Dallas quarterback.

20 min. with Traffix Devices team

Utility Safety Solutions: Talking with Telelink about Their Lone Worker Monitoring and Incident Response Solution

February 25, 2022

Kurt Moreland sits down to talk with Laura Fudge from Telelink about how a monitoring and incident response solution for lone utility workers can help increase safety and save lives. They also talk about how the monitoring has been a vital safety solution for Newfoundland Hydro and even have fun talking about a celebrity encounter with Bill Nye, the Science Guy.

20 min. with Laura Fudge

Utility Safety Solutions: Ronan’s Innovative Battery-Powered Ascender Device

January 26, 2022

Join Kurt Moreland on the expo floor at the Tree Care Industry Expo where he talks about an innovative new safety product with Ronin Revolution Company CEO Bryan Bertrand. Learn about how Ronin’s battery-powered ascender device helps utility workers ascend towers and other structures with the ease of a automated hoist device.

20 min. with Bryan Bertrand

Utility Safety Solutions: Talking Safety with Terex Utilities

January 18, 2022

Incident Prevention magazine’s Associate Publisher Kurt Moreland stopped by the Terex Utilities newly expanded and state-of-the-art manufacturing facility to talk with Joe Caywood, the Director of Marketing for Terex Utilities. Joe talks about how Terex is focused on safety for its customers and for its own employees as well as some tails about mountain lion encounters.

20 min. with Joe Caywood

Utility Safety Solutions: Talking about FR Products & Apparel with NASCO

December 2, 2021

On a recent road trip, Incident Prevention magazine’s Associate Publisher Kurt Moreland stopped by the NASCO headquarters to talk FR shop with Andrew Wirts, the Sales & Marketing Director for NASCO. Andrew talks about how NASCO is working to make FR rainwear more comfortable, how they are improving safety for utility workers through better reflective trim placement and even a celebrity-encounter story with John Cougar Mellencamp.

20 min. with Andrew Wirts

Utility Safety Solutions: Celebrating JL Matthews‘ 75th Anniversary

October 5, 2021

In this special episode of Utility Safety Solutions, Kurt talks with Danny Matthews and Jennifer Matthews from JL Matthews to discuss their 75th Anniversary at their celebration event in Fort Worth, Texas.

20 min. with Danny Matthews

Utility Safety Solutions: An Innovative Hard Hat Illumination Device that Improves Visibility & Worker Visibility

August 13, 2021

When it comes to visibility at night, safety is impacted in two ways. Workers have to be able to clearly see what they are working on. And, workers need to be visible to others around them. That’s where the Halo SL comes in, a sleek—yet extremely bright—lamp that snaps right on to a safety helmet. Kurt Moreland sits down with Max Baker from ILLUMAGEAR to talk about the Halo SL and how it improves worksite safety!

20 min. with Max Baker

Utility Safety Solutions: A New Underground Cable Tool that Improves Ergonomics and Efficiency

July 2, 2021

We always love when we see lineworkers out in the field invent new products and solutions that make the job safer and more efficient! This is why Kurt Moreland invited to this episode of the podcast Ben Schwartz from Linehand’s Choice—a lineman who, along with his team, invented an excellent new tool that greatly increases the ergonomic safety and efficiency of working with underground cable.

20 min. with Ben Schwartz

Utility Safety Solutions: Talking About a New RFID Product and a Recent Acquisition

May 27, 2021

Kurt Moreland sits down with Jelco’s Kat Lea to discuss an exciting new radio-frequency identification tag product — EZE Track — which will offer utilities the ability to track all of their products and product records, inspection logs and instruction manuals via cloud-based technology. Kurt and Kat also talk about Jelco’s acquisition of Elk River Inc.

20 min. with Kat Lea

Utility Safety Solutions: An On-Helmet Detector that Alerts Your Workers to Electrocution Hazards

March 5, 2021

The unique aspect about electricity that makes it so dangerous is that, by most accounts, it is not easily detected through one’s sense of sight or sound. In this episode, we sit down with lineman trainer Brady Hansen of Safeguard Equipment, who tells us about an innovative utility safety product designed to act as a “sixth sense” for workers by providing an on-helmet audio/visual alert system for voltage and current detection.

