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News & Info from the Safety Steering Committee

May 2015

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DANGEROUS TICK SEASON AHEAD!Experts predict that the upcoming warm weather in the Northeast may trigger a rise in tick-borne diseases!

Officials recommend outdoor workers conduct hourly tick checks and shower within two hours of outdoor exposure.

Know what to do to protect yourself... See Page 3 for Details

May 2015

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In This Issue2 Premier Health & Safety

3 Tick Bite Prevention

4 Risk Acceptance-Factor #3

5 Work Zone Protection

6 Office Safety Walk-a-thon

7 Safety Stars

8 Peer-to-Peer Recognition

9 Peer-to-Peer Recognition

10 May is Physical Fitness and Sports Month

Have anything you’d like to share? let us know!

SUGGESTIONS?

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News & Info from the Safety Steering Committee

Safety@PremierSvc.com

MARC MAKELYPresident

mmakely@premiersvc.com

JASON HAIRDirector of HSE

jhair@premiersvc.com

PREMIER UTILITY SERVICES

Health and Safety

On whatever journey we take, the route is always filled with forks in the road. Weaving our way through life and work presents many opportunities to change course and deviate from the plan. In terms of your safety, these forks in the road could be operational pressures, family pressures, client pressures, or the natural tendency to be comfortable and operating on autopilot. Maintaining focus can be challenging, but I would argue that if the road were always straight it would be pretty boring.

To complete an entire career without injury can seem like a road trip from New York to California; long and difficult, with many “forks in the road”. In the beginning, the journey seems like it will never end, but if you focus on the route, you will eventually arrive safely with lots of stories to tell. The thing is, you cannot get too far ahead of yourself. You must focus on what is right in front of you and have a plan for the next turn. Injury prevention is the exact same thing. You get through an entire career without injury one ticket, one day, one week at a time.

One of the most powerful tools you have is the ability to decide; what road to choose, what road not to, what action to take, or not to take. You get to decide, and each of you has the ability to determine your focus. What will you focus on? For me, and I hope for you too, I will always choose to focus on the immediate steps I need to do to keep myself and my co-workers safe. After all, in order to complete a trip to California I first have to get out of my own neighborhood.

Director of HSE

TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT TICK BITE PREVENTION, E-Mail: Safety@Premiersvc.com

SAFETY TOPIC

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TICK BITE PREVENTION

* If a tick is found attached to the skin, use the Tick Key (provided)

to remove the entire tick safely. Provide the tick, dead or alive, to

your supervisor who will send it to be tested for disease. The tick

should be placed in a Ziploc bag (provided) or similar container

with your name, the date and location written on the bag.

• Expose as little skin as possible. • Wear light-colored clothing (to spot ticks better), long sleeves and long pants. • Secure all openings. Tuck your shirt into your pants and your pant legs into your boots or socks.

Use duct tape to secure!• Conduct a bodily inspection for ticks at least once a day, preferably every few hours if you are

working in areas known for high tick activity. • Check hidden/hairy areas such as under your armpits, behind your knees, in the groin and on

your scalp. Use a mirror to help check areas that are difficult to see.• Pre-treat your clothing and boots with Permethrin Tick Repellent. Do not spray on skin. • Inspect your gear and clothing after working in tick infested areas. • Take a shower as soon as you can after working outdoors.• Put your clothes in the dryer on high heat for 60 minutes to kill any remaining ticks.

Permethrin Tick SprayProducts containing permethrin are for use on clothing only - not on skin. The tick repellent you received from Safety can be use on any type of clothing, including Fire Retardant Clothing. Permethrin not only repells but kills ticks and insects that come in contact with treated clothes. It is effective for two weeks or more if the clothing is not washed. Please read product label prior to use.

Prevention is the best way to avoid ticks - it’s important to be PROACTIVE!

TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT RISK TOLERANCEEmail: Safety@PremierSvc.com

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Seriousness of the Outcomefactor 3 of 10: WHY PEOPLE ACCEPT RISK

THINK ABOUT IT!Have you ever put yourself in a situation where you believe that the worst thing that could happen to you isn’t so bad? Or have you been in an incident where the resulting damages were minor? Did you really stop and think about all the possible outcomes?

STRATEGIES TO AVOID IT!• STOP and THINK: What could go wrong?

• Ask the question: How bad could it really be?

• Use the proper procedures and tools; always work safely!

“I’VE SEEN H2S LEAKS BEFORE BUT IT WAS NOTHING BUT A

BAD SMELL!”

“WORST CASE, I COULD PINCH MY FINGER BETWEEN

THESE TWO POINTS.”

<-- Ever hear

statements like these before?

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WHAT IS IT? When we believe that the outcome of our actions will not be serious, we are prepared to accept more risk. Example: seeing minimal damage in a potentially fatal vehicle accident or using language that trivializes the true nature of the risk (“sweet” gas, “pinch” point, etc).

