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The utilities industry includes a wide range of businesses—such as gas, water and power companies—that supply essential services to residential, commercial and public sectors. Because these services are so vital to the economy and everyday life, numerous utility and energy facilities employ thousands of people in virtually every corner of the country.
Working in the utilities industry often involves long hours, operating heavy machinery and handling potentially dangerous equipment. It’s important to ensure that your employees are utilizing proper safety equipment at all times to reduce the risk of injury in your facility.
One of the best ways employers can reduce accidents is by creating a safe working environment that complies with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards. Trip and fall accidents are among the leading causes of injuries across all industries, and OSHA emphasizes providing the right equipment as part of their three-pronged approach to reducing accidents.
Checkers is the industry leader in workplace safety equipment. Here is a look at some of the safety products that will help your operations maintain regulatory compliance and protect personnel from harm.
The utilities industry includes a wide range of businesses—such as gas, water and power companies—that supply essential services to residential, commercial and public sectors. Because these services are so vital to the economy and everyday life, numerous utility and energy facilities employ thousands of people in virtually every corner of the country.
Working in the utilities industry often involves long hours, operating heavy machinery and handling potentially dangerous equipment. It’s important to ensure that your employees are utilizing proper safety equipment at all times to reduce the risk of injury in your facility.
One of the best ways employers can reduce accidents is by creating a safe working environment that complies with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards. Trip and fall accidents are among the leading causes of injuries across all industries, and OSHA emphasizes providing the right equipment as part of their three-pronged approach to reducing accidents.
Checkers is the industry leader in workplace safety equipment. Here is a look at some of the safety products that will help your operations maintain regulatory compliance and protect personnel from harm.
Utilities Safety Equipment
Wheel chocks
Wheel chocks are designed to secure heavy vehicles and equipment when they are at rest. Wheel chocks from Checkers feature an all-weather polyurethane construction that is resistant to tears, oils and solvents. For workers in the utilities industry, these chocks can help secure maintenance vehicles or other machinery and reduce the risk of unintended movement.
Ground Stabilization Matting
Ground stabilization and protection matting are essential when service vehicles have to traverse unstable or sensitive terrain in order to make repairs or complete jobs. These mats from Checkers help vehicles cross over lawns or other agricultural areas without damaging them. They also provide personnel with a stable working platform that helps prevent vehicles from tipping or sliding.
Cable Protectors
Utility facilities often utilize cables and hoses that supply water or electricity. If left unsecured, these cables and hoses represent a potential tripping hazard for personnel. A cable protector will safely house cables and hoses in order to provide safe crossing for staff and vehicles.
Warning Whips
Warning whips can be mounted on vehicles or other machinery to make them more visible. For workers in the utilities industry, warning whips provide personnel with an easy-to-identify visual marker that will maximize workplace safety in all weather conditions.
Utility Industry Safety and Compliance
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, about two percent of employees in the utility industry suffer job-related injuries. While workplace safety has significantly improved in the past century, numerous government agencies such as the strives to raise the bar for safety standards and reduce accidents.
Educating employees on the dangers of safety violations is vital to maintain a safe working environment. OSHA offers a number of workplace compliance courses in multiple languages that employers can purchase for their employees. Investing in training courses for employees should be a priority for every employer as it helps eliminate worker compensation costs and create an improved workplace experience.
Power and Electric Industry Safety
OSHA heavily regulates the power and electrical sector of the utility industry due to the substantial danger common in power plants. Electrocution is one of the most persistent issues with electric utility equipment. However, trip and fall accidents, fires and explosions, and even confined working spaces have contributed to numerous fatalities in plants.
In addition to OSHA, the U.S. Department of Energy provides regulations to improve electric utility safety. At the same time, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) assesses radioactivity and regulates each plant’s ecological footprint on the environment.
Water and Sewer Construction Safety
Several state programs approved by OSHA regulate water utility safety. For each state program to pass inspection, the regulations must be as effective as OSHA at protecting workers and reducing job-related injuries.
Respiratory protection is one of the biggest challenges for water and sewer construction workers, and it can lead to health problems such as silicosis, mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other diseases.
Hazardous chemicals are another danger to water and sewer construction workers. Incorrectly labeling chemicals can lead to disastrous results for both workers and the environment. Therefore, chemicals are heavily regulated by the EPA’s Risk Management Program and Process Safety Management (PSM) program, which OSHA also regulates.
Natural Gas Pipeline Construction Compliance
Pipeline construction is one of the most high-risk construction jobs, with fire and explosion being the leading cause of injury. Statistics show that gas pipelines explode once every 11 days, and a fire occurs once every four days. The aftermath of a gas line construction explosion can affect hundreds of people, so it's no surprise that this industry is heavily regulated.
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration is an office within the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) that regulates each project's working conditions and provides educational resources for employers in the pipeline construction sector. For interstate projects, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission monitors the transportation and storage of gas.
Find the Utility Industry Safety Equipment that is Right for You
Checkers is the industry leader in workplace safety equipment. We have a range of safety products that will help keep staff and assets protected. From warning whips designed to alert personnel to heavy equipment to ground protection matting that safeguards sensitive agricultural zones, Checkers has the tools you need to get the job done. Take a look at our extensive product inventory and find the utility safety equipment that is right for you.