A few months ago, I was sitting in my office when I heard a very loud thud. I looked out the window to see large ice chunks falling off our roof. It was happening all around the building and made entering and exiting dangerous. So, some of our linemen grabbed a shovel, hopped in a bucket truck, and removed ice from the edges of the roof. It was kind of fun to watch them work their way around the building, but more importantly, it was a great example of safety practices in action.
In fact, safety is a huge part of our industry and organization. It’s woven into everything we do, from our strategic objectives to the services we offer. I want to share some of the ways we live and breathe safety, and yes, it involves a rodeo.
Our Employees
Last fall, we participated in an intensive safety audit with a team of safety professionals who assessed our equipment and facilities, interviewed employees, and identified areas for improvement. While I’m proud to say we did quite well, we identified goals to make us even better. Over the next three years, we hope to achieve zero lost-time accidents, strengthen our safety trainings, and reduce preventable vehicle accidents year over year.
We’ve developed several creative ways to meet these goals. For example, we will build a safety training barn at our headquarters for employees to participate in job-specific training each month. This barn will not only help keep employees safe but also enable them to test new equipment before implementing it in the field. Additionally, we will partner with occupational therapists to develop a stretching program to help prevent injuries. A hazard recognition course is also on the docket. But my personal favorite is the backing rodeo. Our electric, fiber, and propane operations crews will hone their avoidance skills by driving through an obstacle course in reverse. Yeehaw!
Our Customers
We also offer a range of programs and tools designed to keep you safe.
For example, during our electric hotline demonstrations, adults and children learn about the power—and dangers—of live electricity. The demonstration features a couple of linemen and a trailer with poles, equipment, and power lines carrying 7,200 volts of electricity. Sometimes we even electrocute a hot dog! Spoiler alert: It stays cold.
The free CommandIQ mobile app protects our fiber customers from hackers and malware, and our digital literacy classes teach people how to spot phishing scams and protect their personal data online.
Propane leak checks help ensure equipment and appliances are functioning properly. Last, our Safety Smarts YouTube videos offer tips to keep you and your family safe at home and beyond.
Why do these things matter? Workplace safety measures help us reduce costs, but most importantly, they protect our employees and their families from injuries that disrupt their lives. They also ensure we can show up each day to deliver the service you need and go home the same way we came to work. As for you, we want to help keep you safe because it’s the right thing to do.
Of course, this column wouldn’t be complete without me reminding you to stay at least 50 feet away from downed power lines and report them to us immediately. Even if you see one on the ground, it could still be live with electricity, which is deadly.
While the days of roof shoveling may be coming to an end for the year, our commitment to safety and our community never stops.
