May 2023 SELCAT Spotlight Newsletter

MAY 2023|VOL.2 NO. 5

SELCAT Spotlight

www.selcat.com

Qualified Observer A qualified observer is required when work is being done on any exposed conductor or exposed part of equipment connected to a high-voltage system. A qualified electrical worker, or an employee in training, shall be in close proximity to the work site.

A qualified observer does the following: Acts primarily as an observer to help prevent accidents.

Renders immediate help in the event of an accident.

Ensures that "effective cover up" is being used on energized jobs when the workers are within reaching distance.

Ensures safe movement, positioning and clearance of equipment like digger derricks, bucket elbows, and cranes that are in the work zone.

A member of the crew can be identified to act as an observer. The observer shall be capable of identifying nominal voltages, energized components, minimum approach distances, and proper safe work practices while other crew members are working on energized lines. Also, the observer is not allowed to perform other duties when workers are present within the primary zone, near energized equipment, ascending or descending either climbing or using an elevated platform or any time powered equipment is active.

BEING A SELCAT APPRENTICE IS A VERY REWARDING CAREER PATH. YOU GET TO SEE ALL OF YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS THROUGHOUT YOUR APPRENTICESHIP AND YOU GET PAID TO LEARN. I HAVE DONE THINGS THAT I NEVER THOUGHT I WAS CAPABLE OF DOING. IF YOU DO DECIDE TO CHOOSE THIS CAREER, I PROMISE YOU WONT BE DISAPPOINTED. Dakota Topham, 2nd Step Apprentice Local 222

In this issue Know Your Knots

Learn how to tie a Catspaw Knot.

Words from the Executive Director Check out a few words from SELCAT'S Executive Director!

Family Patterns Matter Check out the Field Trip to SELCAT's office!

The Trailer Park Read about finding support systems in "the trailer park".

Important dates: May 31-June 2, 2023 OSHA ET&D, 1st Aid & CPR @ SELCAT June 6-8, 2023 OSHA ET&D, 1st Aid & CPR @ Moore Haven Office June 8, 2023 Math Online Class June 12-13, 2023 EICA Proctor Training June 14-15, 2023 Coyne TTT (Gold Card) Class June 26-30, 2023 EICA Crane Certification Course June 30, 2023 Online Mandatory Orientation

MAY 2023

VOL. 2 NO. 5

FAMILY PATTERNS MATTER On Friday, June 2, 2023, SELCAT had the privilege of hosting a field trip at our office for the Family Patterns Matter group in Newnan, GA. Family Patterns Matter is a non profit organization that helps at risk families with children. The FPM group ranged in ages from 6 to adult and we had about 45 people in attendance! They met at the SELCAT office and from there it was outside to the pole yard and warehouse. Thanks to Casey Darden (Assistant Business Manager from IBEW Local 84) for demonstrating how to climb poles, Scott Galladay (SELCAT Instructor) showing them how to change out bells on a crossarm and Jennifer Gibbons (SELCAT Marketing, Outreach & Business Development Manager) having a "Big Glove" challenge for the group. After the outside activities, everyone headed inside for a Zaxby's lunch! Field trips such as these, help expose not only children but also adults, to opportunities in registered apprenticeships! We hope to help many more learn about our apprenticeship and our amazing outside power line trade!

A Message from the Executive Director This month, I really would like to remind everyone of the importance of reporting incidents related to apprentices or that concern apprentices. Also, to understand our duty to report unsafe work methods to SELCAT. We have a process in which we work with the local Union and the contractor to investigate all reported incidents, safety, or worksite harassment. We have instructors that are assigned to look into and investigate complaints.

While it may seem hard to speak up as an apprentice, it is very important that you do. If you see unsafe acts, you’re being asked to work in an unsafe matter, or you are being harassed. The first thing to do is speak up and say no, bring it up to your immediate supervisor, if that does not resolve the issue, bring it up to your general Forman, project manager, senior manager, or human resources. If the complaint does not get resolved, then contact SELCAT and make a report.

Safety and respect is a culture woven into the fabric of any organization, we must hold those around us to high standards and accountability, we cannot sit and ignore the fact that this happens, I believe that the overwhelming majority of all of our crews work safely and professionally and we need to bring attention to and help those that don’t.

Thank you and God Bless

Danny Haddad

MAY 2023

SELCAT Spotlight

VOL. 2 NO. 5

By Jennifer Gibbons

"The Trailer Park" May is mental health awareness month. A great way to help fight off moments of uncertainty is having a great support system in place. Thanks to Bryanna Cash, wife of an apprentice, it made me think recently about what an amazing support system Eddie and I found during our time in the campgrounds and RV lots, or as I call it, "The Trailer Park".

