ARTICLE
Live Line Work: Does Your Day Start With Luck or Safety?
By Vision Technologies | September 29, 2021
Read Time: 4:35 Minutes
The utility industry is filled with risks and hazards that other lines of business do not experience. Electrical work has been repeatedly identified by the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries as one of the most dangerous jobs. Although the equipment, personal protective equipment (PPE), and procedures have improved dramatically over the last 15 to 20 years, we still see many needless injuries and fatalities each year. The solution may seem straightforward and simple; however, with studies showing 90 percent of all incidents being the result of human error, whether equipment related or human-induced, the solution may not be so easy.
Today, many companies have administrative safety procedures and policies that either meet OSHA requirements or exceed them – yet the challenge is so many still choose to take shortcuts. Things that we might miss or take for granted when working in hazardous work environments can ultimately lead to dangerous safety risks.
So how do we encourage workers to follow procedures, maintain a focus on safety, and avoid shortcuts? The answer isn’t by leaving it up to luck. It has to be a conscious decision to be safety minded
Don’t Fall Victim to a Case of the Mondays
A great way to create safety awareness is by establishing a Monday safety kickoff. John Voyer, Manager of Substation Operations for Green Mountain Power (GMP), states, “Every Monday we have a safety meeting – a reminder that the weekend is over and that it’s time to get your head in the game for the week. It pumps up safety awareness.”
GMP isn’t the only organization that finds this approach to be an effective one. “Communication of a weekly safety message designed to be relevant to the season is an important start to the week and helps in safety reporting,” says Mike Pazzanese, CUSP-Certified Director of Health/Safety and Training for ElecComm. “The safety message is short, focused, and to the point, making it easy to digest.”
Staying mentally clocked-in is important as well. As much as you may want to quickly finish a job or scoot out quickly on a Friday, the same behaviors can have you cutting risky corners. In fact, the National Sisterhood United for Journeymen Linemen (NSUJL)** was started in remembrance of John (JP) Plante. JP, an electrical lineman, sadly died at the end of the day on a Friday trying to wrap up an error he noticed on the line.
Rae Johnson, one of the founding members of the NSUJL and a former lineworker, speaks often about the man who inspired the start of the organization. “It was the end of the workday. He was alone. JP was checking a job, saw something not right, and figured he could go up there and fix it. He ended up falling 90 feet off of the pole and died as a result. He was experienced and probably never considered that trying to get the job done quickly was so dangerous.”
Whether it’s Friday at quitting time, the start of a Monday, or any other day, take the time and the care needed. Overlooking little details can end up causing a huge problem.
Every little detail matters. No little detail can be overlooked.
Rae Johnson, National Sisterhood United for Journeymen Linemen (NSUJL)
Various techniques for enhanced visualization are described comprising augmented reality, unspecific and targeted staining methods. Image by Gorodenkoff / shutterstock.com
Keep It Safety Simple (KISS)
You’ve probably heard of “Keep It Simple Stupid” or KISS. In the utility industry, this can also be referred to as “Keep It Safety Simple.”
Since supervising safety professionals are not always there to guide or oversee work on a regular basis, providing convenient safety tools for quick reference in the field offers a quick, convenient way to refer back to safety in the field. Once you have equipped your team with these safety tools, call attention back to them on a regular basis to help ensure that they are being used.
Encourage junior crew members or apprentices to conduct job briefs periodically. They may be more apt to see little hazards that the crew leaders may overlook or take lightly. Ultimately, all crew members must be able to stop work if they see an unsafe condition.
Head Check: Get in the Safety Mindset
Before getting on a line, ask yourself, “Am I mentally prepared to be in a hazardous situation?” Being in a safety mindset, focused on the job at hand, is the first line of defense in preventing injury. If you see someone who is not in the right mindset, don’t hesitate to ground them from the job. This is important for their safety and the safety of everyone on the job. The NSUJL’s message to every lineman is always “be your brother or sister’s keeper.”
There is nothing wrong with being grounded, but pride can get in the way of that. Rae recounts the story of a Florida worker was going through a personal situation. His attention was on that and not on the job. He tried to continue on with his work, got in a bucket when he shouldn’t have, and he subsequently lost his life.
At some utility companies, the workforce is asked to conduct job briefs and day to day work as if their own son, daughter, or loved one is on that job with them. Corners should never be cut, and putting the job into perspective helps increase situational awareness. Considering family or loved ones brings the point home, according to Mike Pazzanese, ElecComm Corporation.
If your safety message is easy, straightforward, and to the point, there is an increased likelihood that your message will be supported and followed in the field.
Mike Pazzanese, Director of Health/Safety and Training, ElecComm Corporation
Before getting on a line, ask yourself, “Am I mentally prepared to be in a hazardous situation?” Being in a safety mindset, focused on the job at hand, is the first line of defense in preventing injury. If you see someone who is not in the right mindset, don’t hesitate to ground them from the job. This is important for their safety and the safety of everyone on the job. The NSUJL’s message to every lineman is always “be your brother or sister’s keeper.”
There is nothing wrong with being grounded, but pride can get in the way of that. Rae recounts the story of a Florida worker was going through a personal situation. His attention was on that and not on the job. He tried to continue on with his work, got in a bucket when he shouldn’t have, and he subsequently lost his life.
At some utility companies, the workforce is asked to conduct job briefs and day to day work as if their own son, daughter, or loved one is on that job with them. Corners should never be cut, and putting the job into perspective helps increase situational awareness. Considering family or loved ones brings the point home, according to Mike Pazzanese, ElecComm Corporation.
