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lineman641
01-01-2007, 12:56 PM
There never seems to be a shortage of new posts in this part of the web site. Like many of you that do linework, I have lost several friends and co-workers and some that will never be the same physically. There is one in particular that I will never forget. I have always asked myself why or what if, but I will never know. I have seen what the wife’s and children and family’s and friends go through. I hope I never have to again.
Most, if not all the companies we work for will preach safety till it coming out your ears. They will say that they will provide you with all the proper tools and equipment you need to do your job safely. Make them live up to that.
My resolution for the new year is to take a little extra time to “tailboard” with the rest of my crew to make sure everyone knows what’s to be done and what’s to be expected of each crew member. Take the time to listen to suggestions because maybe there is a better and safer way. There are a lot of different things we can all do, but in the end it is all our responsibility to go home the same way we came to work. I know we don’t work sitting behind a desk and accidents will happen, but if we can do just a little more to help prevent a serious accident it will be well worth the effort..
happy new year to all

Budda
01-01-2007, 01:33 PM
Well stated, What you said, I will probally do the same, with regards to the "taliboard" a couple more minutes to clarify the job will not hurt. and I also agree with the copmpany, put them to task , make them get all your PPE and the tools you need to do your job safe.

CPOPE
01-04-2007, 11:07 PM
Take more than a little time to Job Brief. Make your resolution stick and do it right or don't do it at all.

Holding a proper tailboard session takes extra time up front, but it’s worth the effort if we can eliminate the kind of mistakes and oversight that cause accidents.

Individual’s Responsibility
Each individual must practice safe working habits at all times. This is the only way any safety improvement program can work. Commitment to “Safety First” is the most important factor in preventing accidents. You must also have a sense of responsibility for the welfare of your co-workers, no matter what the personality relationships may be.

The company should provide you with the right tools and all the necessary safety equipment. Your supervisors should provide the leadership and required training. The individual must practice safety to protect himself/herself and co-workers from careless accidents.

Leader’s Responsibility
Individuals should look to their leader for guidance on how to do the job safely and efficiently. The leader’s role is to fully inform each person of his/her duties and the relationship of those duties to the whole job. No job, no matter how simple it may seem, should be started until you have planned it thoroughly, reviewed it with your work group completely, and feel certain that every possible safety hazard has been discussed. This is the value and purpose of the tailboard session.
You must understand that, as a leader, YOU are responsible for the safety of your work group. You should be proud of your position, and recognize that, in the eyes of your people, you are a role model for safe work habits. You must set the proper example.
The Tailboard Session
The person in charge of the work group is responsible for conducting the tailboard session. The ideal place to hold a tailboard is at the job site where everyone can clearly see the work to be done.

To be complete, it must contain these essential steps:
T Talk About the Job
A Assign Employees Specific Duties
I Identify Known Hazards
L Let Employees Know What’s Expected
B Beware of Creating Additional Hazards
O Observe Applicable Safety Rules
A Allow Time to Do the Job Safely
R Review Protective Equipment Needed
D Determine If Employees Understand Their Duties

