Arc Flash Accident / Injury Journey Lineman was attempting to install a glass meter cover on a 480V meter base that was energized. As he was trying to install the metal ring, the cover slipped and the ring went into the hub making contact with the energized meter lugs causing a flash which resulted in… [Read More]
Archives for October 2013
Barehand Committee looks at helicopter use
By Ralph Armstrong Work continues with both the PG&E Barehand Oversight and Barehand Committees. Some of the big issues that have become priorities that both the union and the company are working together to resolve are: Barehand/Helicopter use: There has been an issue obtaining a current approval letter for the use of helicopters as part… [Read More]
National Safety Conference: lessons learned
IBEW 1245 Health and Safety Committee members Dan Boschee, Art Torres and Business Representative Rich Lane attended the National Safety Council labor caucus in Chicago. The four-day conference features national safety experts, reports on new changes in federal statutes and labor caucuses being conducted by labor unions in the electrical, gas, transportation, communication and broadcast… [Read More]
Peer-to-Peer safety update
By Rich Lane Control the Pressure Safety Initiative The Control the Pressure peer committee recently secured dates to go back on the road to PG&E yards with an update on committee activities and to recruit safety stewards. Director of Northern Region M&C Gas Lorene Harden was contacted to aid in setting up a schedule with… [Read More]
PG&E crews respond to Rim FIre
The Rim Fire, the third largest wildfire in California’s recorded history, burned over 402 square miles. Overlapping the western boundary of Yosemite National Park, it was also one of the best-known fires in the world.To IBEW 1245 members working for PG&E, it was a job. Working long hours under difficult conditions, PG&E crews removed damaged… [Read More]
Alameda County receives First Responder training from IBEW 1245
An IBEW 1245 First Responder training session was conducted on Oct. 17 at the Alameda County Water District. Much of the questions and information surrounded digging in the vicinity of underground power lines. The 21 attendees learned a lot about step and touch potential, emergency procedures and the underground service alert system (USA). The water… [Read More]
IBEW 1245 stands out at CARA Convention
IBEW 1245 stood in solidarity with retired union members at the 10th annual convention of the California Alliance for Retired Americans. Staffing the IBEW 1245 booth were Ken Rawles of the Santa Rosa Chapter of the IBEW 1245 Retirees Club and IBEW 1245 Organizer Eileen Purcell. At the convention, delegates set priorities for 2014, including:… [Read More]
Roger Stalcup: 1944-2013
Roger Stalcup, who made defending the labor agreement at PG&E his life’s work, died October 10, 2013 after a long battle with cancer. His sons Matt and Dan posted the following on Facebook: “My brother and I would like to offer our profound thanks to all of Dad’s friends, who have had Dad in their… [Read More]
Erick Varela: Man on a Mission
Erick Varela says eleven years in the United States Army taught him this: Lead by example and never quit. These lessons were put to the test when he left the Army, Varela told the IBEW 1245 Advisory Council during its summer meeting. “I came back to a housing market that had tanked. I walked into… [Read More]
Members creating the future: Organizing Steward program to launch in 2014
IBEW 1245 celebrated some important victories—and made some big plans for the future—at a summit meeting for organizers at Weakley Hall on Oct. 5. Members came from PG&E, from NV Energy, from Frontier Communications. They came from Davey Tree, Trees Inc., Merced Irrigation District and Turlock Irrigation District. Two members participated via Skype, from southern… [Read More]