CONNECTIONS December 2013

NEW Utility Safety Video In a new internal Safety on the Line video for EEC-Safe

Electricity utility members, Bruce Stumpe shares his personal experience with an electrical accident on the job and emphasizes

the importance of safety and how one missed step can change your life forever.

You know, if you think it cant happen to you, youre missing something because I was the guy that said, That cant happen to me, reflects Bruce.

Bruce was working on the relay crew for Central Electric Power Cooperative in Missouri four years ago. It was an unusually warm December day that turned cold quickly. Bruce was sent out to test reclosers at substations on the western edge of Centrals territory.

He proceeded to switch the OCR out and do the testinga job he had done hundreds of times before. Bruce went through the switching orders correctly and thought he had completed every

step, however he had missed one. He had opened the line-side disconnect switches, but had forgotten to open the bus-side disconnect switches. So when he reached across to move the boot off the OCR, he came into contact with 7,200 volts.

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2014 Internal Safety Educational Materials Will Feature:

BrucesstoryonDVD Facilitatorsguide Posters Safetymessagingideas Andmore!

Thats when the accidents happen, explains Bruce. Its not that off-the-wall stuff that you do on a special job. Youre paying close attention to what youre doing because its something different, but that repetition.you just get into routines, and you dont think about how serious it is.

(continued on page 2)

The electricity had entered his right arm and exited his left leg. His body continued to burn from the inside out because of the electrical contact, increasing the size of these wounds and revealing another wound on his right leg two days later.

Because of his accident, Bruce has undergone nine surgeries, including a debilitating muscle flap transfer surgery, and countless trips to the hospital. He has learned to work around the difficulties he now has with his right hand, but he continues to live with pain every day.

Bruce has returned to work for Central Co-op,buthisprimaryjobnowismetering.Asa result of his life-altering experience, he is more committed to safety than ever before. Everybody can improve on safety. No matter what theyve got, they can improve on it, he says. Safety should be the best program your company has.

We are so grateful that Bruce is sharing his story to help others in the industry, says Molly Hall, executive director of the Energy Education Council at its Safe Electricity program. Bruce, his family, and his co-workers share important safety messages and valuable insights into the effects of such an accident.

LookforthisinspiringinternalsafetyDVDtobemailedtoyouinJanuary!

CONNECTIONS December 2013

NEW Utility Safety Video (continued from page 2)

Bruce with his wife, Darla, and their daughter Caitlin.

Bruce sharing his personal experience with electricity in an interview with EEC-Safe Electricity Communications Director Kyla Kruse.

Photo from site of Bruces accident where he made contact with 7,200 volts.