Focus on the importance of each step…
TALK about the job.
When you arrive at the job site, the leader should gather all crew members together and begin by explaining the overall purpose of the job. This is where all members can openly discuss the work to be done and offer their suggestions on how best to do it. Noise can be very distracting. Try to find a reasonably quiet place to hold your tailboard session. Turn off the truck engine and shut off any loud power equipment. Quiet will help to make your tailboard session a success. The leader should never assume that everyone knows what’s going on. Instead, take the time to thoroughly explain exactly what is to be done. This way, if any part of the job doesn’t make sense, the members can ask questions. The leader should not allow the conversation to stray away from the job to be done. It’s also very important that only one person talks at a time. When a question is being asked, or the answer is being given, everyone else should be listening so they don’t miss the point.
ASSIGN employees specific duties.
The leader must be very selective when giving out work assignments. This requires knowledge of the skills and qualifications of each crew member. For example, trainees should not be assigned work that is beyond the scope of their abilities. It is even more critical for crew members to know their assignments when the job is complex, will involve a large work group, or when the workers will be spread out over a large area. In this situation, the leader should gather the workers together and present a “Project Overview.”
At the project overview, the workers should be given the overall scope of the job, told how they fit into the work plan, who they will be working with/for, and in what sequence the work will be done. Everyone must understand their part of the job – before the work begins.
IDENTIFY known hazards.
The leader must be very specific when pointing out hazards. Never assume your workers “know” that a hazard exists, even if they’re experienced people. Remember, it’s often the minor details we overlook that can contribute to an accident. Try to discuss the hazards in a logical sequence. Encourage everyone to offer their suggestions openly and freely. When someone identifies an additional hazard, the leader should recognize this person’s contribution and discuss the concern. The more critical the hazards, the more important it is that all crew members understand the danger and what steps will be taken for their protection. Go into detail and discuss all the hazards:
• Have you considered the public?
• Will the traffic control plans effectively protect the work area?
• What are the clearances to adjacent power lines?
• If the job involves pole climbing, have you checked the butt for decay?
• Have you accurately located underground facilities?
• Is fatigue a concern? Can you rotate your people or tasks more often to eliminate this dangerous situation?
• If you’re working near energized parts, is the lighting good enough to see what you are doing?
If you are using chemicals, are you familiar with the material safety data sheet and what protective equipment you need?
LET employees know what’s expected.
The leader should always let the members of the work group know exactly what is expected of them. If the workers have any doubt about what they are expected to do, they should ask the leader to explain the job again – this time in greater detail. Generally, it’s the leader who sets the safety, quality, and productivity standards for the group. And most workers will try their best to meet the leader’s standards. But they’ll never be able to do this if the leader doesn’t let them know what’s expected.
BEWARE of creating additional hazards.
Everyone must constantly be on the alert for the unforeseen hazards that occur during the course of the day – but especially the leader. The leader must be extremely observant of the work in progress and identify new hazards as they may develop. The leader should encourage all crew members, no matter what their job may be, to voice their safety concerns whenever they have them. By recognizing and discussing these concerns, the leader can further encourage the crew members to be aware of unsafe conditions. If the leader doesn’t think a concern is valid, he/she should explain why. Never reprimand or ridicule someone who seems overly concerned about safe working conditions.
OBSERVE applicable safety rules.
When you are given an assignment, make it a habit to review the safety rules that apply to the job you’ll be doing and to the area where you’ll be working. No one expects you to “memorize” all the safety rules. But if you use them regularly, you will become more familiar with the safety rules and be able to find topics quickly. Take the time to read and understand these rules, and you will be much less likely to have an accident. Whenever there is a conflict of opinion or a misunderstanding about safe work rules or protective equipment, ask your chief or supervisor.
ALLOW time to do the job safely.
One of the most basic safety policies is: No job we do or service we provide is so urgent that we cannot take the time and use the necessary equipment to do it safely. In the first steps of a tailboard session, you discuss the scope of the job and plan how to do the work safely. Now you should discuss how long it will take to complete the various tasks. Be realistic, and don’t overlook the fact that working safely means being careful – and that may take more time. When we hurry to get jobs done, we usually take shortcuts and risk our personal safety just to save a little time. This is a very foolish practice. Accidents are much more likely to occur when you are in a hurry and are not concentrating on the work.
REVIEW protective equipment needed.
There are three types of protective equipment you must review at a tailboard session:
1. personal protective equipment
2. rubber protective equipment, and
3. work area protective equipment.
Items such as safety glasses, gloves, ear plugs, hard hats, rubber gloves, sleeves and safety shoes are worn for your personal protection. Hose, hoods and rubber blankets are examples of rubber protective equipment. Signs, flags, cones, flares, barricades, tapes and other warning equipment are items used for work area protection. After you decide what equipment is appropriate, you should always inspect the condition of the equipment before you use it. Never use unsafe equipment or tools.
DETERMINE if employees understand their duties.
This is the last step in a proper tailboard session, but perhaps the most critical one. Now the leader must verify that all members of the work group were paying close attention. The work should not begin until the leader is confident that everyone knows and understands their assignment. For the most hazardous jobs, this step is extremely important.
By asking each person in the work group to repeat (in their own words) the most important aspects of their duties, the leader can determine if they were paying attention. Each person must be able to clearly describe his or her part of the overall job, the known hazards, and the protective equipment required. The leader must be satisfied with the responses before allowing work to begin.
The leader should never skip this part of a tailboard session. The members of the work group are much more likely to pay attention if they know you will be expecting them to contribute.

