Saturday, December 02, 2023
Every employee of E Light Electric Services, Inc. has the responsibility to keep themselves safe and the people they work with safe. The construction industry is a dangerous workplace that is full of hazards and is constantly changing. All of us must be trained, be aware of the hazards and always watchful for hazards....and take steps to mitigate them. We must not only watch out for ourselves, but we are obligated to watch out for our fellow workers. We spend an amazing amount of money and time constantly evaluating hazards. We then implement plans, procedures, and policies to mitigate these hazards by following the pyramid of risk management.
Specifically, if we can ELIMINATE a hazard, we do. An example of this turning power off and locking it out instead of working on it energized. If we cannot eliminate the hazard, we attempt to SUBSTITUTE the task with something else so that we can minimize the risk. We also constantly offer training to our employees through safety meetings, required annual training, online access to training, classroom training, and monthly meetings, all to help our employees be AWARE of the risks and hazards and how to minimize them. We carefully examine upcoming projects to determine if there are ENGINEERING controls and adjustments that can be done to minimize hazards. We also evaluate our policies and procedures constantly and update them so that we can find ADMINISTRATIVE controls to minimize hazards and help our employees be safe. This is why our Safety, Health and Environmental Policies (SHEP) are kept online and available to every employee on their smart phone so that we can keep these up to date and relevant to the work that you are doing today. E Light also evaluates the PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT that we provide to our employees so that we can find better ways to protect you. We have recently added new cut level gloves and have started to roll out proximity sensors for live electrical detection and fall and impact detection for our employees.
We will continue to do these things and dedicate resources to help make our workplaces a safe place and to get our employees home to their family and friends every night........All these things are not enough for you to be safe on a construction project. They help, but they are not enough. The only way we can all be assured that we get to go home safe each day is for ALL of us to take responsibility for safety. We all need to take advantage of the training and the information provided so that we are aware. We all need to follow the procedures and policies, even if we don't agree with them. If you think something needs to be changed, contact me and let’s talk about it. I am open to and encourage feedback so that we can make things safer for everyone. We do need to follow the policies and procedures though until they are changed. It is no different than the National Electric Code. I am very involved in the development and change of the NEC. There are things I do not understand or agree with in the NEC, but until they are changed, I have to follow the requirements and install things according to the minimum requirements of the NEC.
We all need to do the same with our safety requirements. We also need to pay attention and watch what is going on around us. If you see something unsafe or someone not following our policies, you have the right, regardless of your position, and the duty to say something. Stop the unsafe act. Talk to people, let them know what is not being done correctly, have a discussion and make sure things are done right. You are your brothers and sisters keeper. You need to have their back and they need to have yours. We need to be reminded sometimes about doing things correctly, following the procedures and keeping everyone safe. Take some time to find out what is on elightinformation.com. Do your annual training, seek out information, and be aware. Watch out for yourself and others. If you see something, say something.
The holiday season is upon us, and we will all be spending time with our family and friends. Please remember every day, that there are people that love you and depend on you. Only you can make sure that you do not let them down. Make sure that you go home safe every day and that the people you work with go home safe every day.
I promise you that E Light management will continue to do our part to eliminate and minimize hazards and continue to train and provide information. I would like to ask all of you to promise you will make learning, being aware, implementing procedures and watching out for yourself and others a priority.
Comments