Michael J.

Johnston

Executive Director of
Standards and safety

michael.johnston@necanet.org



Electrical Safety
A Shared Responsibility
1
9/9/2013
Objectives
Discuss industry cultural shifts for the contractor
and electrical worker (understand the potential for
improvements and take action)

Review employer and employee responsibilities
for workplace electrical safety.

Review NECAs Standing Policy on Safety

Review electrical safety from a systems approach




9/9/2013
2
Improving Safety Culture
It will never happen to me?

Im a qualified person?

Working hotno problem?

No easy problem to
solve?
9/9/2013
3
Attitudes Toward Safety
Attitudes toward safe work practices are changing.

There continues to be significant cultural
differences.

The it wont happen to me approach is risky and
unacceptable.

Removing the hazards vs. wearing PPE



9/9/2013
4
Cultural Shifts
2-finger voltage testing
acceptable 50 volts and
greater?

Tongue testing for less
than 50 volts?

If we only knew then what
we know and apply now.


9/9/
2013
5
Shared Responsibilities
Electrical safety is a shared
responsibility between
employers and employees

Effective communication is
essential.

Some disconnects exist
between employers and
employees


9/9/2
013
6
Who is Impacted?
Employers have responsibilities to the employee
(safety programs/policies need to be implemented)

Employees have a responsibility to themselves (they
should be aware of the risks)

Employees have responsibilities to their families (they
are expected to know the safety rules)

Employees have responsibilities to their employers
(the organization they work for)



9/9/
2013
7
NECA Standing Policy on Safety
NECA standing policy on safety Safety Programs
and Safe Workers.

The policy emphasizes NECAs full support of
quality safety programs for contractors and safe
workplaces for employees.

The policy serves as the foundation for NECA
safety programs and products.

9/9/2013
8
Safety Programs/Safe Workers
Safety Excellence results
from safe work practices
that continuously strive
for Zero Injuries.



9/9/2013
9
Safety Programs/Safe Workers
NECAs commitment to jobsite safety is reinforced
by placing special emphasis in quality safety
training programs that integrate safety into project
pre-planning and project management.

Safety philosophies for both the employer and
employee must be the same.

Communicate and educate

9/9/2013
11
Safety Programs/Safe Workers
NECA members appreciate the benefits of a
workplace free from injuries, the advantage of a
productive work force, and the responsibility of
offering a safe working environment.

To that end, NECA believes that to achieve zero
injuries in the workplace, members must strive for
zero energy work environments as the normal and
best practice, whenever achievable.

9/9/2013
12
Safety Programs/Safe Workers
NECA members understand jobsite safety is an
important responsibility shared between employers
and employees and affirms that implementing safe
work practices is not optional.

The association believes that a trained and qualified
workforce has responsibility to recognize and avoid
workplace hazards.

Where necessary employers provide appropriate
personal protective equipment for workers exposed to
workplace hazards.



9/9/2013
13
14
9/9/2013
Safety Programs/Safe Workers
NECA members recognize that implementing
effective safety programs and safe work practices
is often challenged by cultural differences and
other distractions that are not in best interest of
employees or employers.

NECA is dedicated to solving these problems
while establishing and maintaining safety in the
workplace.


9/9/2013
15
Safety Programs/Safe Workers
Safety Excellence results from safe work practices
that continuously strive for Zero Injuries.

NECAs commitment to safety excellence and safe
work environments remains active, focused and
constant.

9/9/2013
16
Electrical Safety Program
NECA developed a standard
electrical safety program for
contractors.

Electrical Safety Program

Text component
Electronic component
Subscription based
Record-keeping
9/9/2013
17
Electrical Safety Auditing
Electrical safety programs must be audited to
verify the principles and procedures of the
electrical safety program comply with applicable
regulations.

Field work safety practices and policies must be
audited to verify conformity with the safety
program.