KingRat
01-06-2007, 07:20 AM
Take more than a little time to Job Brief. Make your resolution stick and do it right or don't do it at all.

Holding a proper tailboard session takes extra time up front, but it’s worth the effort if we can eliminate the kind of mistakes and oversight that cause accidents.

Individual’s Responsibility
Each individual must practice safe working habits at all times. This is the only way any safety improvement program can work. Commitment to “Safety First” is the most important factor in preventing accidents. You must also have a sense of responsibility for the welfare of your co-workers, no matter what the personality relationships may be.

The company should provide you with the right tools and all the necessary safety equipment. Your supervisors should provide the leadership and required training. The individual must practice safety to protect himself/herself and co-workers from careless accidents.

Leader’s Responsibility
Individuals should look to their leader for guidance on how to do the job safely and efficiently. The leader’s role is to fully inform each person of his/her duties and the relationship of those duties to the whole job. No job, no matter how simple it may seem, should be started until you have planned it thoroughly, reviewed it with your work group completely, and feel certain that every possible safety hazard has been discussed. This is the value and purpose of the tailboard session.
You must understand that, as a leader, YOU are responsible for the safety of your work group. You should be proud of your position, and recognize that, in the eyes of your people, you are a role model for safe work habits. You must set the proper example.
The Tailboard Session
The person in charge of the work group is responsible for conducting the tailboard session. The ideal place to hold a tailboard is at the job site where everyone can clearly see the work to be done.

To be complete, it must contain these essential steps:
T Talk About the Job
A Assign Employees Specific Duties
I Identify Known Hazards
L Let Employees Know What’s Expected
B Beware of Creating Additional Hazards
O Observe Applicable Safety Rules
A Allow Time to Do the Job Safely
R Review Protective Equipment Needed
D Determine If Employees Understand Their Duties

