Safety is the Number 1 Priority
I'm going to talk SAFETY with you again. There have been a rash of "accidents" across the state, and I'm very concerned that there could be a fatality.
Straight to the point. We are IBEW professionals. We are trained to work safely, we are paid well to work safely our co-workers depend upon you to work safely so that they can go home at the end of the work day.
There is absolutely no place for short cuts in the utility industry! Doing so will eventually end up with you or a co-worker dead, or forever changed for the rest of your life. There is no need to rush. Plan your work, and then work your plan. Complete your job safely and professionally. There is never a good reason to place yourself in a position of undo risk!
Not only should we be paying attention to ourselves to make sure we are being safe, we should be doing the same for those we work with. Have your brother's and sister's back while at work. Let them know if something does not look right. They will appreciate you for it.
There is never a good reason not to have your FR and PPE on. Why would you not be wearing your gloves and sleeves when handling wire? Working without grounds up, explain to me why you did that? No work barriers or fall protection in the substation? Oh, you just had one thing to do? No shoring for the ditch, it looked safe? Use proper tagging procedures for both gas and electric. Leave your cell phones in your lunch box and check it on your break. Don't be distracted driving to and from the workplace.
If you can't do the things everyone expects of you to work safe, you are in the wrong business. If you knew when the next accident was going to be, you would make sure you protected yourself and your co-workers to the best of your ability. But you don't! So make sure you work safely all of the time.
