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The
News & Info from the Safety Steering Committee
OUTDOOR April 2015
PROTECTION KITS For Premier Field Employees! Working outdoors exposes us to many types of environmental hazards including poisonous plants, excessive sun/heat stress, ticks and other stinging insects. The BEST way to avoid these types of incidents is by being proactive and limiting your exposure. This Outdoor Protection Kit can help!
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News & Info from the Safety Steering Committee
April 2015
In This Issue 2 Actions NOT Distractions 3 Outdoor Protection Kits 4 Risk Acceptance-Factor #2 5 Safety in Illinois! 6 Office Safety 7 Safety Star 8 Safety Seminar 9 Gallery 10 April is Distracted Driving
Awareness Month
PREMIER UTILITY SERVICES MARC MAKELY President mmakely@premiersvc.com
JASON HAIR Director of HSE jhair@premiersvc.com
SUGGESTIONS? Have anything you’d like to share? let us know!
Safety@PremierSvc.com
BE ABOUT ACTIONS NOT DISTRACTIONS Workplace stress derives from many sources. It’s how we handle that stress that defines the outcome.
DID YOU KNOW? Stress affects your ability to remember things you already know, to process new information you are learning and to apply both to analytical situations and physical tasks that require concentration. When you are mentally exhausted from all of the worries, anxieties and tension brought on by a stressful situation, you are more easily distracted and prone to make mistakes on the job which could cause serious injury to yourself and others.
STAY SAFE - STAY FOCUSED One of the most important things you can do to increase your level of safety is to simply be aware of your surroundings. Be aware of where you are, of what you are doing and of what is going on around you. Stay focused on the task at hand. If you ever find yourself losing focus, take a step back from the situation. Stop what you are doing and regroup your thoughts before beginning work again. Remember, being aware of your personal safety is your responsibility; no one else’s.
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SAFETY TOPIC
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OUTDOOR PROTECTION KITS
TY E F A S TICKPPLIES! SU
• Pre-treat your clothing and boots with Permethrin Rainbow Tick Repellent (provided). Do not spray on skin. Please read product label prior to use. • Wear long sleeves and long pants; tuck your pant legs into your high boots and socks. Secure with duct tape (provided). • Check your clothing periodically throughout the day for the presence of ticks. If a tick is found, remove it promptly. • Conduct a bodily inspection for ticks at the end of each day. • Take a shower as soon as possible after working outdoors. * If a tick is found attached to the skin, use the Tick Key (provided) to remove the entire tick safely. Provide the tick, dead or alive, to your supervisor who will send it to be tested for disease. The tick should be placed in a Ziploc bag (provided) or similar container with your name, the date and location written on the bag.
• Apply Pre-Contact Solution (provided) before working in areas known for poisonous plants. • Wear gloves, long sleeves and long pants; tuck your pant legs into your socks. • Secure with duct tape (provided). • If you do come in contact, use Post-Contact cleanser (provided) and wash your clothes immediately.
POISON O SAFETY US PLANTS SUPPLIE S!
* You don’t necessarily have to touch a poisonous plant to develop a reaction. The poisonous oil, urushiol, can also be transferred through the air. Therefore, if you see it, assume you touched it!
ESS R T S T EA SUN/ HY SUPPLIES! SAFET
• Cover up. Wear light-colored, loose-fitting, breathable clothing. • Use sunscreen! It is recommended by OSHA to use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 (provided) when working outdoors. • Drink small amounts of water frequently. Workers should drink about 6 ounces, or a medium-sized glass-full, of water every 15 minutes. • Schedule frequent rest periods with water breaks in shaded or air-conditioned areas. Use a cooling towel for additional relief (provided). * UV rays are most intense between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Download the OSHA Heat Safety Tool App to see which protective measures to take based on the heat index of your area.
TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUTDOOR PROTECTION KITS, E-Mail: Safety@Premiersvc.com
WHY PEOPLE ACCEPT RISK factor 2 of 10: The
familiarity with the task
WHAT IS IT? COMPLACENCY!
A repetitive task can become routine and then risk awareness decreases. Complacency sets in when it is done many times without an incident. This happens when employees get comfortable working near a hazard. “I DO IT ABOUT 10 TIMES A DAY AND I NEVER GET HURT!”
<-Ever hear statements like these before? -->
“THERE WASN’T AN INCIDENT WHEN I DID IT THIS WAY THE LAST TIME.”
THINK ABOUT IT! What is one task that you have done more than 100 times in your job? What could happen if you lose focus on this task? How bad could it be? Would you train a new employee to do it the exact same way you do?
STRATEGIES TO AVOID IT! • Situational Awareness! Treat every time like the first time! • What could go wrong this time? • How would I teach a new person to do this? • Verbalize the steps of the task as you are doing it.
