2015 community powerline safety - home - esasafe · •generate actions by all stakeholders ......

2015 Community Powerline Safety Summit Report

Purpose

The Community Powerline Safety Summit brought together a cross section of organizations, individuals and industries to:

• Galvanize stakeholders on the issue of powerline contact by

dump trucks

• Develop specific and tangible actions on which to make real

progress over the next 12 months

• Generate actions by all stakeholders

• Obtain a set of commitments from participants for actions

COMMUNITY POWERLINE SAFETY SUMMIT REPORT • JUNE 2015 2

Participants*

Construction Sector

Regulators and government – MOL, MGCS

Safety system participants – IHSA, PSHSA

LDCs

Labour, Workers

ESA

Industry Associations


*See Appendix A for full list of participating organizations

Interactive Approach

Industry Panel provided unique perspectives on dump truck contacts

• Julian Hogeterp, The Miller Group

• John Hamilton, Hydro One Inc.

• Joel Moody, Electrical Safety Authority

Participants assigned to working groups to ensure representation of diverse stakeholders

• Each working group appointed a facilitator and a reporter

• Collaborated to define the problem, find solutions and take

action


Executive Summary

Addressing Powerline Contact by Dump Truck Drivers

On June 8, 2015 representatives from a cross section of industries came together to understand the causes of powerline contact by dump truck drivers. Participants collaborated in interactive sessions to develop short term actionable solutions that are the responsibility of all organizations and industries present. The most popular ideas as voted on by participants are indicated in italics throughout this report.

The Challenge, Solutions, and Actions

Participants offered many insights on why dump truck drivers make contact with powerlines. The leading theories suggested a driver’s focus on operational and financial issues exceeds focus on risk/safety, and a lack of sufficient safety culture aligning knowledge, training, incentives and behaviours.

Suggestions for preventing powerline contact include a mix of engineered and technological solutions for dump truck equipment, warning devices for dump trucks, and enhanced awareness, and training initiatives for the dump truck and construction industries. Accountability lies with all attendees and their respective organizations. Actions that have the potential to be initiated and operational within the next 12 months include advocacy for powerline focused regulator and construction sector collaboration, engagement of dump truck drivers, exploration of powerline training options and participation and support of powerline awareness campaigns. It is the responsibility of participants to decide which actions to initiate. There could be many areas to target, or efforts could be focused on one challenge in particular.

Conclusion

There must be a sustained, collaborative commitment and common understanding on the need to the prevent powerline contacts by dump truck drivers. It is vital that dump truck drivers themselves are represented and are heard in this discussion. It will take a combination of initiatives along the safety solution spectrum and a sharing of responsibility among industry, drivers, regulators, educators and workers to implement successful powerline safety strategies for dump truck drivers. There will be a 2016 Community Powerline Safety Summit to examine the advancement of any 2015 proposals.


Defining the Challenge

Why do dump trucks contact powerlines?

Suggestions offered by participants included:

Lack of Appropriate Health and Safety Practices*

• Poor planning of the task/operation by the site supervisor or project

engineers e.g. locating work / dumping areas near to lines and poles

• Ineffective health and safety program/culture and practices

• Lack of spotter use

• Lack of effective warning signage or barriers

*italics indicate most votes by participants



Other Work Site Priorities that Undermine Focus on Powerline Safety

• Drivers are focused on work priorities

• Drivers paid by the load, leading to rushing and cutting corners

• Drivers focused on other safety issues, e.g. backing up

• Distracted driving (i.e. cell phone use)




Work Site Team Dynamics

• Trucks and drivers are not part of core construction crew, so don’t participate in health and safety training, site assessments

• Lack of respect for dump truck drivers by others; piece work/contract work – not part of the team

• Lack of knowledge, training and resources

• Lack of communication among those on site

• Different drivers coming on site every day; lack of familiarity with site and risks; site supervisor doesn’t know who is coming that day

• Lack of communication among those on site

• Language or literacy issues

Lack of Appreciation of Powerline Contact Risk

• Don’t know line can’t be touched, brushed or moved *italics indicate most votes by participants


Finding Solutions

Participants were asked to Identify solutions that:

• Minimize hazards through barriers (physical and other)

• Improve warnings, equipment, supervision and training

• Enhance awareness, promotion and attitudinal change

This approach is based on the MIL STD 882D Standard Practice for System Safety (found on page 7 of Report). This US Military Standard identifies the potential effectiveness of a system safety approach.


