PSE&G

GAS DELIVERY

HEALTH & SAFETY

PROGRAM

Our safety program is based on a grassroots

process. The bargaining unit employees run the

program from the local health and safety councils

all the way up to the corporate health and safety

council. The local safety councils form the basis

of the program. Each location has a local health

and safety council made up of bargaining unit

employees and management employees. The

chairperson is a bargaining unit employee. One

of the primary roles of the manager on the

council is to eliminate roadblocks and assist in

getting things done at the local level.

The chairpersons from the local health and safety councils are members of the

Line of Business (LOB) H&S Council. The LOB H&S Council consists of the

local health and safety council members, the LOB lead safety coordinator, and

the LOB vice president. Subject matter experts and employees from each of

the reporting districts are encouraged to attend these meetings.

The safety system at PSEG is made up of 12

components. These components consist of:

• Administration and Measurement

• Commitment, Participation & Assurance

• Communication

• Contractor Health & Safety

• Data Analysis

• Hazard Assessment and Control

• Incident Analysis

• Issue Resolution

• Job Safety Observations

• Knowledge

• Motor Vehicle Safety

• Personal Health & Wellness

• The Administration and Measurement component provides guidance in the

H&S System in the means used by the Company to engage all employees in

proactively managing their H&S.

• The Commitment, Participation & Assurance component is to provide methods

for gaining the commitment, and participation of all PSEG associates in H&S

improvement efforts.

• The Communication component provides guidance on four key areas of

communication:

• Communication of technical information such as new OSHA regulations

• Communication of non – technical information such as Incident Alerts

• Communication of hazards and precautions for specific tasks through Job

Briefings

• Communication of actions supporting employee H&S through Recognition

• The Contractor Health & Safety component is to provide clear guidelines for a

consistent approach to Contractor H&S management.

• The purpose of Data Analysis is to provide meaningful information with respect

health and safety, where and why incidents are occurring, as well as the

corrective action necessary to prevent a recurrence.

.

• The Purpose of Hazard Assessment and Control is to provide a proactive,

comprehensive process and approach to identification, evaluation, and control of

industrial health and safety hazards.

• Incident Analysis / Root Cause provides methods to identify the circumstances,

conditions, and causes that contributed to the incident and then develop

measures to prevent future occurrences of similar incidents.

• The purpose of Issue Resolution is to provide employees with a process for the

timely resolution of health and safety issues.

• The purpose of the Job Safety Observation is to proactively identify and

eliminate at-risk behaviors and conditions on the job by observing employees

while working and giving immediate feedback in order to alter the behavior or

condition before an accident or injury occurs.

• The Knowledge component provides methods for imparting knowledge to:

• All employees on the skills to perform their work safely

• Employees on H&S Improvement

• New employees regarding basic safety orientation

• H&S Council members

• Increase the skills of safety & health professionals

• The purpose of the Motor Vehicle Safety component is To ensure the

building blocks of a safe driving environment are in place and used at work

and at home. These include:

• The purpose of the Personal Health & Wellness Component is to help

provide employees with the means and opportunity to achieve their

personal health, safety and well-being goals, along with ways to assist

employees in achieving a lifestyle of optimal health and well-being

Our use of the Data Analysis component resulted

in a substantial reduction in muscular skeletal

injuries. We commonly call these types of

injuries, strains and sprains. In our Appliance

Service group which is part of Gas Delivery,

strains and sprains result in the highest incidence

levels of lost time, restricted duty, and OSHA

reportable injuries.

The following slides is an over view of how a

cross section of employees used Data Analysis

to reduce these types of injuries.

GAS APPLIANCE SERVICE

STRAINS / SPRAINS

DATA ANALYSIS

Chris Warner

Mike Mullane

Tom Curry

Bob Egner

Paul Metaxas

Tom Robinson

Mike Schmid (Sponsor)

Mission

• Initiative Description

Review OSHA injury/first aid injury trend across Appliance

Service to determine underlying and/or repetitive factors so

that improvement plans can be identified and implemented

Specific emphasis on sprains/strains which seems to be

leading injury type

• Anticipated Results

Specific action plan with accountabilities to address major

opportunities identified

Reduction in the numbers of sprains and strains resulting in

OSHA recordable injuries

50 Strain / Sprain (S/S) injuries

12 OSHA Recordables (OR), 11 First Aid (FA), 27 Record Purposes (RP)

12 OR include 8 Restricted and 3 Lost Time Cases (77 LT days)

While reporting of RP cases may vary from location to location, Harrison,

Orange and Plainfield experienced no OSHA or FA strain/sprain injuries

Nearly half the OSHA Cases

Half the Lost Time Cases

Nearly two thirds the Restricted Duty Cases

More than a quarter of the Lost Time days

Gas Appliance Service Strains & Sprains

Findings

Findings

• Strains and Sprains are among the most prevalent and serious

injuries in Appliance Service and account for: 46-50% of OSHA Cases in last 3 years