9/9/2013
18
Qualified Persons
Has skills and knowledge
related to operation

Has received safety training to
be able to recognize/avoid
hazards


9/9/2013
19
Improving Industry Practices
Energized work must be
justified and agreed to by
responsible parties

First effort should always be
to remove the hazards from
the workplace

Use of appropriate personal
protective equipment for
justified energized work



9/9/2013
20
Systems Approach to Safety
De-energize the systems as the
first choice.

Apply lockout/tag-out and
verify the absence of voltage
(use appropriate PPE)

Perform the justified energized
work using safe work practices
wearing appropriate PPE.


9/9/2013
21
Electrical Transmission and
Distribution Strategic Partnership
22
9/9/2013
The ETD Partnership
Partnership Structure
Executive Committee

Steering Committee

Working Groups (Task Teams)
Task Team 1 Data
Task Team 2 Training
Task Team 3 Best Practices
Task Team 4 Communications
24
Partnership Goals
Analyze accident and incident data and statistics

Identify common cause factors related to:
Fatalities
Injuries and illnesses

Develop recommended Best Practices for each
identified cause.

Develop Best Practice implementation strategies

Partnership Goals
Identify training criteria for workers
supervisors
linemen
Apprentices

Includes training to promote industry cultural
change placing value on safety and health

Develop effective methods of implementation



Executive Team
Policy-setting body of the ETD Partnership

Comprised of CEOs from partnership organizations

Chair of Executive Team:
J. Eric Pike Pike Electric, Inc.

NECA Representative:
Mitch Marquart, Sachs Co. Power and Line Group

Steering Team

Operational arm of the Partnership

Comprised of:
Safety vice presidents
Executive Directors/Safety Directors of member
organizations


Working Groups Task Teams
Where the specific work of the ETD Partnership gets
done

Working groups formed to address specific tasks

Tasks ongoing, progressive, and responsive to
identified needs and trends

29
Task Team 1 Data Analysis
Objectives

Gather statistical data
Identify cause factors
Identify training needs
Identify possible best practices
Monitor data trends
Task Team 1 Data Analysis
OSHA Form 170 Investigation Summary Report
Preferred data source (have data back to 1994)
Recommended supplemental data to be reviewed by
compliance officer completing report
Considering terminating use as data source

OSHA 300 Log data
Deemed better data source
Better picture of incident activity
Able to use BLS published data for industry comparison


Task Team 1 - Current Activity
Publish annual Baseline Report (since 2001)
Includes following data (year 2012)
Number of annual man-hours worked
OSHA recordable rate
Lost work day case incident rate
Restricted work day case incident rate
Other recordable incident rate
DART rate
Fatality rate
Includes partnership and published BLS rates




32
Partnership/BLS Comparison
33


as of 31 Dec 2012
64,344,895 832 2.59
52,146,134 673 2.58 3.60
42,634,700 676 3.17 3.60
44,504,692 658 2.96 3.90
56,474,272 1,142 4.04 4.00
57,026,819 1,236 4.33 4.90
55,907,278 1,419 5.08 5.80
52,395,866 1,357 5.18 n/a
46,148,062 1,071 4.64 n/a
44,615,794 1,596 7.15 n/a
45,066,553 1,451 6.44 n/a
46,119,700 1,707 7.40 n/a
607,384,765 13,818 4.55
2009
12 Year Combined
2004
2003
2002
2001
2007 **
2012**
BLS
Recordable
Rate
2006
2005
Man Hours Worked
OSHA
Recordable
Rate
Number of
OSHA
Recordable
Injuries
2008
OSHA Recordable Rate
2011**
2010
TT 1 Detailed 300 Data
Date the Incident Occurred
Time of Incident
Age Range
Work Type The type of work the employees was
performing at the time of the incident
Job Classification
Injury Classification Select classification of injury
Nature of Injury
34


TT 1 Detailed 300 Data
Body Part - Select the body part injured
Object/Substance Causing Injury
General Activity
Specific Activity
Worker Location - The location of the worker at the
time of the incident
300 Log Incident Description - A short summary
description, preferably from the 300 Log description,
less than 250 characters

