New Safety Stewards Trained- On September 25, 11 new safety stewards were trained on their respective duties. Members of the peer committees conducted the training. The new stewards represented a cross-section of the three peer groups, Hold the Pull, Keep the Clearance and Control the Pressure. Between April and September of this year, 21 new safety stewards have been recruited into the peer program. The boost in ranks is the result of a drive to increase the peer roles by asking for steward recommendations from business representatives, other safety stewards, committee members and Local 1245 members who have volunteered to join the safety initiative. As an indication of growth, in 2012 there were a total of 85 peer members in the three respective groups; today there are 146 safety stewards and committee members serving in a safety role at Local 1245.
Hold the Pull End of Year Presentation Schedule- Hold the Pull consultant John Kent reports that members of HTP will conduct presentations at 10 locations in Nevada and Northern California. The schedule will also include six PG&E safety kick-offs in the first quarter of 2015. Kent will lead committee members and safety stewards on the Northern sweep to spread the peer safety message and recruit new safety stewards.
Control the Pressure and PG&E Safety Kick-Offs- Senior Assistant Business Manager Joe Osterlund and peer consultant John Kent are working to secure a schedule of presentations at safety kick-offs in 2015. CTP has completed the filming of a video that they will use in conjunction with personal safety messages from committee members and safety stewards. The video is now in the final stage of production.
Keep the Clearance Records 62 Close Call Reports- The KTC committee has received 62 close call/near miss reports in 2014 from tree trimmers, 24 of which are on the IBEW 1245 website. The close call/near miss reporting program gives tree trimmers the opportunity to make the job safer for their fellow workers by reporting dangerous situations that do not result in injuries or death. Tree companies now also receive these reports in a general email, with the expectation that they will share them with their work groups. Tree business representatives shared the contacts of tree company managers who receive a communication from the tree peer business representative on a monthly basis. Other peer activities are shared with the supervision group to increase their awareness of the program and ask for active support for peer stewards and the Keep the Clearance program.