Tag Archives: Good Catch

News

Good Catch: Crossed Phases

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Good Catch Overview

During a routine pole replacement on an energized distribution circuit, a crew began installing protective rubber hoses when they noticed an unexpected hazard at the next structure. At a nearby 4‑way corner, they saw uncovered, opposing phases crossing in extremely close proximity—far closer than safe working distances allow.

Recognizing the severity of the situation, the crew immediately initiated an all stop to reassess the area and ensure conditions were safe before continuing the job.

Action Taken

The crew halted all activity and took time to fully evaluate the crossing phases. They then implemented appropriate safety measures to secure the pole and address the hazard before resuming work on the pole set and phase transfers.

Potential Hazard

If the crew had proceeded without identifying this issue:

  • Opposing phases could have come into contact
  • The circuit could have tripped unexpectedly
  • A conductor could have fallen to the ground
  • Vehicles, pedestrians, or workers could have been put at risk

Such conditions could have led to equipment damage, electrical hazards, or serious injury.

Outcome

Thanks to the crew’s sharp awareness and commitment to hazard recognition, a potentially dangerous situation was identified and mitigated before any work continued. Their proactive decision-making ensured the safety of everyone in the area.

Kudos to the crew for demonstrating strong safety leadership and upholding the values of our safety culture, where every employee is empowered to stop, assess, and act to protect themselves and others.

News

Good Catch: Failed Primary Feed

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Good Catch Overview

An InfraSource Harrisburg storm crew was dispatched to address a breaker outage affecting a large commercial customer. After patrolling the line, the crew determined the issue was in a section of underground primary cable. They contacted the System Operator (SO), who decided to re-energize for testing.

As soon as the breaker closed, the crew heard a problem in the underground cable and instructed the SO to open it back up. When they entered the switchgear room, they found it full of smoke and quickly opened the doors to ventilate the area.

Action Taken

Upon investigation, the crew discovered two newly installed primary feeds zip-tied to the energized bus. One feed had failed, and the other was tracking across the bus. The SO was contacted to de-energize the other feed, allowing the crew to safely remove the zip ties and inspect the cable.

Potential Hazard

If this issue had gone unnoticed, the energized bus and failed feed could have caused severe electrical hazards, including equipment damage, arc flash, or injury to personnel.

Outcome

The crew’s quick thinking and thorough inspection prevented a dangerous situation and ensured the safety of the facility and workers.

Kudos to the Harrisburg crew for their alertness and decisive action. Their commitment to safety and hazard reporting reflects the values of our safety culture—where every team member is empowered to observe, respond, and protect.

News

Good Catch: Barn Fire Prevented

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Good Catch Overview
While arriving at a job site one morning, a crew member noticed a large fire dangerously close to a nearby barn. Strong winds were pushing the flames directly toward the structure, creating an urgent and hazardous situation.

Action Taken
The crew member quickly pulled into the homeowner’s driveway and found them unaware of the fire’s resurgence. After alerting them to the danger, they contacted a teammate to bring a vac truck to the scene. Using the truck’s water supply, they worked together to extinguish the flames before they reached the barn.

Outcome & Impact
Thanks to quick thinking and decisive action, the fire was extinguished before it could cause serious damage. The homeowners expressed deep gratitude, and a potentially devastating incident was successfully averted.

Kudos to the crew for their vigilance and commitment to safety. Their actions exemplify our safety-first culture—where every team member is empowered to observe, speak up, and act to prevent incidents before they occur.

News

Good Catch: Melted Shoe Discovered on Storm-Damaged Line

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Good Catch Overview

While responding to a storm-damaged single-phase LBD, the IFS crew initially found no visible damage. However, a closer inspection revealed a black burn mark below the tap dead-end, tracking toward the pole-to-pole guy wire.

Action Taken

An apprentice discovered that the dead-end insulator had flashed over, and the dead-end shoe was melted. The crew replaced both components and safely re-energized the line.

Had this gone unnoticed, the line could have continued tracking, potentially burning the ground or energizing the guy wire—posing a serious risk to future personnel.

Kudos to the IFS crew for their vigilance and dedication. Their actions reflect the core values of our safety culture—where every team member is encouraged to observe, question, and act to prevent hazards before they become incidents.

News

Good Catch: Dual Hot Legs Discovered During Streetlight Maintenance

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Good Catch Overview

While replacing and straightening streetlights, the IFS crew discovered a hazardous wiring issue. Upon opening the transformer, they noticed both hot legs were connected to the streetlight—despite the lights only requiring one hot leg at 120 volts.

Action Taken

The crew initiated a Stop Timeout, de-energized the secondary, and tested the light pole. Upon opening the streetlight door, they found the second hot leg exposed and untaped. They safely terminated the wire ends and re-energized the system after verifying voltage.

If the crew had not verified the transformer setup, the energized pole could have caused electric shock or arc flash, posing a serious risk to both workers and the public.

Thanks to their vigilance and adherence to safety protocols, the crew prevented a potentially dangerous situation.

Kudos to the IFS Crew for their vigilance and dedication. Their actions reflect the core values of our safety culture—where every team member is encouraged to observe, question, and act to prevent hazards before they become incidents.

News

Good Catch: Mismarked Gas Main

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Staying Vigilant in the Field

Our Good Catch Program continues to spotlight employees who demonstrate exceptional awareness and commitment to safety. This month, we recognize a crew whose quick thinking and decisive action prevented what could have been a serious incident. Their use of stop work authority and attention to changing jobsite conditions exemplifies the proactive safety culture we strive to uphold.

