Our Good Catch Program continues to highlight our employees who stay vigilant and identify potential hazards. By utilizing the energy wheel, our team thoroughly inspects and identifies STKY (Situations That Kill You) scenarios, leading to countless safety success stories. Kudos to all the crews who mitigate daily STKY situations.
Catching a Critical Error
A crew began work on an interruption on a circuit. During a manhole inspection, the team noticed a discrepancy in the gas-operated switch tag’s clearance order (CO) number; the number on the switch didn’t match the Clearance Order. After contacting the Operations Control Center, they discovered a new CO had been issued for an inoperable switch. This catch highlighted a lock-out tag-out violation, emphasizing the importance of accurate documentation and communication.
Preventing a Fire Hazard
A crew was tasked with replacing an open wire service with a triplex. They found the customer’s service entry cable insulation had deteriorated, posing a fire hazard. The team de-energized the service, made temporary repairs, and ensured the customer’s power remained on during freezing temperatures. The customer was advised to contact an electrician for permanent repairs, with follow-up planned to ensure safety.
Avoiding Utility Conflicts
While setting a new service pole, a crew noticed a private storm drain in the path of the new pole. They moved the pole to a different location and scheduled a Vac Truck to dig the hole, ensuring no utility conflicts.
Addressing Changing Conditions
A crew tasked with replacing a pole noticed a tree in the Right-of-Way that had uprooted during recent storms, posing a risk of unscheduled outages. They reported the issue, and a trouble ticket was created to clear the Right-of-Way, showcasing how conditions can change daily on the job.
Addressing a Split Pole
A crew was tasked with replacing a pole and transferring facilities. During their inspection, they noticed the adjacent dead-end pole was split at the top. They performed a Stop Timeout and decided to install split bolts on the pole before moving the primary at the assigned pole. This proactive measure ensured the safety and stability of the structure.
Identifying and Resolving Multiple Issues
A crew was assigned to move secondaries to a new required height. Before framing for the new attachment, they noticed an old porcelain cutout. It has become standard practice to check these cutouts for cracks, as they can easily break. Upon inspection, they found the arm was completely rotten. The crew performed a Stop Timeout and contacted their Foreman.
When the crew went up to put rubber on for the pole set, they noticed the cross arm was completely rotted on top and needed to be changed before setting the new pole. They performed another Stop Timeout to change the scope of work. After making the existing arm safe and setting the new pole, the crew removed the existing transformer bank. During this process, they discovered one of the mounting brackets was broken off and another was cracked and in poor condition. The crew performed yet another Stop Timeout to adjust the scope of work obtained two new transformers and completed the job safely and efficiently.