To learn more, click this video!
TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT RISK TOLERANCE Email: Safety@PremierSvc.com
BRENT COFFIELD & THE ILLINOIS TEAM “The morning of September 25, 2009,
while I was working with another Utility Damage Prevention Company, I received a call that one of my employees had been hit by a Coal Truck while working alongside a highway. I was in Pittsburgh and he was being taken to Indiana Regional Medical Center in Indiana, Pennsylvania which was about an hour and a half away. His Field Supervisor was about the same distance away in the opposite direction. We both headed that way immediately. This seemed like the longest drive ever since we didn’t know his condition and couldn’t get any details. Josh (The Field Supervisor) and I arrived at the hospital at about the same time. We were greeted by a doctor who shared with us that Rob’s injuries were severe and he had passed. They believe he died on impact. The doctor then shared that he had come in without his wallet, which was in his truck, and that they would need a positive identification. He asked if we were able and prepared to do this and we obliged. He prepared us for what we may consider gruesome. As we walked into the room they had attempted to shield us from the visible injuries. We could see only his face. We were able to quickly identify him and leave the room. To this day I don’t remember the physical injuries I did see. I saw a man, a husband, a father who will never enjoy time with his family again and it happened on my watch. This was a Friday and it was the longest day in my career. I made the long drive home and loved on my kids for the weekend while I prepared for what was sure to be the longest week ever beginning Monday. The following week I attended the funeral where I met his wife and two teenage sons. The disappointment I had with myself that I allowed this to happen on my watch didn’t compare to the pain and sadness they were feeling. I watched two teenage boys get almost carried out of the church because they were too distraught to walk. I met a
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wife, now a widow, attempting to be a rock for her boys all while her heart was broken.
It was at this time I vowed that I would not allow Rob’s death to be in vain. I would commit myself to making sure that everybody I work with makes it home everyday to those that matter most, their families. The only way we can do this is by following every Safety Policy and Procedure we have. They exist because of previous incidents. In addition, we need to ALWAYS be aware of everything around us. Someone else’s distraction or lack of adherence to safety could be an injury (or worse) for us. I typically share this story with every New Hire. I don’t do it to scare them, but to raise awareness. There is no task that is worth taking any chances with our safety. We should never be so complacent to believe it won’t happen to us. Rob was wearing his PPE, he was in a construction zone with Orange Barrels, Light Boards & Directional Arrows. The driver of the truck admits to seeing him. In fact, his eyes were fixed on him and the truck drifted in his direction. Rob never saw it coming.”
In January 2013, Brent Coffield and a crew of over 30 employees began providing Damage Prevention services for Ameren Gas & Electric in southern Illinois. In 2 years, Premier Illinois has been able to add two new contracts and pilot new programs while reducing overall damages by almost 30%. Brent’s crew has grown to over 60 employees and together they cover over 29,000 sq. miles in the lower 48 counties of Illinois. With all that growth, the Illinois team has focused to keep safety a priority and in turn has been recognized for an outstanding achievement! Their team has completed 100% of the required Weekly A3 JSAs and Monthly Safety Quizzes for the month of February! Congratulations on demonstrating what ‘World Class Safety’ is all about; keep up the great work Illinois!
OFFICE SAFETY
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OFFICE HEALTH AND SAFETY
STEERING COMMITEE! “We are pleased to announce that an Office Health and Safety Steering Committee has been formed and has had a very successful first meeting!
concerns, share information and solve problems together. We are very excited to begin collaborating together to help make our office a safer and healthier place to work.
Employee participation in our safety programs is essential to reducing injuries and accidents in the workplace.
Please meet our department representatives (listed on the right) and join us in welcoming them to the office safety committee!”
