An OSHA Perspective: Contractor Safety in the Electric Utility Industry (Hint, it’s about communication!)

Bill Donovan, DRA OSHA Region V

Seven Core Elements

Management leadership

Worker participation

Hazard identification and assessment

Hazard prevention and control

Education and training

Program evaluation and improvement

Coordination and Communication on Multi-Employer Worksites

Safety and Health Programs

What is Communication?

• The process of communication is what allows us to interact with other people; without it, we would be unable to share knowledge or experiences with anything outside of ourselves. Common forms of communication include speaking, writing, gestures, touch and broadcasting (Wikipedia)

So what is effective communication?

Effective communication is defined as verbal speech or other methods of relaying information that get a point across.

An example of effective communication:

• when you talk in clear and simple terms;

• when the person who you are talking to listens actively, absorbs your point and understands it.

(yourdictionary.com)

Communication is a 2-way process

• Communication skills involve:

• Listening to others (Receiving) message

• Asserting/ Expressing (Sending)

• Barriers to communication can lead to misunderstanding and confusion

sender

receiver

sender

receiver

values & attitudes “generational diffs.”

Cultural differences

language

noise

hearing

Based on Shannon-Weaver model of communication

Communications is a two-way process that starts with the sender:

• The sender should be conveying information necessary for mission accomplishment

• The sender must be proactive in making the receiver understand the message

• Too often, what is said is not always what is heard. To prevent this from happening, do the following: • State one idea at a time • State ideas simply • Explain when appropriate • Repeat if appropriate • Encourage feedback • Read between the lines! Did your choice of words, tone of the

sentence, and body language (intentional gestures or subconscious movements) convey the same meaning?

Effective Communication Skills

Effective Communication skills

Eye contact & visible

Body language

Silence

Checking for understanding

Smiling face

Summarizing what has been said

Encouragement to continue

Some questions

Barriers are influencing factors which impede or breakdown the continuous communications loop:

Barriers include:

• Non-assertive behavior

• Task-preoccupation

• Anger or frustration

• Personal bias

• Team diversity

• Lack of confidence

• Inappropriate priorities

• Organizational structure

• Distractions

• Tunnel vision

• Interruptions

• Rank differences

Barriers to Effective Communication

Barriers to effective

communication

Language

Noise Time

Distractions Other people

Put downs Too many questions

Distance

Not comfortable with the topic

Disability

Lack of interest

The message is simply the information the sender wants to communicate to the receiver:

• Use correct terminology (standard commands)

• Speak clearly

• Time the message to be sent when the receiver is able to listen (e.g., importance of Daily Job Brief)

• Use appropriate vocal tone and volume: • Commands must be heard and perceived as an

imperative, not a question or comment

• Be relevant to the receiver, not a distraction. The message needs to be inclusive and informative

The receiver needs information to accomplish his/her task:

• The effectiveness of the team often rests on its members’ ability to listen (Unfortunately, most people find listening difficult)

• The receiver must exert control over the communication process • For receivers to have control, it is important that

they ensure that the senders understand what the receivers want and why they want it

The following actions have been observed in teams with effective communications skills:

• Acknowledge (“Roger”) communications

• Provide information in accordance with SOP’s

• Provide information when asked

• Repeat, as necessary, to ensure communication is accurately received

• Use standard terminology when communicating information

• Request and provide clarification when needed

• Ensure statements are direct and unambiguous

• Inform the appropriate individuals when the mission or plans change

• Communicate all information needed by those individuals or teams external to the team

• Use nonverbal communication appropriately

• Use proper order when communicating information

Essential Communications:

• Host employer with contract employer(s)

• Contract employer(s) with host employer

• Contract employer to their crew(s)

• Within the crew(s)

• Between the contractors and crew to crew

• …and back up and across, etc.

1926.950(c)-Information transfer:

Before work begins, the host employer shall inform contract employers of:

• …characteristics of the host employer's installation that are related to the safety of the work to be performed…

• Conditions that are related to the safety of the work to be performed…

• Information about the design and operation of the host employer's installation that the contract employer needs to make the assessments required…

• Any other information …of the host employer's installation that is known by the host employer, that the contract employer requests, and that is related to the protection of the contract employer's employees.

1926.950 (c)(2) - Contract employers shall insure...

• …that each of its employees is instructed in the hazardous conditions relevant to the employee's work that the contract employer is aware of as a result of information communicated to the contract employer by the host employer;

• before work begins, the contract employer shall advise the host employer of any unique hazardous conditions presented by the contract employer's work

• …advise the host employer of any unanticipated hazardous conditions found…

• The contract employer and the host employer shall coordinate their work rules and procedures so that each employee of the contract employer and the host employer is protected…

1926.950(c)(3)- Existing characteristics and conditions:

• Existing characteristics and conditions of electric lines and equipment that are related to the safety of the work to be performed shall be determined before work on or near the lines or equipment is started

1926.950(d)- Existing characteristics and conditions:

• The nominal voltages of lines and equipment,

• The maximum switching-transient voltages,

• The presence of hazardous induced voltages,

• The presence of protective grounds and equipment grounding conductors,

• The locations of circuits and equipment, including electric supply lines, communication lines, and fire-protective signaling circuits,

• The condition of protective grounds and equipment grounding conductors,

• The condition of poles, and

• Environmental conditions relating to safety.

The ETD Partnership Today

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General Partnership Goals

Analyze accident and incident data and statistics

Identify common cause factors related to:

• Fatalities

• Injuries and illnesses

Develop recommended Best Practices for each identified cause

Develop Best Practice implementation strategies

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General Partnership Goals (cont.)

Identify training criteria for workers

• Supervisors

• Linemen

• Apprentices

Includes training to promote industry cultural change placing value on safety and health (“focus

groups”)

Develop effective methods of implementation

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Training Development

Task Team Two was formed to develop standardized training that can be used by the industry to help deliver a constant message

Development of an Industry Specific OSHA 10hr program commonly referred to as the OSHA ET&D 10hr Program

Development of an Industry Leadership course designed to provide Safety Leadership training to frontline supervisors commonly referred to as the OSHA 20hr program

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Best Practices Developed

Task Team Three was formed to develop common work practices that could be performed by each member company to provide consistency to a mobile transient workforce

These Best Practices were much debated during development and have been adopted by each of the partners

The Partnership has now developed and implemented 14 Best Practices

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Communication

Task Team Four was developed to help communicate the activities of the Partnership both internally and externally

Responsible for development of Industrywide Stand-down materials

Has the responsibility for development of the website

Most recently, TT4 has developed an App for the Partnership

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Partnership Media

The Partnership’s website: www.powerlinesafety.org

Partnership App search ET&D Partnership in your app store

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Executive & Steering Committees

Committee is comprised of the CEOs of member companies or designees & designee of associations

Steering Committee is comprised of the top safety person at each member company or organization

With this support, the rank and file has a Safety Net to communicate effectively

(don’t forget the Task Teams – they can analyze and identify

barriers, etc.)

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Success of the Partnership

Hours increased 55% from 2003 to 2015 (44,615,794 to 69,395,665)

1596 OSHA Recordables in 2003, 657 OSHA Recordables in 2015

DART Rate has decreased 77% from 4.31 to 0.99 since 2001

We have seen a 53% reduction of fatalities since 2003

10,300 students have attended OSHA 20-Hr.

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