Woodland, California – On Wednesday, June 18, IBEW 1245’s Hold the Pull (HTP) Committee – one of four Peer-to-Peer Safety Programs sponsored by the Union – delivered a compelling presentation to twenty-nine (29) California-Nevada JATC Lineman Apprentices at the Woodland campus.
Long time IBEW 1245-member and co-founder of HTP Pete Sandoval, (Electric Crew Foreman at PG&E), and IBEW 1245 Business Representative and Coordinator of the Peer-to-Peer Safety groups Fred Aboud led the session, beginning with the history of the program.
HTP was started in 2009 in response to a string of devastating fatalities. It was predicated on the belief that co-workers holding themselves and each other accountable in the spirit of brotherhood and absent the threat of discipline for honest (or foolhardy) mistakes, could be an effective way to build a safety culture and save lives. It drew from the experience of pilots, who pioneered the peer-to-peer model to improve their own safety record with positive results. In short, it gave renewed meaning to the axiom, “We are our Brother’s Keeper and our Sister’s Keeper.”
Today, under the stewardship of leaders like Sandoval and Aboud, and thanks to strong membership participation, the program has thrived. The continued support from IBEW Local 1245 Business Manager Bob Dean and the IBEW 1245 Executive Board has also been important.
The twenty-nine young apprentices were riveted, engaging in conversation and sharing personal stories.
Following the history lesson, the group discussed the important use of secondary gloves, prompted by a video highlighting the devastating loss of a Journeyman Lineman named Jon Christensen. Jon passed away in 2011 from a workplace accident, leaving behind a wife and two children. What he thought was “an easy job” took his life. His death was a crushing blow to his family, his friends and his crew. The video reminds all linemen of the risks and hazards of the job. It emphasizes there is no routine work. There is no room for guessing in line work. It is critical to execute each job by the book. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVJKpyqo1Uk
Mental health featured prominently in the group discussion. Participants shared personal experiences and stories. In the construction world the suicide rate is twice (2x) as high as the normal rate; anxiety & depression come in at over 1.5x higher than the norm.
At the conclusion of the presentation, the apprentices expressed a strong interest in becoming more involved in HTP, upon completion of their Apprenticeship training.
Their enthusiasm is contagious and inspires and motivates us all to step up and ACT as our Brother(s)/and Sister(s) Keeper.
– Ethan Stonecipher, IBEW 1245 Assistant Business Manager
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One Last Car in the Yard
By Sam Gutierrez, Jr.
In Memory of Jon Christensen
Rules and policies, books and procedures,
They are made for a reason, please be a believer.
We fear the worst, and pray for the best,
I want you to go home tonight, like all the rest.
The work is hard and very dangerous,
We must be alert or it will injure us.
Our families are proud of the work we do,
We make it look easy, but don’t let them fool you.
Take life for granted, if you will
God didn’t make you a lineman, You were trained with a skill.
Yes we know, it’s not for everyone
But those who are, can get it done
Be your brother’s keeper, we heard it before
Because we have no idea what is in store.
Zero Damage, Zero injuries
They tally up the sheet
I want you to go home and
put your kids to sleep.
A Safety BBQ, a Safety watch,
or a Safety pin
If we don’t follow the rules,
no one will win.
I love you like my brother,
I love you as a friend
I want you to live your life full, right to the end
There was one last car in the yard last night.