This committee, comprised of employee volunteers representing various departments in our office, provides a format to address safety
- DARYL SCOTT-EDWARDS
Contract Coordinator/ Office Safety Committee Chairperson
COMMITTEE
MEMBERS
Chairperson Daryl Scott Edwards Executive Elizabeth Nelai Payroll/Auditing Stephanie Petrosino Fleet/Purchasing/ComData Grant Knowles Alternate: Nicole Giordano HR Chelsea Whitehouse Claims Dawn Reinhardt Invoicing Daryl Scott Edwards Dispatch/Research Anna Weiss - AM Shift Marissa Venza - PM Shift IT Thomas Garistina Alternate: Daniel Bonilla Marketing Lauren Machtel Alternate: Nicole Zuccaro Office Manager Patrick Allgaier Corporate Health & Safety Sabrina Esposito Alternate: Keith Ritner
TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE OFFICE HEALTH AND SAFETY COMMITTEE Email: OfficeSafetyCommittee@PremierSvc.com
SAFETY STAR
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DAMAGE PREVENTION TECHNICIAN
SCOTT FREDERICKSON On March 3rd, Scott Frederickson was working on locating for a gas main replacement with a trainee. It had snowed pretty heavily that day. Scott was working on Mills Street in the city of Buffalo. When he came around to Genesee Street, he had noticed that there were holes in the ground that were not protected in the sidewalk area. Scott walked over to discover that these were in fact manholes. Scott immediately called the contractor working on the job and then contacted the contractor for them as well. Scott took it upon himself to set up work zone protection around the exposed manholes and wait for the contractors to arrive! Scott was commended for recognizing the hazard and using his Stop Work Authority and the A3 process to correct the situation before anyone was injured. Scott is truly a safety role model to his co-workers in the Upstate division. Thanks again Scott! - Joe Villella
Field Supervisor - Upstate NY West 1
TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;SAFETY STARâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; PROGRAM Email: Safety@Premiersvc.com
SAFETY SEMINAR
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Dig Safe NY Excavator Seminar - Upstate NY “I firmly believe that my employees now understand that we meet to discuss and live safety not because the company tells us to; but because they owe it to themselves.” “For the past month, I have been sending my employees, a few at a time, to the Dig Safe NY excavator seminars. I thought it would be great exposure for them and help further educate them on the job they do everyday. But most importantly, I wanted all of them to have a chance to listen to the keynote speaker. His name is Gary Norland and he suffered an injury that no one should ever go through, or for that matter... even survive. One of the things I am grateful for most, was the opportunity to sit through safety seminars and
listen to keynote speakers during my time in the Safety Department. All of the stories that I had the opportunity to be part of still make a huge impact on my attitude towards safety and why I push it as hard as I do. I wanted the same for my employees. I wanted them to better understand why we get together for tailgates as often as we do. All of my employees on the Damage Prevention Advisor Program were able to sit through Gary’s plea for safety. I firmly believe that they all now understand that we meet to discuss and live safety, not because the company tells us to; but because they owe it to themselves!” - Patrick Milks Senior Project Manager Upstate NY
To learn more about Gary Norland’s story, CLICK HERE!
Premier Damage Prevention employees pictured with Keynote Speaker, Gary Norland, at a recent Dig Safe NY excavator seminar in Upstate NY. Left to Right: Heidi Donahue, Gary Norland, Patrick Milks, Suzanne Davis.
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GALLERY
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Keith Ritner, HSE Professional and Smith System Instructor, trains a group of Damage Prevention Advisors on the 5 Keys of Smith Driving in Hauppauge, NY.
Check out the Illinois Northeast Crew! (Photo taken by Field Supervisor, Cindy Smith) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Left to Right: Sarah Little, Josh Koenig (W&P), Steve Rieman, Billy Lagle Jr, Ryan Gober, Scott Brown, Catie Rudd, Stan Parac, James Branson (hiding)
This photograph shows a homeowners backhoe dangerously parked on top of an opened excavation! This hazardous situation was recognized and reported to Safety by one of Premierâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Damage Prevention Advisors, Michael Price, during an emergency call. Thanks for sharing this Michael!
Nassau County Long Island Locator, John Pepe, reached out to the Safety Department for assistance in marking out a high traffic area. Phil Pfersching and Keith Ritner met with John on location at 5am the next day and set up a safe work zone. By using the A3 process, John was able to complete his markout without incident. Excellent safety planning John!
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APRIL IS DISTRACTED DRIVING AWARENESS MONTH
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Thousands die needlessly each year because people continue to use their cell phones while driving, handheld or hands-free. There are three different types of distractions you may face when driving:
VISUAL Taking your eyes off the road (Checking navigation, dialing, reading a text message)
DID YOU KNOW? More than nine people are killed and 1,060 more are injured every day in crashes that involve a distracted driver!
MANUAL Taking your hands
off the wheel (Eating, drinking, grabbing a cell phone)
COGNITIVE Taking your mind off
what you are doing (Having a conversation, in person or on a cell phone)
JOIN THE PREMIER SAFETY DEPARTMENT IN URGING THOSE YOU CARE ABOUT TO: • • • •
Stop using their cell phones while driving a motor vehicle Recognize that hands-free devices offer no safety benefit Understand the dangers of the cognitive distraction to the brain Tell others about the dangers of cell phone distracted driving.
Don’t make excuses! There is no phone call, text message or email that is worth your life, or the life of another person. We live in a society that is focused on efficiency and rewards productivity, but don’t lose sight of the real risk that is posed when you attempt to multitask and drive! 10