50+% of Lost Time Cases in last 4 years

60+% of Restricted Duty cases in last 3 years

27-74% of Lost Time Days in last 6 years

• 33 of 50 reviewed Sprains /Strains incidents (two thirds) took

place during 4 general tasks / circumstances:

Ascending / Descending Stairs - 9

During appliance repair - 8

During meter set work - 8

While working around vehicles - 8

• Ascending / Descending Stairs - 9

Slips / Trips and Falls the leading type of incident while on stairs

Keeping Eyes on Path and Defective Stairs (especially pull -down

stairs) most prevalent causes leading to Slips/Trips/Falls

YOS - see a trend but significance doubtful

Season trend significance is doubtful

Leg / Foot injuries most prevalent

Findings

• During appliance repair - 8

Overexertion & “Felt Pain” the leading type of incident during Appliance

Repair

Ergonomics and Physical Layout most prevalent causes leading to injury

during appliance repair

YOS - all injured employees doing the job for 5+ years

Season trend significance is doubtful

Neck / Back injuries most prevalent

• During meter set work - 8

“Felt Pain” & Overexertion the leading type of incident

Ergonomics and Physical Layout most prevalent causes

leading to injury during meter set work

YOS - all injured employees doing the job for 5+

years

Season trend significance is doubtful

Findings

“Felt Pain” & Overexertion the leading type of incidents

2 basic circumstances - exiting vehicle and taking equipment / materials

out of vehicle

YOS - all injured employees doing the job for 4+ years

Season trend significance is doubtful

• While working around vehicles - 8

Findings

• Topics related to Strain / Sprain prevention H&S Plans

Gas Delivery H&S Council Plan: page 2

The following Culture Initiatives will be supported;

....Ergonomics Team / Quarterly updates

....Annual root cause training will be provided for employees as needed.

ROOT CAUSE INVESTIGATION

Each accident will be evaluated to determine if a Root Cause Investigation will be

performed.

Wellness Initiatives

...Partnering with Pro-Activity

Promoting Exercise Programs

Findings

• Use of Pro-Activity

Pro-Activity contractually available to visit Districts 4 times

per year

Site visits & presentations on back safety, heart safety,

CVD screenings, STFs, etc.

Conclusions

• Appliance Service needs to place a priority on addressing

Sprains and Strain injuries

• In any of the 4 main categories of work, many Strain / Sprain

injuries most probably developed over time due to the repetition of

non-optimal or improper body mechanics (e.g., carrying toolboxes,

material bags, crouching, kneeling, overextending arms, pulling

and pushing outside power zone such as when lying on floor)

• Underlying Issues leading to S/S incidents when Ascending /

Descending Stairs Use of 3 points of contact

Hands tied up with toolbox, flashlight, materials, other equipment

Distractions from customer talking

Dim lighting

Physical layout / design of stairs

Maintenance of stairs

Cluttered stairs / housekeeping

Conclusions

• Underlying Issues leading to S/S incidents during appliance

repair Location and design of appliances: parts usually are in low / hard to

access locations, appliances in cramped areas

Customer doesn't maintain appliance, making it physically harder for us

to repair

Techs may not be using the best ergonomic or body mechanics approach

to work due to a lack of procedures, access to internet / intranet, and lack of

ongoing training on new appliances

Lack of Job Hazard Analyses / analyses of body mechanics for appliance

work means techs may not being using best ergo or physical approach to

work

Repetition of non-optimal body mechanics over time leads to injury- e.g.,

carrying toolboxes, material bags, crouching, kneeling, overextending arms,

pulling and pushing outside power zone such as when lying on floor, and so

on

Conclusions

• Underlying Issues leading to S/S incidents during meter set work

Repetition of non-optimal body mechanics over time leading to injury (e.g.,

body positioning out of “power zone”, sudden increases and decreases of

force used / impact on hands, arms, shoulders)

Waiting until force exerted gets very high before using a more effective tool or

method

Difficulty in determining normal aches & pains from more serious injury that

requires immediate attention.

Conclusions • Underlying Issues leading to S/S incidents while working around

vehicles

placement of tool bags /housekeeping in vehicles

hard to judge normal aches & pains from more serious injury; inability to

recognize an injury that required immediate attention

design of storage in vans may lead to improper body mechanics

MDT positioning leads to added stress on body

repetition of non-optimal body mechanics that add up to injury (e.g.,

entering/exiting vehicle, overreaching to remove tools & materials from van)

•Topics related to Strain / Sprain prevention in H&S Plans No specific action in relation to strain / sprains prevention

Reference to activities that can support prevention efforts

> ergonomics

> exercise programs

> Root Cause Analyses

• Use of Pro-Activity

Pro-Activity underutilized

Could pro-actively provide expertise to support reduction in strains

and sprains

• Evaluate Equipment / Work Practices > Evaluate, Pilot & Deploy Tools & Equipment

Evaluate, pilot & deploy as appropriate wrench extenders for use in piping work - Evaluate, pilot & deploy as appropriate backpacks and specialized materials bags Evaluate, pilot & deploy as appropriate portable platforms for various work