Is it really just a

“pinch” point?

No, it can crush and amputate!

To learn more, click this video!

Is it really just a “sweet” gas? No, it’s flammable and explosive!

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Suffolk County Long Island Locator, Danny Meyer, reached out to the Safety Department for assistance in marking out a high traffic area. He had to do a markout on the South Service Road of the Long Island Expressway in Yaphank.

Safety Professional, Phil Pfersching, and Danny worked together to secure the site - using both of their vehicles, rotating beacons and flashers and a total of nine 28in cones around the work zone!

WORK ZONEPROTECTION

ASSESS THE RISK – What are some of the hazards? Encroaching in traffic, Visibility to others, High speed drivers, Distracted drivers, Flying debris, Confused motorists, Vehicle accidents, etc. Always assess traffic conditions, speed and volume!

ANALYZE THE TASK – Before you start a task, take a couple of minutes to think through what you’re about to do and what routes you need to walk.

ACT TO CONTROL THE RISKS – • NEVER TURN YOUR BACK TO TRAFFIC!• Employees who are exposed to vehicular traffic, SHALL wear approved reflective high visibility vests (Class

II) and approved hard hats. • Your vehicle SHALL be placed between you and oncoming traffic. • During mobile and intermittent operations (short term), rotating beacons and flashers SHALL be used and

a minimum of 3 approved cones (28 inch cones!)• Focus on the work at hand. Distractions cause accidents. DON’T ZONE OUT IN A WORK ZONE!

If you feel that the situation requires more protection and is unsafe, follow our Stop Work Policy and notify your Supervisor or Safety for more assistance.

Year to date, three Premier employees have been struck by moving vehicles while working inside or near work zone protection!

Many of our employees work on high speed roads and busy intersections. Although most of our work is considered “short period work” and in normal conditions the use of 3 cones, flashing warning lights and rotating beacons is sufficient, there are times we need to do an assessment to add more protection. Using the A3 process, you can assess the level of protection needed.

Now, here’s a guy who’s doing it right...

TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE OFFICE HEALTH AND SAFETY COMMITTEEEmail: OfficeSafetyCommittee@PremierSvc.com

OFFICE SAFETY

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CHECK OUT WHAT THE OFFICE STAFF AT HAUPPAUGE IS DOING!

As office employees, most of our job consists of sitting at our desks, working on countless items for hours at a time. The reality is, those long periods of sitting are wreaking havoc on our overall health! Prolonged sitting slows down the metabolism which affects the way the body controls sugar levels, blood pressure and the breakdown of fat. It also causes muscle stress and tension and overall body fatigue. Mental alertness also diminishes after sitting for too long.

This Walk-a-thon can encourage a healthier lifestyle for all and promote team building and unity within our organization! This will be a 14-week campaign starting Memorial Day and ending 4th of July. Participants will receive a pedometer to record their steps and will be placed into teams. The challenge will be to walk 752 miles; the distance between Premier’s Office in Hauppauge, NY to USIC’s Office in Indianapolis, Indiana! Teams with the most steps at the end of the challenge will be rewarded. Happy Walking!

TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR ‘SAFETY STAR’ PROGRAM Email: Safety@Premiersvc.com

DAMAGE PREVENTION TECHNICIANSELIZABETH WILLIAMS & ROBERT DITTON

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STARS

“While doing safety inspections, I, Robert Ditton, encountered a woman coming out of her house and asked if I could complete an inspection on her inside gas meter. The woman said she was headed out to pick up her daughter but would be back in ten minutes. I moved to the house next door where an older man

(I would guess in his 70’s) was snow blowing. The gentleman asked me to give him a minute so he could put the snow blower away. I stood out front while he disappeared around the corner of the house and up the driveway. I heard the snow blower turn off but after several minutes, the man had not returned.

I thought about moving on but decided to check on the man instead. When I started up the driveway I noticed two things, the car was running and most of the driveway was a large sheet of ice. I continued cautiously up the driveway where I could see the snow blower but not

the gentleman. As I reached the back of the customers car, I found him face down on the ice between the car and the snow blower in a pool of ice water. I noticed he was trying to yell but I could barely hear him. I asked if he was okay but he couldn’t answer. I tried to grab him by the belt and lift him to his feet. The man had no strength and couldn’t manage to get up.

I quickly realized I would need to try a different approach. I got down and asked if he was injured, he replied no. The only choice I had was to grab the man by his feet and drag him backwards to a spot where he could get some footing and I could help get him off the ground. After getting down the driveway and helping him into the house, I went back and turned the car off. The gentleman was shaken up and soaking wet, but was going to be okay. I completed the inspection and went on my way.