MIL STD 882D Standard Practice for System

Safety

10

Finding Solutions

Minimizing hazards through barriers*

Physical Barriers

• Potential indicator on truck where proximity if enough to signal

warning

• A controlled entrance to entrance/exit from site that is tied to

payment (i.e. give dump truck ticket after load is dumped)

• Dedicated observer with kill switch when box is raised

• Speed bumps/ rumble strips near hazard

• Alarm when box is not fully down

• Ministry of Transportation/Local Distribution Company warning signs 100 metres prior to hazard



Finding Solutions

• Insulated grab bar on trucks

• Warning on side mirrors: check for overhead wires

• A “back up” camera model, but looking up

• Technology that blocks cell service while bucket/box is in use

• Audible warning if box is higher than 14 feet/close to powerlines

• Powerline cover ups or flags on powerlines

• Live bottom truck instead of ‘lift’ requirement

• Mandatory isolation of powerline by LDC occurs at planning stage

• Ability to easily raise powerlines

• Insulate segments of powerlines in proximity to building


Finding Solutions

Regulatory Barriers:

• Requirement for licensing for raised equipment drivers: safety, best

practices

• Mandatory hazard assessment for independent contractors

• Mandatory training for dump truck brokers and registration of drivers


Finding Solutions

Improving warnings, equipment, supervision and training*

• Overhead mirrors on dump trucks

• Reflective visual aid on powerlines

• Reduce use of dump trucks and increase use of end dumps

• Rewards – start a driver rating system or financial rewards

• Extra licensing or graduated licensing

• Visual truck box indicators

• Get recommendations for dump truck drivers from dump truck drivers



Finding Solutions

Improving warnings, equipment, supervision and training

• Increase small business access to options

• New and annoying indicator/light off underground or taller poles

• Mandatory training of dump truck drivers by MOL

• Twitter site for warnings and news to increase awareness

• Better co operation between Ministries and Agencies

• Camera on dump box

• Mandatory training of dump truck drivers of license level

• A daily briefing and tailboard


Finding Solutions

Enhance awareness, promotion and attitudinal change*

• Communication between permit issuer (road occupancy), LDC and

contractor ensures that information trickles down to worker

• Powerline training as part of a fine or penalty

• Truck association involvement – committees, joint health and safety

committees to foster BROKER AWARENESS

• Mandatory “STOP” signs before crossing overhead wires – same as

school busses at railroad tracks

• Creative promotional/awareness videos

• Safety literature handed out at roadside MTO inspections *italics indicate most votes by participants


Finding Solutions

Enhance awareness, promotion and attitudinal change

• Put “faces to fatalities” during awareness campaigns

• Develop list of “50 safest companies”

• Create decals: “Focus until the box is down”

• Pictographs and multilingual signs

• Distracted driver training

• Safety meetings

• Pre-meetings with LDC

• Penalties for dump truck drivers/contractors for failure to

comply

• Visible/audible warning system for raised boxes


Proposed Actions: Next 12 Months

The following are actions that have the potential to be carried out

by Summit participants within a 12 month time frame.

It is the responsibility of participants to decide which actions to

initiate. There could be many areas to target, or efforts could be

focused on one challenge in particular. Participants are

encouraged to collaborate and share outcomes with partners and

other industries.

The advancement of any proposal will be examined at the 2016

Community Powerline Safety Summit.