> Re-evaluate ergonomic MDT positioning mounts

> Evaluate purchase of taller vans such as Dodge Sprinter

> Housekeeping / 3 Points of Contact

Improve housekeeping / organization of tools & materials in vans Technicians to ask customer to descend stairs first, use 3 points of contact while ascending /

descending stairs

> Provide information on new appliances Develop & Implement advanced training on new appliances Provide MDT access to internet / intranet sites on appliance service by Technicians

Recommended Actions

• Increase knowledge on body mechanics and ergonomics Develop & annually present awareness video(s) (similar to AMEREN) on proper

body mechanics (e.g., use of wrenches), stretching, tightening of fittings, etc. Develop & annually present awareness video on working around appliance

service vans to ease stress on body Adjuncts & ProActivity to work with Training Committee to include principles

of correct body mechanics, body movement /use of power zone, and stretching program into Session I and II training and Operator Qualifications (Include similar concepts in Bundled Training) include use of proper size wrenches

Develop and promote a Gas Appliance Service Stretching Program with reference wallet card for use before jobs

• Communication to Customers

Revise the script in the Davox system to inform homeowners to keep stairs and

areas around appliances and meters in good condition, clear of obstacles, provide good lighting.

Use Bill Stuffer as another means of communication to customers

Recommended Actions

• Include specific actions to reduce strain / sprain injuries in 2012 H&S Plans

Scheduling visits by Pro-Activity to Appliance Service Districts 4 times per year

with increased focus on body mechanics & stretching

Job Hazard Analysis program (that include councils, safety professionals, ProActivity, and Corporate Ergonomics Team) on work around vehicles, meter set work, and appliance repair work to identify improved work practices / body mechanics / tools / stretching exercise routines (and incorporate info into training and work practices)

Recommended Actions

• Communicate better practices of Harrison, Orange and Plainfield that have resulted in no FA/OR strain/sprain (S/S) injuries in 2011 YTD

• Develop an addendum to the Field Incident Report for use by

Appliance Service supervision to obtain more complete information about incidents

• Increase use of the Root Cause Analyses process to investigate serious or potentially serious Strain / Sprain incidents and increase communication of lessons learned to personnel

OTHER RECOMMENDED ACTIONS

ACTION PLAN

Action Lead Due Date

Evaluate Equipment / Work Practices

1. Evaluate, Pilot & Deploy Tools & Equipment

2. Re-evaluate ergonomic MDT positioning mounts

3. Evaluate purchase of taller vans such as Dodge

Sprinter

4. Housekeeping / 3 Points of Contact

5. Provide Information on New Appliances

1. Paul Pirro

2. Neal Davis

3. Joe Martillotti

4. Supervisors &

H&S Councils

5. Paul Pirro /

Ross

Romano /

Alice McPhee

1st quarter

2012

Increase knowledge on body mechanics and

ergonomics

Tom Curry 1st quarter

2012

Communication to Customers Bob Egner December

2011

Include specific actions to reduce strain / sprain

injuries in 2012 H&S Plans

Neal Davis

Chris Edman

December

2011

ACTION PLAN

Action Lead Due Date

Other Actions:

1) Revise the Field Incident Report Form for

use by supervision to obtain more complete

information about incidents

2) Increase use of the Root Cause Analyses

process to investigate serious or potentially

serious S/S incidents & communicate

3) Communicate better practices that have

resulted in no FA/OR strain/sprain (S/S)

injuries in 2011 YTD

1. Bob

Egner

2. Mike

Schmid &

Safety

Pro’s

3. Jules

Kaczor

1. Nov

2011

2. Jan

2012

3. Dec

2011

Track recommended Action Plan to ensure

implementation and evaluate effectiveness. Start

with 1st checkpoint in December, 2011.

Tom Robinson

with Data

Analysis Team

Start Dec

2011

What the Team Did

• Validated that strains and sprain (S/S) injuries were most

prevalent in 2011 and would be the focus of this analysis

• Reviewed 50 S/S injuries and classified them in various ways

including job task or circumstance, incident type (e.g., slip/trip/fall),

OSHA recordkeeping classification, and primary systemic or

human factor cause

• Brainstormed the most prevalent common causes and trends

(opportunities for improvement) and developed recommended

actions focused at mitigating the prevalent common causes

• Benchmarked outside organizations (Ameren, National Grid) for

actions they took to reduce strain and sprain injuries

What the Team Did

• Researched various tools and equipment that would assist

Technicians in reducing overexertion and awkward body

movement / positioning

• Reviewed the Local & LOB Council and District H&S Plans for

planned actions that to reduce Strain / Sprain (S/S) injuries

• Surveyed Districts for actions that may help reduce S/S injuries

• Met with Pro-Activity to review general Gas Delivery health and

wellness trends, Pro-Activity work in Gas Districts, and body

mechanics concepts

SUMMARY

• Follow-up on action items

• Continue to monitor strains and sprain injuries

• Encourage employees to stretch several times a day

• Engage supervisors in the programs

• Continue to tweak the program with new ergonomic

tools

• Keep employees at all levels updated on the

progress of the program.