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PCCA Journal|2

nd

Quarter 2010

15

T

o help protect worker safety

in the power construction

industry, OSHA recently

published the “Electric Power

Generation, Transmission, and

Distribution Standard” eTool. This

eTool addresses OSHA’s standard

and explains preventive measures

for protecting workers’ safety and

health, such as providing personal

protective equipment, using lockout/

tagout procedures to prevent startup

of energized equipment, and follow-

ing safety requirements when work-

ing on or near power lines. OSHA’s

eTools are stand-alone, interactive

web-based training tools on topics

that include modules for answering

questions and providing advice on

how OSHA regulations apply to us-

ers’ worksites.

Workers in the electric power

industry are potentially exposed to

a variety of serious hazards, such as

arc flashes, electric shock, falls, and

thermal burn hazards that can cause

injury and death. This eTool seeks to

inform employers of their obligations

to develop the appropriate hazard

prevention and control methodolo-

gies designed to prevent workplace

injuries and illnesses. Employers

are required to implement the safe

work practices and worker train-

ing requirements of OSHA’s Electric

Power Generation, Transmission

and Distribution Standard, 29 CFR

1910.269. The eTool also informs

workers engaged in the generation,

transmission, and distribution of

electric power on the steps their

employers must implement in order

to provide them with a safe and

healthful work environment. Not all

the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.269

are covered, however.

Sections of the eTool include

Generation vs. Transmission and

Distribution, Medical Services and

First Aid, Hazard Assessment and Job

Briefing, Energized vs. Deenergized

Work, Hazardous Energy Control,

Grounding for Employee Protection,

Personal Protective Equipment, Insu-

lating Protective Equipment, Enclosed

Spaces and Working Underground,

Overhead Line Work, Illustrated Glos-

sary, and Glossary of Terms.

Find the eTool at www.osha.gov/

SLTC/etools/electric_power/index.

html, or just type “electric etool” in

the search box at www.osha.gov and

it will be the first option.

Safety News

OSHA Unveils eTool for the Electric Power Industry

OSHA Levies Heavy

Whistleblower Penalty

T

he U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safe-

ty and Health Administration has ordered e-Smart

Technologies Inc. to pay back wages with interest

and approximately $600,000 in compensatory

damages to a California worker who was discharged

after raising concerns about misinformation contained

in a draft public filing. OSHA also ordered the company

to reinstate the whistleblower to his former position.

“It is vital that employees be able to raise fraud

concerns to their employers without fear of retalia-

tion,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Dr.

David Michaels. “This order reaffirms both the right of

employees to raise concerns regarding violations of Se-

curities and Exchange Commission rules and the Labor

Department’s commitment to protecting that right.”

The action resulted from a whistleblower investiga-

tion conducted by OSHA’s regional office in San Fran-

cisco under the whistleblower protection provisions of

the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The investigation sub-

stantiated the employee’s complaint that his job duties

were systematically removed and his paychecks were

delayed and ultimately stopped after he questioned the

accuracy of several statements made in the company’s

Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

In addition to requiring e-Smart Technologies to

fairly compensate and rehire the whistleblower, OSHA’s

order instructs the company to provide a neutral refer-

ence, expunge his personnel file of any reference to his

exercise of rights under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and

post a notice to employees outlining whistleblower

protections.

Harvick Takes 811 to Victory Lane

D

uring the April 25 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at

Talladega, Kevin Harvick helped celebrate Na-

tional Safe Digging month by sporting the “Call

811” logo on the deck lid and rocker panels of

his No. 29 car to help educate fans about the impor-

tance of following the proper safety procedures when

digging. As PCCA members well know, a quick call to

811 can help avoid damage to underground utilities,

which can cause injuries, environmental incidents, and

disruption of services.

Not only did Harvick deliver this important mes-

sage, but he also raced his Shell-Pennzoil Chevrolet to

victory lane and celebrated his first points win of the

season.