Hold the Pull Peer Program: The 2016 safety stewards summit took place on May 26, with 40 safety stewards and guests in attendance. Special guests included Tracy Moore, founder of Highline Hero Foundation, an organization she started after her husband Marc was killed in a wires down accident in 2002. As a way to cope with losing her life’s love, and to share the lessons she learned about the impact to families, Tracy travels around the country speaking to linemen and their families about the importance of working safe. The summit attendees donated $800 to Ms. Moore’s organization. The second guest was Registered Nurse Curtis Ryun, education and outreach coordinator for the Legacy Burn Foundation in Portland, Oregon. A large part of his job involves sharing information on burn prevention, both at work and in the home. Burns are the third leading cause for serious injury in the line trade and 75% of children’s burns that occur at home are caused by hot water, either falling into water or hot water splash. Mr. Ryun recommended that hot water heaters be set no higher than 120 degrees to prevent serious burns.
Control the Pressure Peer Program: As the result of a Q&A session with PG&E Gas Op.s V.P. John Higgins at the CTP stewards summit last March, three members of the CTP program have been asked to sit in on a review group to focus on JSSA, SIF and job checklist revisions. The discussion surrounded the large amount of paperwork crew leaders must perform on the job, and how to streamline the process and remove reporting redundancies. CTP members Roy Cabral, Carson McAtee and Joe Joaquim will participate in the July 12 meeting headed by Gas T&D Chief of Staff Lisa Flynn.
Keep the Clearance Peer Program: KTC continues to travel to Davey Tree yards, and the committee completed five visits by June 23 in the Santa Maria area. The Bay Area tour will include two yard visits and will be completed by the end of the year. PG&E Vegetation management has been very supportive, speaking to work groups about safety, arranging meeting locations and providing breakfast for attendees. Davey tree trimmers have numbered between 50 and 100 attendees at each meeting. All meetings are conducted by KTC committee members and safety stewards with Davey supervision in attendance and supporting the meeting by answering questions and listening to safety issues.
–Rich Lane, IBEW 1245 Business Rep