Recognizing the Hazard

While trenching on Glenside Avenue, approximately 160 feet north of Greenwood, an IFS Civil Crew noticed a change in ground conditions. Rather than proceeding, they immediately halted excavation and began hand digging to investigate further. Their caution paid off—they uncovered a 6-inch plastic gas main crossing the trench diagonally, which had been mismarked by the locator as being 56 feet north of its actual location.

Verification and Response

An inspector was on site and verified the discovery. The crew’s decision to stop and reassess the situation not only prevented a potential dig-in but also safeguarded the surrounding community and infrastructure from a potentially dangerous gas line rupture.

Empowered to Act

This incident is a powerful reminder of the importance of empowering our teams to speak up and take action. The crew’s confidence in using their stop work authority, combined with their experience and adherence to safety protocols, made all the difference.

Kudos to the IFS Civil Crew for their vigilance and dedication. Their actions reflect the core values of our safety culture—where every team member is encouraged to observe, question, and act to prevent hazards before they become incidents.

News

Good Catch: Defective Gloves Identified

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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. Our commitment to safety and precision continues to shine through the diligent efforts of our teams.

Coordination and Communication

Recently, an InfraSource NE Small Job Foreman (SJF) was performing an air test and inspection on his Class 2 rubber gloves when he discovered a defect in the rubber. These were new gloves, straight out of the box. The SJF initially performed an air test with an inflator and found no air leaks. However, during a subsequent visual check, the defect was detected.

Identifying and Resolving the Defect

This discovery underscores the importance of thorough testing and inspection of safety equipment before each use. The defect in the gloves could have posed a significant risk if not identified. Thanks to the vigilance and attention to detail of our team, this potential hazard was caught and addressed promptly.

Preventing Safety Hazards

This incident highlights the critical role of accurate and diligent inspection in preventing safety hazards and ensuring the reliability of our safety gear. The proactive measures taken by the InfraSource foreman exemplify our ongoing commitment to excellence and safety in all our operations.

Kudos to the team for their dedication and attention to detail, ensuring that our employees are equipped with safe and reliable gear.

News

Good Catch: InfraSource Crew Prevents Potential Hazard

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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. Our commitment to safety and precision continues to shine through the diligent efforts of our teams.

Critical Safety Discovery

During a routine pole replacement and the installation of a new Normal Open Viper, an InfraSource crew made a critical safety discovery. While installing the VCR, the crew noticed that the center bushing was pointed downward. Acting swiftly, the Site Job Foreman (SJF) called for a Stop Timeout and alerted the General Foreman (GF).

Inspection and Resolution

Upon further inspection and discussion with the Construction Supervisor (CS), it was determined that the bushing’s position was unsafe for service. The crew disassembled the bushing and found that the brass break-away stud inside was broken in half. Recognizing the potential hazard, parts were promptly ordered, and repairs will be conducted in the field.

Commitment to Safety

This proactive identification of a serious issue before the VCR was put into operation highlights the crew’s dedication to safety and excellence. Kudos to the InfraSource team for their vigilance and quick action in preventing what could have been a significant problem. Their commitment ensures the continued reliability and safety of our services.

News

Good Catches: Ensuring Accuracy in Scheduled Outages

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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. Our commitment to safety and precision continues to shine through the diligent efforts of our teams.

Coordination and Communication

Recently, an InfraSource crew was assigned the critical task of transferring #6 copper primary to a new pole. This line is essential as it supplies power to the city water pumps, necessitating the use of generators during the outage. The General Foreman (GF) took proactive steps to coordinate with the Water Authority, informing them of the scheduled outage and assuring them they would receive a confirmation letter. However, when the customer contacted the GF to verify the dates, they noted a discrepancy: their letter listed an incorrect date for the outage, with an incorrect rain date as well.

Identifying and Resolving the Discrepancy

Upon consulting with the work planner, it was determined that the system had generated incorrect dates. This discrepancy could have led to an unplanned outage, potentially leaving the entire city without water. Thanks to the vigilance and thorough communication of our team, this critical error was identified and corrected in time.

Preventing Unplanned Outages

This incident underscores the importance of accurate documentation and communication in preventing unplanned outages and ensuring the safety and reliability of our services. The proactive measures taken by the InfraSource dock crew highlight our ongoing commitment to excellence and safety in all our operations.

Kudos to the team for their dedication and attention to detail, ensuring that our customers receive the reliable service they depend on.

News

How InfraSource Supports Workplace Safety: The Good Catch Program  

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One of the pillars of our company is safety, and we want to ensure it is always at the forefront of every employee’s mind. One way we achieve this, is through the Good Catch Program.

The Good Catch Program encourages employees to be vigilant of their surroundings and always be on the lookout for things that could be potential hazards. The first Good Catch was spotted as an apprentice was preparing to climb a pole during a job. As the apprentice was inspecting the site, they noticed a live wire was touching the pole, putting the crew at risk for electric shock or injury. The crew stopped all work and safely addressed the hazard. 

The second Good Catch was found during a manhole inspection. The crew spotted a primary electrical fault – an abnormality that can disrupt the normal flow of electricity and cause electrical shock or fire. They immediately stopped all work, and the fault was reported and scheduled for repair. By being diligent, the crew prevented a potentially dangerous event from happening.

The final Good Catch occurred during a pole replacement, when the crew noticed something did not look right with one of the cables. Upon further inspection, they found one of the protective devices around the cable had failed, leading to a damaged wire. The crew stopped their work and repaired the wire and cable, preventing a possible hazard.

Through diligence and attention to detail, our crews have successfully prevented potential hazards from turning into dangerous situations, ensuring a safe working environment for all.