Focus on the importance of each step…
TALK about the job.
When you arrive at the job site, the leader should gather all crew members together and begin by explaining the overall purpose of the job. This is where all members can openly discuss the work to be done and offer their suggestions on how best to do it. Noise can be very distracting. Try to find a reasonably quiet place to hold your tailboard session. Turn off the truck engine and shut off any loud power equipment. Quiet will help to make your tailboard session a success. The leader should never assume that everyone knows what’s going on. Instead, take the time to thoroughly explain exactly what is to be done. This way, if any part of the job doesn’t make sense, the members can ask questions. The leader should not allow the conversation to stray away from the job to be done. It’s also very important that only one person talks at a time. When a question is being asked, or the answer is being given, everyone else should be listening so they don’t miss the point.
ASSIGN employees specific duties.
The leader must be very selective when giving out work assignments. This requires knowledge of the skills and qualifications of each crew member. For example, trainees should not be assigned work that is beyond the scope of their abilities. It is even more critical for crew members to know their assignments when the job is complex, will involve a large work group, or when the workers will be spread out over a large area. In this situation, the leader should gather the workers together and present a “Project Overview.”
At the project overview, the workers should be given the overall scope of the job, told how they fit into the work plan, who they will be working with/for, and in what sequence the work will be done. Everyone must understand their part of the job – before the work begins.
IDENTIFY known hazards.
The leader must be very specific when pointing out hazards. Never assume your workers “know” that a hazard exists, even if they’re experienced people. Remember, it’s often the minor details we overlook that can contribute to an accident. Try to discuss the hazards in a logical sequence. Encourage everyone to offer their suggestions openly and freely. When someone identifies an additional hazard, the leader should recognize this person’s contribution and discuss the concern. The more critical the hazards, the more important it is that all crew members understand the danger and what steps will be taken for their protection. Go into detail and discuss all the hazards:
• Have you considered the public?
• Will the traffic control plans effectively protect the work area?
• What are the clearances to adjacent power lines?
• If the job involves pole climbing, have you checked the butt for decay?
• Have you accurately located underground facilities?
• Is fatigue a concern? Can you rotate your people or tasks more often to eliminate this dangerous situation?
• If you’re working near energized parts, is the lighting good enough to see what you are doing?
If you are using chemicals, are you familiar with the material safety data sheet and what protective equipment you need?
LET employees know what’s expected.
The leader should always let the members of the work group know exactly what is expected of them. If the workers have any doubt about what they are expected to do, they should ask the leader to explain the job again – this time in greater detail. Generally, it’s the leader who sets the safety, quality, and productivity standards for the group. And most workers will try their best to meet the leader’s standards. But they’ll never be able to do this if the leader doesn’t let them know what’s expected.
BEWARE of creating additional hazards.
Everyone must constantly be on the alert for the unforeseen hazards that occur during the course of the day – but especially the leader. The leader must be extremely observant of the work in progress and identify new hazards as they may develop. The leader should encourage all crew members, no matter what their job may be, to voice their safety concerns whenever they have them. By recognizing and discussing these concerns, the leader can further encourage the crew members to be aware of unsafe conditions. If the leader doesn’t think a concern is valid, he/she should explain why. Never reprimand or ridicule someone who seems overly concerned about safe working conditions.
OBSERVE applicable safety rules.
When you are given an assignment, make it a habit to review the safety rules that apply to the job you’ll be doing and to the area where you’ll be working. No one expects you to “memorize” all the safety rules. But if you use them regularly, you will become more familiar with the safety rules and be able to find topics quickly. Take the time to read and understand these rules, and you will be much less likely to have an accident. Whenever there is a conflict of opinion or a misunderstanding about safe work rules or protective equipment, ask your chief or supervisor.
ALLOW time to do the job safely.
One of the most basic safety policies is: No job we do or service we provide is so urgent that we cannot take the time and use the necessary equipment to do it safely. In the first steps of a tailboard session, you discuss the scope of the job and plan how to do the work safely. Now you should discuss how long it will take to complete the various tasks. Be realistic, and don’t overlook the fact that working safely means being careful – and that may take more time. When we hurry to get jobs done, we usually take shortcuts and risk our personal safety just to save a little time. This is a very foolish practice. Accidents are much more likely to occur when you are in a hurry and are not concentrating on the work.
REVIEW protective equipment needed.
There are three types of protective equipment you must review at a tailboard session:
1. personal protective equipment
2. rubber protective equipment, and
3. work area protective equipment.
Items such as safety glasses, gloves, ear plugs, hard hats, rubber gloves, sleeves and safety shoes are worn for your personal protection. Hose, hoods and rubber blankets are examples of rubber protective equipment. Signs, flags, cones, flares, barricades, tapes and other warning equipment are items used for work area protection. After you decide what equipment is appropriate, you should always inspect the condition of the equipment before you use it. Never use unsafe equipment or tools.
DETERMINE if employees understand their duties.
This is the last step in a proper tailboard session, but perhaps the most critical one. Now the leader must verify that all members of the work group were paying close attention. The work should not begin until the leader is confident that everyone knows and understands their assignment. For the most hazardous jobs, this step is extremely important.
By asking each person in the work group to repeat (in their own words) the most important aspects of their duties, the leader can determine if they were paying attention. Each person must be able to clearly describe his or her part of the overall job, the known hazards, and the protective equipment required. The leader must be satisfied with the responses before allowing work to begin.
The leader should never skip this part of a tailboard session. The members of the work group are much more likely to pay attention if they know you will be expecting them to contribute.