35


TT1 300 Log Data - 2012
Worker Location Total
Aloft In Aerial Lift 107
Excavation 7
In Manhole/Vault 5
In Vehicle 43
On a Ladder 3
On Ground Level 502
On Other Surface 14
On Pole 23
On Structure 37
On Vehicle 69
Other 20
Padmount Equipment 2
Grand Total 832
36
TT1 300 Log Data - 2012
37
Injury Classification Total
Strains/Sprains 216
Struck By 159
Fall 131
Cuts/Punctures 109
Caught Between 75
Misc/Other 34
Heat/Cold Stress 31
Motor Vehicle 23
Insect/Reptile/Plant 21
Electric Contact 17
Arc Flash 16
Grand Total 832
Length of Employment
(with company)
Total
1-3 month 122
1-2 year 119
6-12 month 116
2-5 year 110
5-10 year 97
3-6 month 85
> 1 month 71
10 + year 59
Unknown 53
Grand Total 832
38
TT1 300 Log Data - 2012
Recordable Rate Comparison
39
Incident Rate Comparison
40
Incident Rate Comparison
41
Task Team 2 Training
Objectives:

Update and improve all training programs
Develop training Quarterly safety stand-downs
Monitor instructor qualification and training
Promote training and continuing education
Review and revise OSHA 10-Hour Training Program
Update OSHA Supervisory Leadership Skills Outreach
(SLSOT) Training Program (New Start Program)


Task Team 2 ET&D 10 Hour
43
Module Title
Contact Time in
Minutes
Intro to OSHA 120
Electrical Safety 150
Temporary Protective Grounding 135
Lifting & Rigging 60
Personal Protective Equipment 60
Job Briefings 15
Trenching & Excavation 60
Confined & Enclosed Spaces 60
Fall Protection 75
Total Contact Time* (Hours) 12H 15M
SLSOT 20-Hour
44
Task Team 3 Best Practices

Objectives

Develop Best Practices through consensus
Communicate Best Practices to the field
Implement methods to monitor BP implementation
Task Team 3 9 Best Practices
Administrative Controls
Job Briefings
Pre-Use Inspection of Rubber Protective Equipment
Qualified Observer
Insulate and Isolate Safety Performance Check
Revised and awaiting approval from Executive
Committee
Protective Grounding Best Practice in development


Task Team 3 9 Best Practices
Cradle-To-Cradle Use of Insulating Rubber Gloves
Lock-To-Lock Use of Insulating Rubber Gloves &
Sleeves
Rubber Insulating PPE for the Live Line Tool Method
on Distribution Lines
Safety at Heights
Fall Protection on Wood Pole Structures - Complete
Fall Protection on Lattice Structures Complete
Fall Protection for Steel & Concrete poles Complete
Protective Grounding In development



TT4 Communications
Objectives

Communicate the safety messages to line industry
Foster relations with related industry partners
Promote safety initiatives and outreach
Website development and maintenance

TT 4 Activity
Continuing to work on marketing, branding, and
messaging the work of the partnership.

Industry event presentations such as NECA
convention, NECA Safety Professionals Conference,
ASSE, NSC conferences, and linemen rodeos.

Anticipating further instruction from the executive
team on marketing initiative




Partnership Future Objectives
Continue to perform the following:
Monitor injury and fatality data and trends and identify
additional cause factors
Expand the training efforts and resources
Develop additional Best Practices
Promote industry culture change to place value on safety
and health
Increase communication, education, involvement
Expand services provided on the Website.



The ETD Partnership
Summary
NECA is focusing on providing effective safety
programs and products/support for all
contractors.

Safety is a shared responsibility between
employers and employees.

Communication and education are key to
successful implementation of electrical safety
programs and company policies.




9/9/2013
52
Michael J. Johnston

Executive Director of
Standards and safety

michael.johnston@necanet.org



Electrical Safety
A Shared Responsibility
53
9/9/2013