The Electrical Transmission and Distribution Strategic Partnership announced today that it is conducting a safety stand down with support from each of the Partnership companies and organizations. The event will be held the week of May 7, 2012 and is designed to put undivided and unified attention on safety.
The ET&D Strategic Partnership was formed in 2004 between employers and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Its primary focus is to develop a common vision and commitment to provide employees in the electrical transmission and distribution industry with a safe and healthy workplace, and to demonstrate leadership, responsibility, and accountability in an industry where working high above ground and with high voltage can be hazardous.
These joint efforts have produced positive results. According to data provided by the Partnership participants, the Partnership has successfully reduced fatalities among the member partners, has reduced injury and illness rates, and has conducted numerous training sessions. During the period of 2008 to 2010, more than 13,300 workers completed the ET&D industry-specific OSHA 10-Hour Outreach Training Program. In addition, during that same period, more than 5,100 managers and supervisors completed the Supervisory Leadership Skills Outreach Training Course.
"The Partnership data clearly shows that the focused effort of the member companies continues to improve the safety statistics," said John R. Wilson of member company Quanta Services, Inc. and chair of the Partnership's executive committee. "But our work is not done. Our goal is to continually improve our safety numbers as we strive for zero incidents."
"Workers in the electrical transmission and distribution industry are counting on us to work together to ensure that their workplaces are safe," said Dr. David Michaels, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health. "With this national Electrical Safety Stand Down, this Strategic Partnership demonstrates the commitment of its participants to ensuring that each worker returns home, safe and healthy, at the end of every single day."
The Strategic Partnership began in August 2004 with six member contractors, two major industry trade associations, and the largest union of workers in the electrical industry. Additional contractors have joined over time, and the Partnership agreement with OSHA was renewed and expanded consecutively in 2006, 2008, and 2011. Today, this unique partnership includes an estimated 80 percent of the total workers in the line construction industry.
See www.powerlinesafety.org for additional information.
The Partnership includes the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Asplundh Tree Expert Company, Edison Electric Institute, Henkels & McCoy, Inc., International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), MasTec, Inc., MDU Construction Services Group, Inc., MYR Group, Inc., National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), Pike Electric LLC, Power Line Services, Inc., and Quanta Services, Inc.