Utility Safety Podcast by Incident Prevention Magazine

In this episode of Incident Prevention’s Utility Safety Podcast, host Kate Wade sits down with Tim Bedford, a 36-year veteran of PG&E and current Principal Customer Success Manager at Gridware. Together, they explore a critical new category of grid intelligence: Active Grid Response.

Tim explains the concept of "Hazard Awareness Delay"—the dangerous gap in time between a grid event occurring and the utility becoming aware of ...

Read the articles writted by Alan Drew - https://incident-prevention.com/blog/the-evolution-of-personal-protective-grounding-part-1/

https://incident-prevention.com/blog/the-evolution-of-personal-protective-grounding-part-2/

About the Author: Alan Drew began his power industry career in 1959. While working for a local utility company, he earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. Drew was hired as the general superinte...

In this episode of "Built In, Not Bolted On," host Doug Hill and guest Nick discuss the concept of "paying it forward" as a proactive approach to safety and mental well-being during the stressful holiday season. They explore how small acts—like salting a neighbor's walkway or simply asking a coworker "are you okay?"—can prevent failure and build a stronger, more supportive culture. The conversation highlights the dangers of distrac...

In this episode, Danny Raines, CUSP, joins the show to discuss the critical transition from being a crew member to a leader in the utility industry. Drawing from his extensive career—from journeyman lineman to safety consultant—Danny explores the challenges of supervision, such as navigating generational differences and the importance of communication skills. The conversation delves into the "glass house" effect, highlighting how a...

As the grid transitions to green energy, battery energy storage systems (BESS) are popping up everywhere—from utility substations to residential neighborhoods. But what happens when lithium-ion technology fails? In this episode of The Voice of Experience, host Danny Raines and Fire Test Specialist Josh Dinaburg from the CSA Group dive deep into the reality of battery fire safety.

Josh brings nearly 20 years of lab experience to exp...

Read the article - https://incident-prevention.com/blog/safety-by-design-human-and-organizational-performance/

In this installment of the Safety by Design podcast series, host Nick sits down with Pam Tompkins, President and CEO of SET Solutions, to explore the transformative philosophy of Human and Organizational Performance (HOP). Based on her latest article in Incident Prevention magazine, Pam breaks down why traditional, compl...

Recorded live from the IP Utility Safety Conference in Glendale, Arizona , this free-flowing conversation features Kate Wade of IP magazine , Billy Martin of Think Tank Project, LLC , and Brant Jeffries of Bierer Meters. The group discusses how conferences and networking change our perspectives , using analogies like Billy's "fire corn" and Heraclitus's river. They dive deep into the dangers of "reactiveness" , citing examples from...

In this incredibly moving and vital episode of Incident Prevention's Utility Safety Podcast, host Kate Wade is joined by Rob Duplain, a project superintendent, and Bill Martin, President of Think Tank LLC. The conversation centers on the critical issue of suicide, particularly within the utility and construction industries, sparked by a powerful LinkedIn post Rob wrote in honor of National Suicide Awareness Month. Rob shares his pr...

In this powerful episode of Incident Prevention's Utility Safety Podcast, host Kate Wade sits down with Tom Murphy, the founder and CEO of Sweethearts and Heroes. Tom shares the deeply personal journey that led him from the railroad industry and professional mixed martial arts to creating a vital organization focused on "upstream prevention" for mental health. He sheds light on the alarming suicide crisis within the utility sector,...

It’s not just downed lines and high voltage you need to watch out for during storm restoration. In the mud and floodwaters lies a hidden, deadly threat: flesh-eating bacteria. In this critical episode, we're talking about Necrotizing Fasciitis, a rare but devastating infection that can start from a tiny cut or scrape exposed to contaminated water. We break down what every line worker and utility professional needs to know—how to id...

In this episode of the Safety by Design, Nick sits down with Pam Tompkins, CUSP to discuss her recent article, "Safety by Design, Safety Management System Planning." This is the third installment of a six-part series where Pam delves into the critical role of planning in creating an effective safety management system (SMS). Pam explains why a proactive, systemic approach is essential for identifying and mitigating workplace hazards...

In this vital episode, host Kate Wade sits down with Jenny Lavin, the founder and CEO of the nonprofit Union Care Solutions, to tackle the pressing mental health crisis within the union electrical community. Jenny, a union wife and mother with deep family roots in the IBEW, shares the alarming statistics that prompted her to take action: in the construction industry, workers are five times more likely to be affected by a mental hea...

This episode of "The Deep Dive" explores the hidden dangers of using standard synthetic ropes in high-voltage environments and the shift towards true dielectric ropes. We discuss how traditional ropes can become conductive when exposed to moisture and contaminants, turning them into a serious safety hazard. We also cover the importance of rigorous testing, proper maintenance, and the barriers to adopting this life-saving technology...

In this episode of the Utility Safety Podcast, host Kate Wade sits down with Christian Connolly, CEO of Twiceme Technology, a Sweden-based smart safety company revolutionizing PPE with digital innovation. Christian shares his journey from fintech to safety tech, explains how wearable technology is transforming worker protection, and highlights Twiceme’s growing partnerships with leading PPE manufacturers like Bullard ...

Rethinking Risk: Safety Culture, Risk Tolerance, and Relationship-Driven Leadership

In this compelling episode, Mark Taylor, CUSP, Senior Advisor of Corporate Services at Primary Engineering and Construction, joins us to explore how utility professionals perceive and manage risk. Drawing from decades of field and leadership experience, Mark discusses how a worker’s risk tolerance evolves over time, the i...

In this episode of Incident Prevention’s Utility Safety Podcast, host Kate Wade sits down with Mark Savage, Marine Corps veteran and founder of DeadBreak — a specialized underground electrical training and consulting company. Mark shares his professional journey, the gaps he identified in underground utility training, and how DeadBreak aims to bridge those gaps by offering curriculum development, hands-on training, co...

In this episode of the Incident Prevention Utility Safety Podcast, host Kate Wade sits down with Jennifer LeFevre, Executive Director of the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI), to explore how everyday decisions at work and at home can impact electrical safety. Jennifer shares insights into the mission of ESFI, the dangers of lithium-ion batteries, how utilities can access free safety resources, and why ...

In this powerful episode of the Utility Safety Podcast: Voice of Experience, veteran lineman and safety consultant Danny Raines, CUSP, shares hard-earned lessons from decades of storm response—from Hurricane Katrina to ice storms in Georgia. With hurricane season in full swing, Danny offers real-world guidance on preparing for storm duty, understanding system hazards, and staying mentally and physically resilient in t...

In this special Incident Prevention Utility Safety Podcast episode for Extreme Heat Awareness Month, host Kate Wade welcomes Dr. Kevin Rindal of Vimocity and Scott Head of DragonWear to share essential strategies for preventing heat stress among utility workers.

They dive deep into how extreme heat affects the human body, why utility workers are especially vulnerable, and how modern flame...