OCE Health & Safety Program

GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND

OCE ENVIRONMENTAL, HEALTH & SAFETY INCENTIVE PROGRAM

O’Connell’s EHS Incentive Program exists to promote workplace environmental, health, and safety through positive reinforcement of observed safe behaviors and voluntary participation in various safety/risk management programs and exercises.

Our goal is to promote open discussion about our environment, health, and safety at all levels of our employees. The intention is to create positive workplace behaviors and environmental protections, thus enabling O’Connell to switch our emphasis from the monitoring of lagging indicators (accidents, incidents, environmental issues, equipment and vehicle damage) to an emphasis on leading indicators utilizing our Crew Based Safety Observations and Near Miss/Good Catch Programs.

An important part of our program is recognizing employees when they demonstrate our core values, embody our safety culture, and who step up to help when it’s needed most. In recent months, several individuals did just that.

PROJECT TEAM SAVES FELLOW EMPLOYEE

In August, Ryan McGovern, Cole Huston and Wayne Rich responded swiftly to a medical emergency at a project site in Buffalo when a fellow coworker collapsed unconscious. The crew members provided immediate first aid clearing the employee’s breathing passage and helped steady the employee as he was revived. The crew quickly transported the employee to a medical facility where he was treated. Without the teams quick reaction, the employee may have suffered a much more significant event.

Left to right: Wayne Rich, Cole Huston, and Ryan McGovern reacted calmly and quickly to aid an injured coworker on the job.

EMPLOYEE SAVES MAN IN AUTO ACCIDENT

On the morning of October 6, Estimator and Training Instructor, Tom Murphy, was on his way to work when two vehicles sped by him at a high rate of speed in the oncoming traffic lane. The first automobile deliberately used heavy braking as it rounded the curve, sending the second off the road. Tom witnessed the car hit a tree with no brake lights at a high rate of speed. The other car that chose to aggressively brake stopped, backed up to the scene, and then drove away.

Tom pulled over to call 911 when he noticed the car had caught fire. Tom was carrying an O’Connell emergency response kit in his vehicle and was able to use the fire extinguisher to put out the fire. After the fire was out, he did not see anyone in the vehicle but noticed someone off to the passenger side of the car in the grass. The driver managed to crawl out of the burning vehicle when he saw the flames. Tom helped to stabilize him until emergency responders arrived. Tom mentioned the driver seemed to have only minor injuries, which he thought was amazing considering how fast he was traveling when he hit the tree.

This situation was extremely stressful, but Tom remained calm and relied on his prior training. He acted quickly and made immediate decisions that potentially helped save the life of an injured motorist.

Thank you, Tom, for your actions and for being a leader in safety for O’Connell Electric.

Tom Murphy participated in fire extinguisher training, which helped him stay calm and act swiftly during an emergency situation.

CPR TRAINING SAVES A LIFE

On Friday, July 1, Todd Axton, a site safety representative for Mirason Safety working on an OCE project site, was at the camp of OCE employee, Marc Albright. While relaxing Todd was eating a piece of fruit when the it became lodged in his throat. Todd stood up, was unable to breathe, and passed out striking his head on the floor of the deck. Marc realized what was happening and reverted to his First Aid/CPR training he received from O’Connell, and took immediate action. Marc yelled to his girlfriend to call 911 while he checked for a pulse and began to perform chest compressions. Todd began to gasp and had labored respirations. Marc rolled him on his side allowing him to vomit and not aspirate what was coming up. The ambulance arrived and brought Todd to the hospital where he was admitted for observation. After some time off to recover, Todd returned to work with a new lease on life thanks to Marc.