The Health and Safety committee is conducting OSHA 300 requests of 30 employers currently affiliated with IBEW 1245. The purpose of the request is to identify and compile a list of all serious incidents which occurred in 2014, research the incidents and report them to the IBEW International Organization.
Dan Boschee, Frontier Communications: Frontier is finalizing the effort to install automated external defibrillators at all work locations that are manned on a full-time basis. The new AEDs have the capability to measure the depth of heart compressions and can direct the rescuer to maintain a minimum of 2” chest compressions. The devices also include a special pillow that maintains an open airway. No accidents to report.
Mark Flanders, Sacramento Municipal Utility District: A close call was reported when two conference attendees were overcome by carbon dioxide in their hotel room. When they did not report to the meeting, a co-worker went to check on them and they were found unconscious. EMS was notified and the employees were treated without injury. It was not reported what caused the potentially fatal hazard.
Another close call involved an employee who was dumpster diving when a forklift operator picked up the dumpster. No injury was reported. For some unexplained reason a technician who was opening a pre-packaged rag box found a syringe in the bundle. The company will contact the vendor and launch an inquiry into the incident.
Mike Gomes, Modesto Irrigation District: Linemen are currently testing equipment for changing over to full fall restraint climbing gear. About 50% of the group are not happy with the change, preferring to free climb, however they must be in compliance with state rules that are now in place.
The company prefers to select one uniform FR type. MID is resisting requests to provide flame-resistant jackets. However, the Bendix ruling by OSHA indicates that any PPE required by law (with few exceptions) must be provided free of cost to the employee.
Joe Joaquim, PG&E Gas Operations: Terrance Williams has been appointed as the new Safety Manager for Gas Operations. It was reported that the policy establishing proper excavation covering has been modified to include a certain grade of plywood that has an adequate strength to prevent break-through. Previously, PG&E had required steel coverings only after an injury incident, but new research indicates that plywood of certain grade is now currently acceptable under conditions specified by the safety communication.
Carlos Rodriguez, Utility Tree Service: A crew member who pulled a ligament in his arm on the job was asked by his supervisor to seek medical attention off the job instead of reporting it as an on-the-job injury. The employee was advised by coworkers to disregard the supervisor’s request because a failure to report would result in no record of work injury. The employee reported the injury to his employer.
A tree truck driver failed to stop at a weigh scale resulting in a traffic stop by a CHP officer. The officer reminded him that he must stop at weight scales and let him off with a warning.
Al White, PG&E Restoration: Troubleman job assessments will be conducted during the month of March. Seven projects have been planned and each man has to perform three projects as a part of the evaluation.
A troubleman experienced catastrophic failure of a URD SCADA switch. He was checking voltage and had walked to the truck when the switch failed, resulting in a large explosion. He was not injured. The incident is being investigated. As the result of a UG transformer explosion in San Francisco in 2014, PG&E has a policy that requires anyone switching to have protective gloves and eye protection in place.
A troubleman was driving Northbound on Highway 680 when he saw a disabled car carrier partly blocking the inside lane. Unable to move over, he hit the trailer tearing the bins off of the vehicle. Before he could safely stop his vehicle, the truck driver pulled onto the highway and left the scene of the accident. The troubleman’s supervisor went to the scene of the accident and determined that the accident was unavoidable.