Great post- nice to see

old lineman
01-06-2007, 02:03 PM
Good post CPOPE.
I like the continual reference of the person in charge as the LEADER. This person too frequently slips off of this ideal and becomes a PUSHER.
This never works for long.
To be a leader you have to lead by example and treat everybody with respect. You can't demand respect, it has to be earned.
You can't earn respect by demonstrating disrespect.
One thing I would like to add is that when assigning tasks pairing of workers should be considered, especially when there are apprentices in the mix.
A good lineman can really influence a new comer. Pair them up and let the experienced lineman continue the on the job training, we all know we need more after the schooling is done.
A good mentor is invaluable.
Another thing that I believe is vital when doing the tailboard talk is to make sure everyone understands the exact location where your at in case of an emergency. If one arises the emergency responders MUST be directed efficiently because time wasted could make a big difference. No one ever knows who'll have to place that distress call.
I like it posted near the radio to help prevent panic forgetfulness.
The Old Lineman

CPOPE
12-28-2008, 07:48 AM
We must all live by the motto — “What you have done is not as important as what you are about to do.” The future is what drives us ... and the opportunities seized and accomplishments made good are the measures of our success. The message is simple, yet the implications are profound.

Everyone must acknowledge and understand this — if we want to drive occupational injuries, illnesses, and deaths down: Zero is the perfect number.
Let’s all strive to begin the new year with a renewed enthusiasm for not only our personal safety and health but for the safety and health of all our co-workers. If each of you can prevent just one injury, by showing you care, by watching out for unsafe acts or conditions, just multiply that by the many thousands of readers and see what a difference can be made in the decline in injury statistics.

Statistics are just numbers, caring affects people’s lives, caring about safety and health endeavors makes a BIG difference.

As the new year approaches, it's a good time to reflect on the success of your safety program during the past year. Was safety a top priority for everyone in your organization? Did you manage to meet objectives, or do you perhaps need to undertake some new initiatives in 2009?

Hunt down and eliminate hazards. One initiative that you might consider is to turn the spotlight on workplace hazards. For example:

Take a second look at the layout and condition of work areas.
Examine tools and equipment to make sure they are safe for employees to use (and review maintenance schedules to make sure they stay that way).
Observe the way employees work (you might be surprised at how many unsafe behaviors you observe).
Check to make sure that appropriate personal protective equipment (in good condition) is readily available to all workers.
Identify potential fire, chemical, electrical, and other hazards throughout your facility and take action to eliminate these risks.
Emphasize training. Employee training is probably the most important aspect of any successful safety program.

Check OSHA standards for training requirements (many regulations have very specific requirements).
Make sure training sessions are interactive and provide plenty of opportunities for questions and discussion.
Take advantage of available technology to enhance and expand training options.
Provide lots of demonstrations and hands-on experience during training sessions.
Don't forget to provide training for supervisors and managers, too (especially when new regulations, policies, equipment, processes, etc., are introduced).
Encourage employee participation. If employees at all levels in the Why It Matters...

Encourage employees to make suggestions about how to improve workplace safety (and then be sure to give their suggestions serious consideration!).
Involve employees in problem-solving when challenging safety and health issues arise.
Rely on safety committees composed of employees from all levels and functions to identify hazards, investigate accidents, and promote safe work habits among your workforce.
Recognize and reward safe behavior. Finally, don't forget to show your gratitude for the efforts employees, supervisors, and managers are making to create a safer workplace. Use recognition and reward programs to reinforce safe behavior and positive safety attitudes. Talk up safety at every opportunity. Let employees know that their safety is your top priority this year, and ask them to join you in making it their top priority as well.

Stinger
12-28-2008, 08:04 AM
First- Merry Christmas KR- have not seen you on latley. How's things at JCR? Seond- Lets all try and make this a good safe year- hold our selves responsible and accoutable for our actions- take care of one-another. I hope everyone on this site has a happy, safe new year.

graybeard
12-28-2008, 06:18 PM
Alot of good posts once again. I'm lucky that the guys I work with most of the time are really good guys and we all watch out for each other. I'm even lucky enough to have a good superviser.
I do once in awhile get a guy or two that we end up working with that have a differnt attitude and I am going to try real hard to make sure the one bad apple doesn't bring the rest down with them. For some reason they seem to be able to bring the good one down with them and I'm not going to let that happen anymore.
Have a Safe and HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone.

