SAFETY REPORT:   The safety presentation given by Jeff “Odie” Espenship that has been given to approximately 8,000 members since February will round out with a final stop in Reno on May 17 for two presentations for employees at NV Energy, Truckee Donner, Truckee Meadows and Sierra Plumas members. We continue to ask for comments… [Read More]

5,214 KILLED AT WORK IN 2008   Twenty-nine coal miners killed at Massey Energy Co.’s Upper Big Branch Mine in West Virginia. Seven workers killed at the Tesoro refinery in Washington State. Eleven oil platform workers presumed dead following an explosion of the Transocean Ltd. rig in the Gulf of Mexico. It’s dangerous to go… [Read More]

Safety Report Fatality   On March 17, 2010 we lost another young lineman, IBEW Local 1245 member Maximiliano “Max” Martinez, as the result of an on the job accident. Brother Martinez, a PG&E Lineman in General Construction, died around 10:00 in the morning while working in an underground J-Box in a residential neighborhood of Benicia…. [Read More]

ASBESTOS EXPOSURE: AN OCCUPATIONAL THREAT TO HEALTH By Mastagni, Holstedt, Amick, Miller & Johnsen   The Sacramento law firm of Mastagni, Holstedt, Amick, Miller & Johnsen represents dozens of workers in workers’ compensation claims for injuries caused by exposure to asbestos.  This article is a summary of important information regarding asbestos claims under California workers’… [Read More]

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission   Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207         FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 11, 2010 Release #10-164 Firm’s Recall Hotline: (888) 983-5853 CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908     Noncontact Electrical Tester Recalled by Fluke Due to Shock or Burn… [Read More]

SAFETY REPORT: Near-Miss Reporting Works, Odie Returns, CDL and Blood Alcohol By Ralph Armstrong On November 30 and December 1, 2009 Business Manager Tom Dalzell pulled together a group of Lineman from different Utilities and Municipalities that Local 1245 represents with the focus on what, we as a union and we as Lineman can do… [Read More]

SAFETY REPORT By Ralph Armstrong PPE and Lineman’s Climbing Equipment MID has come to an agreement recently on the purchase of climbing equipment for their employees which we feel is good for both the members as well as for MID to meet the requirements To encourage the current workers to continue to use the equipment… [Read More]

JOINT IBEW/PG&E SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING Below are three reports: · The Joint IBEW/PG&E Safety Committee, which met Dec. 2. · The Lineman Safety Meeting, which was held Nov. 30-Dec. 1. · The Local 1245 Safety Committee, which met Dec. 17.   JOINT IBEW/PG&E SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING Painters Grounding (PG&E) On December 2nd the Joint IBEW… [Read More]

Local 1245 Safety Committee Report The Local 1245 Safety and Health Committee met on Oct. 22 and Nov. 19, 2009 in Vacaville at the Local 1245 Union Hall.  The October meeting had a limited number of committee members in attendance due to the 4 of the committee members attending the National Safety Council and IBEW… [Read More]

Local 1245 Safety Committee    The Local 1245 Safety and Health Committee met on Sept. 24, 2009 in Vacaville at the Local 1245 Union Hall.  Committee members present were; Darryl Rice, Sergio Munez, Dan Boschee, Art Torres, Robert Burkle, Al White and Ralph Armstrong. Committee member absent were Michael Gomes. First order of business was… [Read More]