For the Construction Industry

• Create site materials to warn workers

• Invest in portable speed bumps

• Lobby truck manufacturers re: warning devices

• Assess changes that can be made to the Green Book

• Control site entrances/exits

• Dedicated observer when box is in the air

• Offer and support improved training

• Invest in technical solutions

• Ensure the creation of sound and proper contracts

• Ensure adequate planning of work COMMUNITY POWERLINE SAFETY SUMMIT REPORT • JUNE 2015 19


Electrical Safety Authority

• Start conversation with Ministry of Transportation re: licensing

• Fund development of proximity device research

• Expand on powerline safety awareness campaigns

• Continue with statistical analysis (Ontario Electrical Safety

Report)

• Add real life scenarios to social media and campaigns

• With MOL, present at IHSA’s Section 21 Committees

• With LDCs, work with truck associations

• Advocate for increased cooperation between MOL, MTO and

construction industry on safety issues



Electrical Safety Authority (cont’d)

• Create and make available powerline warning signs

• Schedule second Community Powerline Safety Summit

• Make recommendations for next steps

• Full engagement of dump truck drivers in next steps



Local Distribution Companies (LDCs)

• Obtain site plans for projects and develop site specific info

• Install powerline warnings on assets

• Involve the Association of Electrical Utility Safety Professionals

of Ontario (AEUSP) in dump truck safety

• Engage truck associations in safety outreach

• Develop process to track hits and make repairs more costly to

those at fault

• Support ESA and government initiatives, and lead community

initiatives and education



Provincial Government (MOL, MTO, MTCU)

• MOL to start conversation with Ministry of Transportation about

licensing requirements

• MOL to fund development of proximity device research

• MOL to mandate training for dump truck drivers similar to the

working at heights/fall training

• MOL/MTO to notify LDC of any new projects

• With ESA, present at IHSA’s Section 21 Committees

• Dump truck blitz by MTO or MOL

• Legislative review and changes

• Hold discussions on operator competencies



Labour

• Offer members training on powerline safety legislation

• Offer members powerline safety training

• Take the initiative to work safely

• Advocate to be part of safety and site planning

Educators and Trainers

• Develop programs, teach based on regulations and licensing

requirements

• Develop and deliver a universal training plan or guidelines and

certification for dump truck drivers


Next Steps

2015 Community Powerline Safety Summit Report

• Distribution of report to participants, and wider industry

contacts

• Post on ESA website, and permission to post on stakeholders’

websites

2016 Community Powerline Safety Summit

• Progress report on actions

• New area of powerline focus

• Expand participation to include more industry, government,

trainers and dump truck associations


Appendix A

Participants:

407 East Construction

Blackbird Constructors

Burlington Hydro

Coco Paving

D’Orazio Infrastructure Group

Electrical Safety Authority (ESA)

Electricity Distributors Association (EDA)

Enersource

Entegrus Powerlines

Guelph Hydro

Halton Hills Hydro

Hydro One Brampton

Hydro One Networks Inc.

Infrastructure Health and Safety Association (IHSA)

International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE)

Kitchener-Wilmot Hydro


Metric Contracting Services Corporation

Ministry of Government and Consumer Services (MGCS)

Ministry of Labour (MOL)

Newmarket-Tay Power Distribution

Ontario Road Builders Association (ORBA)

Orillia Power

Public Service Health and Safety Association (PSHSA)

TH Project Services

Toronto Hydro Electric System Ltd.

Facilitator:

Argyle Communications

Panel Speakers:

ESA

Hydro One Networks Inc.

The Miller Group

About This Report

All content in this report is a result of participant input at the 2015 Community Powerline

Safety Summit held June 8, 2015 at the Centre for Health and Safety Innovation,

Mississauga, ON

Questions about material contained in this report can be directed to

[email protected]

www.esasafe.com


facebook.com/ElectricalSafetyAuthority

@homeandsafety

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.esasafe.com/

http://www.facebook.com/ElectricalSafetyAuthority

http://twitter.com/homeandsafety

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