IBEW Teams up With Industry to Improve Line Safety

Press Release Source: MYR Group Inc.

Partnership Takes First Action to Improve Safety in T&D Construction
Tuesday January 11, 3:46 pm ET

DENVER, Jan. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- An innovative partnership between government, electrical industry business leaders and labor to address the unique safety issues of contractor employees in the electrical transmission and distribution (T&D) industry recently made initial progress in achieving its goals. The coalition has added a significant new partner and heard the first reports of task groups that will expedite improvements in training, data interpretation and utilization and identifying best practices.

The executive committee of the Strategic Safety Partnership, formed in August 2004, heard the initial reports of two "task teams" focusing on different aspects of safety in the T&D industry. The Training Task Team has been reviewing existing training programs within the industry with the intent of identifying the best elements of each and developing standardized training requirements for foremen, lineman and apprentices. The Accident Data Review Task team has been tracking and analyzing historical data, and building a database to identify trends to help understand root causes of accidents for both contractors and utilities. The team is closely examining preliminary indications of trends related to proper use of protective insulating cover up and personal protective equipment (PPE) while working near energized lines and equipment.

A third task team, which will begin work early in 2005, will develop best work practices for the T&D construction industry. This group will include safety and operation professionals from existing partner organizations as well as new entities.

A Steering Committee has been formed with the senior safety professionals of each partner to analyze hard and soft data to better understand the linemen culture and why accidents occur. The Steering Committee is charged with keeping the task teams focused on partnership goals and making recommendations to the Executive Committee on the best way to reduce serious accidents and fatalities.

The partnership also expanded its ranks, adding InfraSource Services, a transmission and distribution construction contractor headquartered in Media, Pennsylvania. In addition, representatives from the original partner groups, including four utility companies (EEI Representatives), two new personnel from the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and local union leaders from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) have taken an active role in working to achieve the group's objectives.

"I am especially encouraged by the level of involvement and effort by individuals on task teams," said Greg Baxter, OSHA Regional Administrator, Region VIII. "This is what leads to action in the field and ultimately results in workers going home to their families safe and healthy each working day."

The Strategic Partnership Agreement was signed on August 20, 2004, which joined industry leaders in a coalition to reduce injuries and fatalities of workers in the electrical transmission and distribution contracting industry. The agreement joined the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) with five electrical contractors: MYR Group Inc.; Henkels & McCoy, Inc., Pike Electric Inc., Quanta Services, Inc., Utility Services, Inc., three key industry organizations: National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), Edison Electric Institute (EEI), and the IBEW.