IBEW 1245’s innovative peer-to-peer safety initiative has drastically improved workplace safety and health for members working in exceptionally hazardous lines of work. The program has proven to be so successful that now other locals are interested in developing their own peer-safety programs based on the initiative that Local 1245 has developed.
Local 77 in SeaTac, Washington is one of the first locals to express interest in building a similar peer program, and the Local 1245 Safety Committee is already working to help our sister local make that program a reality. Five members of the Local 1245 Hold the Pull safety committee recently attended an informational meeting with five members of IBEW Local 77 in SeaTac in order to help them think through and develop their own peer-to-peer safety initiative modeled on Local 1245’s program.
The Local 1245 Safety committee members pose for a photo with the Washington Memorial Bridge Troll
Local 77 Business Manager Lou Walter asked Local 1245 Business Manager Tom Dalzell to send peer members to help Local 77 with three key goals: develop its own peer leadership program, identify means to communicate the core safety message and grow the peer network. “The meeting exceeded my expectations,” Brother Walter said, “and I would like to invite Hold the Pull back once we get this rolling.”
Hold the Pull members who attended were John Kent, Tyler Davidson, Dan Mayo, Fred Aboud and business representative Rich Lane. Business Representative Julius Matthew from IBEW Local 1547 in Anchorage, Alaska also attended, hoping to start a peer program at his local. In addition to the meeting, the group also had the opportunity to tour the Seattle waterfront and visit to the infamous Washington Memorial Bridge Troll, who keeps guard under the Seattle Lake Washington span.
-Richard Lane, IBEW 1245 Safety Rep