thrasher
12-30-2008, 10:09 AM
Next month will be 31 years in the business for me and the rash of accidents we have had reported and or mentioned has me thinking. While I have seen a couple of accidents from catastrophic failure of brand new equipment, and two nasty traffic accidents most every other accident that I know of or have seen reports on fall into 4 categories.
I. NOT WEARING GLOVES WHEN YOU SHOULD HAVE.
I have never understood why if you know the line is hot and the company has given you gloves that someone wouldn't wear them. While ground to ground rules are "bullet proofing" linework, there are just to many accidents where the person did not put the gloves on when they reached the zone.
II. NOT ENOUGH COVERUP.
This one is probably more common then the no gloves. As someone said in another thread to many people are either in to much of a hurry, to lazy, or to dumb to actually cover all the conductors and ground in thier reach. I don't care if you are in a bucket if the back of your neck hits the outside phase while your elbow hits the x-arm your dead.
III. ISOLATE-TEST-GROUND
Not only do these steps need to be done, they need to be done within your sight. I have lost count of the number of accidents I have read of where someone (often the bird dog on storm trouble) tells a lineman that's something is dead, then the guy grabs it barehanded and is killed. If you can't see the ground it doesn't exist. I tell all my people when they leave on storm trouble; ground and tag by our rules and do it yourself. If the host utility doesn't like it, come home. Very few other utilities have had a problem with that, and even they kept my men to the end.
IV. THINK
This is probably the hardest of all, but sometimes situations are not what they seem to be. Really look at things and think them through before you do something by routine. I once had a switching order (very long and involved) that midway thru asked us to check phasing across an open breaker. Well one side of the breaker was dead, instead of stopping and talking over what we needed to do we just starting automatically thorwing switches to heat up the breaker. However by this point in the switching order things were not normal. To make a long story short we bucked phases within two hundred feet of the old and new power transformers. No one was injured since we were using sticks but the arc cut a 4 inch channel iron in two.
In conclusion I would really love to see this section of the forum not have injury and fatality postings in 2009.
Have a SAFE and Happy New Year.

loodvig
12-30-2008, 12:26 PM
Next month will be 31 years in the business for me and the rash of accidents we have had reported and or mentioned has me thinking. While I have seen a couple of accidents from catastrophic failure of brand new equipment, and two nasty traffic accidents most every other accident that I know of or have seen reports on fall into 4 categories.
I. NOT WEARING GLOVES WHEN YOU SHOULD HAVE.
I have never understood why if you know the line is hot and the company has given you gloves that someone wouldn't wear them. While ground to ground rules are "bullet proofing" linework, there are just to many accidents where the person did not put the gloves on when they reached the zone.
II. NOT ENOUGH COVERUP.
This one is probably more common then the no gloves. As someone said in another thread to many people are either in to much of a hurry, to lazy, or to dumb to actually cover all the conductors and ground in thier reach. I don't care if you are in a bucket if the back of your neck hits the outside phase while your elbow hits the x-arm your dead.
III. ISOLATE-TEST-GROUND
Not only do these steps need to be done, they need to be done within your sight. I have lost count of the number of accidents I have read of where someone (often the bird dog on storm trouble) tells a lineman that's something is dead, then the guy grabs it barehanded and is killed. If you can't see the ground it doesn't exist. I tell all my people when they leave on storm trouble; ground and tag by our rules and do it yourself. If the host utility doesn't like it, come home. Very few other utilities have had a problem with that, and even they kept my men to the end.
IV. THINK
This is probably the hardest of all, but sometimes situations are not what they seem to be. Really look at things and think them through before you do something by routine. I once had a switching order (very long and involved) that midway thru asked us to check phasing across an open breaker. Well one side of the breaker was dead, instead of stopping and talking over what we needed to do we just starting automatically thorwing switches to heat up the breaker. However by this point in the switching order things were not normal. To make a long story short we bucked phases within two hundred feet of the old and new power transformers. No one was injured since we were using sticks but the arc cut a 4 inch channel iron in two.
In conclusion I would really love to see this section of the forum not have injury and fatality postings in 2009.
Have a SAFE and Happy New Year.

That sir is a very good post! Only thing I think you missed is having a tailboard.