20 min. with Brady Hansen

Utility Safety Solutions: An Innovative New Tool that Removes the Danger of Cutting Underground Primary Cables

February 23, 2021

We caught up with Ryan Berg from Greenlee to learn about their innovative remote cutter tool that puts the worker at a safe distance when cutting primary underground cables. Ryan tells all about the safety aspects of the cutter and many of the other safety initiatives happening at Greenlee–and he’ll even share a tale about his celebrity encounter with a member of popular rock band, Cheap Trick!

20 min. with Ryan Berg

Utility Safety Solutions: Cold Weather Strategies with Ty Fenton from Safety One Training

January 29, 2021

Cold weather is dangerous. Being prepared for extreme weather is vital for utility workers who must endure harshly cold weather. We caught up with Ty Fenton from Safety One Training to get some important insights and strategies on how you can make sure your workers are ready for the conditions.

Utility Safety Solutions is a podcast that provides utility safety and ops professionals with an in-depth look at innovative products, services and strategies that help reduce incidents and increase safety success. Incident Prevention Associate Publisher Kurt Moreland looks for the most exciting and timely solutions happening in the industry right now and sits down to talk with the folks who bring those products to you. Utility Safety Solutions is published by the team at Incident Prevention magazine. Learn more at incident-prevention.com/podcasts.

20 min. with Ty Fenton

Utility Safety in Depth – Josh Moody – Westex: A Milliken Brand – ”3 Sustainability Considerations When Evaluating FR/AR Apparel”

March 22, 2023

Listen to Kate Wade interview special guest Josh Moody, Director of Product Management | Westex: A Milliken Brand who is author of the article “3 Sustainability Considerations When Evaluating FR/AR Apparel” in the most recent February – March issue of Incident Prevention magazine.

Article: Link

Website: www.westex.com LinkedIn: Westex FR Showcase

42 min. with Josh Moody

Special Series – Influencing Safety, Part 4, with Bill Martin, CUSP

February 16, 2023

In the fourth episode of this multipart podcast series, Bill Martin, CUSP, president and CEO of (www.thinkprojectllc.com), and host Kate Wade discuss learned helplessness – what it is, what causes it, and how to break out of the habit.

Listen to the other 3 parts of this special series with Bill Martin, CUSP.

To share feedback about this podcast, reach Bill at influenceteamdynamics@gmail.com and Kate at kwade@utilitybusinessmedia.com.

42 min. with Bill Martin, CUSP

Special Series – Influencing Safety, Part 3, with Bill Martin, CUSP

November 25, 2022

In the third episode of this multipart podcast series, Bill Martin, CUSP, president and CEO of (www.thinkprojectllc.com), and host Kate Wade discuss emotional intelligence – what it is, why it’s so critical to line crew safety and why it should be considered a strength and not a weakness.

To share feedback about this podcast, reach Bill at influenceteamdynamics@gmail.com and Kate at kwade@utilitybusinessmedia.com.

52 min. with Bill Martin, CUSP

Utility Safety in Depth – Advancing Workforce Skills Using Simulation-Based Training

October 20, 2022

CM Labs’ Christa Fairchild and Alan Limoges sit down with host Kate Wade to discuss how equipment simulators can improve efficiencies in worker training, enhance safety, save costs, benefit trainers and more. This interview is based on the article Fairchild wrote for the October-November 2022 issue of Incident Prevention magazine. As a note to listeners, CM Labs will be presenting a session — titled “Training for the Worksite of Tomorrow” — at bauma Forum October 24 beginning at 4 p.m. The company will also be exhibiting in the show’s Canadian Pavilion. Read the article here: https://online.incident-prevention.com/publication/?m=19389&i=763067&p=34&ver=html5

28 min. with CM Labs’ Christa Fairchild and Alan Limoges

Special Series – Influencing Safety, Part 2, with Bill Martin, CUSP

September 12, 2022

In the second episode of this multipart podcast series, Bill Martin, CUSP, president and CEO of Think Tank Project LLC (www.thinkprojectllc.com), and host Kate Wade discuss psychological safety – what it is, why it’s so critical to line crew safety and tactics you can use to create it in a crew environment.