After leaving I sat down and called my wife. I got a little emotional as it hit me if the woman hadn’t asked me to come back in ten minutes, I might not have found the gentleman and he might have laid on that ice and died. I thought about him on my home, so I stopped by his home to check to see if all was well. Thankfully, he was fine and we shared a laugh on his front porch.”

Safety is not just about our employees; it’s also about the people and communities in which we live and work in. Always be aware of your surroundings; you never know when someone might need your help.

THANK YOU ELIZABETH AND ROBERT!

“I, Elizabeth Williams, was getting out of my vehicle for an appointment East Syracuse, NY. Enroute to the customers house, I noticed an older gentleman bringing his recyclables to the curb. Moments later, he slipped and fell on the ice patch at the end of his driveway.

I immediately went to him and told him to catch his breath. Then, I asked if he wanted me to call 911. He was hesitant at first but after he tried to get up, he realized he was in a lot of pain. I immediately called 911 and went and grabbed my other jacket to prop him on his side and kept him stable. In the meantime, a neighbor came out after she saw my truck and was

wondering where I was. She got him blankets and we stayed with him until the ambulance arrived.

The next day I called the nearby hospitals looking for the gentleman and found out where he was. After work, I went to see how he was doing. He had fractured his hip and was grateful I was there that morning to help him. I was just happy he was okay.”

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PEER-TO-PEERRECOGNITION

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The results of the April Safety Quiz are in and we’d like to share with you just some of the great nominations we’ve received!

A new section was added to the field safety quizzes titled, ‘P2P: Peer-to-Peer Recognition.’ This section serves as an opportunity for field employees to formally recognize one of their fellow coworkers for consistant safe behavior; those employees who value and protect not only their safety, but the safety of their coworkers, our customers and the general public.

Our Safety Professionals chose to visit some of these employees at their face-to-face safety tailgates to say thanks, not only to those who were nominated but also to those who took the time to recognized their coworkers, by giving out A3 Safety apparel!

Peer-to-peer recognition means employees see, acknowledge and enable the good, and are the owners and drivers of cultural change.

Did you know? Peer-to-peer recognition is 40% more likely to have a positive impact on employees than manager-only recognition!

Left to Right: Jonathan Stoll and Steve Williams.

(Damage Prevention - Staten Island, NY)

Jonathan recognized Steve by saying,

“Steve always asks for help when he has a potentially

dangerous markout and insists that I do the same. He

always finds the safest place for us to park and sets

up cones and his beacon light. He always makes sure

to constantly observe traffic patterns and is constantly

communicating during the markout to make sure I am

aware of my surroundings. If he doesn’t think we can

safely direct traffic or he suspects someone is either

not paying attention or will ignore our presence, he

quickly suggests that we stop immediately and quickly

leave the roadway until the next break in traffic.”

PEER-TO-PEERRECOGNITION

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Left to Right: Daryl Schwarting, David McMahon and Kate Delaney. (Gas Leak Services - Upstate NY)

Daryl recognized David and Kate by saying,

“David always sends fellow employees safety topics and videos. He send pictures of hazards he has seen in the field to fellow employees to warn them of what they may encounter. He also actively participates in all safety meetings.

Kate also actively participates in safety meetings and shares her experiences in the field with other employees. Her safety topic regarding the dangers of getting into empty houses for gas meter inspections was shared with everyone in Upstate NY Leak!”

...continued

Left to Right: Suzanne Davis and Michael Crever. (Damage

Prevention - Upstate NY)

Michael recognized Suzanne by

saying,

“Sue always let’s us know of potential dangers in the field and reviews safety topics with us every week. She also keeps us informed about the current driving and weather conditions in our area!”

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MAY IS NATIONALPHYSICAL FITNESSAND SPORTS MONTH

MAKE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY PART OF YOUR LIFE!For more information and resources, visit the Federal Occupational Health website at: www.foh/hhs.gov/calendar

Most of us know that

there are great benefits to being

physically fit. Yet, many of us are

not as fit as we would like to be,

usually because we have trouble

making the time for regular

physical activity in our busy

lives. The best way to become

physically fit is to find an activity

you enjoy doing and gradually

work it into your daily routine.

Doing something that brings you

pleasure can help you stick to

your fitness program and reach

your goals.

10 Ideas to Stay Active:

1. PLAY GAMES WITH YOUR KIDS

2. DO HOUSEHOLD CHORES

3. WORK IN YOUR GARDEN

4. TAKE THE STAIRS, NOT THE ELEVATOR

5. BIKE TO WORK OR TO RUN ERRANDS

6. WORK ON A HOPE REPAIR PROJECT

7. PLAY IN A SWIMMING POOL

8. TAKE YOUR DOG FOR A WALK

9. WALK WITH A FRIEND AT LUNCH

10. DANCE