If you work in the power line industry, chances are you have spent some time in The Trailer Park. Over the last 6 years I have been married to a Journeyman Lineman, we have spent most every one of those days in a trailer park somewhere in the country. During that time, we have met and made some of the most amazing life long friends in the trade that you could ever ask for. Even though we ' have have to travel as much anymore (it only took 6+ years, holler!) I know that if we called any of the friends we have met along the way, in those many trailer parks, they would drop what they were doing to come help us out! I can't think of a better support system than that!

So while you are traveling and maybe away from the family, and maybe you need someone to talk too, or whatever the case may be, call on one of your trailer park buddies! They can be a huge resource and asset at times when you may need it. There are also so many families that travel together for this line of work and they often stay in trailer parks! Make sure to be your brother/sisters keeper and be there if they ever need anything. And not only for the power line industry, there are so many traveling workers out there!

From all different trades! Follow The Cash family on Instagram and if someone needs a little help from time to time, be there for them! we are all in this together.

MAY 2023

SELCAT Spotlight

VOL. 2 NO. 5

May 2023 Top Outs!

Journeyman Substation Technician: Austin Harden

KNOW YOUR KNOTS..

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Journeyman Lineman: Micah Antonio Michael Jones Tyler Lee Carter Trevor Cartwright Troy Martin Benjamin Graham Cody Carpenter

The Catspaw is used to attach a rope to a hook and is particularly useful when securing the middle of a rope to a hook. Make at least 3 twists. It does not jam and unties by itself when removed from the hook.

MAY 2023

SELCAT Spotlight

VOL. 2 NO. 5

Shared from our friends at Service Electric Company Article By: Sierra Bowman

FOUR SEC EMPLOYEES RECOGNIZED FOR HEROIC ACTS OF SERVICE: WHEN JACOB JONES (FOREMAN), DUSTIN LOGAN (LINEMAN), RICK RUSSELBURG (LINEMAN), AND GRAYSON JONES (APPRENTICE) WOKE UP ON THE MORNING OF FEBRUARY 27, 2023, THEY NEVER IMAGINED THEY WOULD BE INVOLVED IN A STORY THAT WOULD MAKE NATIONAL HEADLINES THAT EVENING. WHILE TRAVELING TO A JOB SITE, RUSSELBURG NOTICED A MAN LYING BESIDE THE ROAD. HE ORDERED THE DRIVER AND THE CREW TO STOP AND IMMEDIATELY SPRANG INTO ACTION. FOLLOWING RUSSELBURG’S INSTRUCTIONS, LOGAN GRABBED THE CPR KIT FROM THE TRUCK WHILE G. JONES CALLED 911. AFTER THE CREW HAD EXAMINED THE SCENE FOR SAFETY, RUSSELBURG EXAMINED THE MAN AND DISCOVERED HE HAD SUFFERED A GUNSHOT WOUND TO THE FACE BUT WAS STILL CONSCIOUS. THE VICTIM HAD BEEN SHOT IN A NEARBY HOUSE AND CRAWLED TO THE ROAD, SEEKING HELP. DOZENS OF CARS PASSED BY HIM, BUT NOBODY COULD SEE HIM IN THE TALL GRASS. THANKFULLY, OUR BUCKET TRUCKS SIT HIGHER THAN OTHER VEHICLES SO THAT RUSSELBURG COULD SPOT HIM! THE CREWS FOLLOWED FIRST AID PROTOCOL AND STOOD BY, READY TO PERFORM CPR SHOULD THE VICTIM’S CONDITION WORSEN. WHILE WAITING FOR THE EMTS TO ARRIVE, RUSSELBURG SPOKE TO THE VICTIM TO KEEP HIM CONSCIOUS AND CALM. THROUGH HIS CONVERSATION, RUSSELBURG GOT THE CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THE VICTIM’S WIFE. RUSSELBURG CALLED TO INFORM HER WHAT HAD HAPPENED, AND SHE IMMEDIATELY CAME TO THE SCENE. LATER THAT EVENING, THE VICTIM’S WIFE SHARED THE FOLLOWING WORDS ON HER FACEBOOK PAGE: “YOU NEVER KNOW THAT IN A BLINK OF AN EYE, YOUR LIFE CAN BE CHANGED FOREVER. HUG THOSE YOU LOVE SO MUCH TIGHTER… THE HEROES THAT I CALL OUR FAMILY’S ANGELS…YOU SAVED HIS LIFE AND GOT THE FIRST AID RENDERED IMMEDIATELY. I HAVE NO DOUBT THERE ARE ANGELS AMONG US.“ IN APPRECIATION OF THEIR LIFE-SAVING EFFORTS AND ABILITY TO WORK EFFICIENTLY DURING A CRISIS, THESE FOUR EMPLOYEES HAVE BEEN NOMINATED FOR THE MEA LIFE SUSTAINING AWARD. QUANTA ALSO RECOGNIZED THEIR HEROIC WORK AND AWARDED THEM QUANTA COMMITMENT COINS.