To share feedback about this podcast, reach Bill at influenceteamdynamics@gmail.com and Kate at kwade@utilitybusinessmedia.com.

38 min. with Bill Martin, CUSP

Using a Learning Management System to Augment Lineworker Training with Kenneth Pardue

September 6, 2022

Host Kate Wade welcomes Kenneth Pardue to take a deeper dive into the article that Kenneth wrote for the August/September 2022 issue of Incident Prevention, titled “Using a Learning Management System to Augment Lineworker Training.” In this episode, the two discuss what a learning management system is and how it can be useful in training both apprentices and seasoned journeymen. View the article here: link

18 min. with Kenneth Pardue

Special Series – Influencing Safety with Bill Martin, CUSP

August 3, 2022

In the first episode of this new multipart podcast series, safety consultant Bill Martin, CUSP and host Kate Wade begin with the basics, discussing what influence is, why Martin is so passionate about the topic plus some practical ways to positively influence safety in the workplace.

To share feedback about this podcast, reach Bill at influenceteamdynamics@gmail.com and Kate at kwade@utilitybusinessmedia.com.

20 min. with Bill Martin, CUSP

Talking Heat Illness & Injury Prevention with Mike Starner

May 9, 2022

Utility Safety In Depth host Kate Wade welcomes Mike Starner, CUSP, to take a deeper dive into the article Starner wrote for the April/May 2022 issue of Incident Prevention, titled “Heat Injury and Illness Prevention: Past, Present and Future.” In this episode, the two discuss the impact of climate change on worker safety, OSHA’s proposed rulemaking for heat injury and illness prevention, and more.

20 min. with Mike Starner from National Electrical Contractors Association

Utility Safety in Depth: Discussing Actionable Safety with Bill Martin

April 21, 2022

Host Kate Wade welcomes Bill Martin to take a deeper dive into the article that Martin wrote for the December 2021/January 2022 issue of Incident Prevention titled “Actionable Safety: Modeling Change for Line Crews.” In this episode, the two will discuss stop-work authority, training to prevent incidents, recognizing red flag words, what leaders should be modeling to improve safety and more.

51 min. with Bill Martin of Northline Utilities.

Utility Safety in Depth: Managing Risk Through Cognitive Impairment Testing

November 8, 2021

Often, when the term “cognitive impairment” comes up, most people immediately think about drug or alcohol impairment. And while that is an issue, there are many other things that can impair one’s mental clarity and, in turn, the safety of the job. In this episode, Kate Wade talks to Lee Marchessault of Workplace Safety Solutions and Jeff Sease of Predictive Safety SRP about the different types of cognitive impairments that can impact safety and what can be done to bring awareness to and reduce those impairment issues.

20 min. with Lee Marchessault of Workplace Safety Solutions and Jeff Sease of Predictive Safety SRP

Utility Safety In Depth: What Utilities & Contractors Need to Know About UTV & ATV Safety

May 27, 2021

Utility task vehicles (UTVs) and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) are becoming increasingly popular transportation options for lineworkers who need to traverse difficult terrain to access work sites. In this episode, Kate Wade talks to Ty Fenton of Safety One Training about what utility and contractor organizations should consider when purchasing, training on and using these vehicles.

20 min. with Ty Fenton

Utility Safety In Depth: Understanding Complacency & How to Overcome It

April 21, 2021

What is the true cause of complacency? How can developing new habits reduce incidents? What is it about our brains that makes us want to take shortcuts? Sharon Lipinski, CEO of Habit Mastery Consulting, will answer these questions and more as she sits down with Incident Prevention magazine’s editor Kate Wade to discuss the biological basis of complacency.

20 min. with Sharon Lipinski

Utility Safety In Depth: Fire Extinguisher Safety Strategies

March 2, 2021

Are your utility workers properly equipped and trained to safely respond to vehicle fires? Fire safety expert Steve Nash will help you uncover the answer to this question and others as he sits down with Incident Prevention magazine’s editor Kate Wade to discuss what your crews need to do to protect themselves and save others.

20 min. with Steve Nash