The Safety Moment by Utility Safety Partners

Latest Episodes:

The Fire Within – Cliff Meidl’s Story Mar 22, 2023

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Cliff Meidl was 20 years old in the mid 80’s when he was operating a jackhammer and struck three buried electrical cables.
In that moment he couldn’t tell you if he was dead or alive. But he survived. When he left the hospital, he wasn’t able to use his legs at all. His knee bone was completely gone and doctors were talking with him about amputation.
He was prescribed physical therapy and told to do it three times a week. He ended up doing it three times a day.
It was a determination that didn’t play out overnight. It was a perseverance, a dedication – A Fire Within that pushed Cliff through severe depression and even onto exceptional opportunities.
His upper body grew stronger… and stronger.
Cliff went on to represent the United states at both the 1996 and 2000 Summer Olympic Games in Kayaking. At the games in Sydney, he was the flag bearer for his country.
In this episode, Cliff’s incredible story
Guest: Cliff Meidl
Website https://cliffmeidl.com/
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We’re also on Instagram @click_before_you_dig
Got an episode idea? info@utilitysafety.ca

Wellness – More Important Than Ever to Personal Safety Mar 08, 2023

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The pandemic introduced a number of societal shifts. From a wellness perspective we spent a chunk of time just in survival mode. As we emerge from that, many of us have used that time to take stock of our lives and our personal values.

But there’s an additional stress on society. Many of those we would turn to for help with wellness, need help themselves. Doctors have been overworked, EMS and Police are burnt out. If one in three people had mental health issues before the pandemic that percentage has probably doubled.

The reality is that we, and the companies we work for, have a better understanding today of how mental wellness contributes to the real bottom line and to safety, but the resources that were there to help previously, are now looking for help themselves.

Guest: Fleur Yumol, Unify
16+ years clinical and organization experience in EFAP industry
Registered Clinical Social Worker
MSc in Business and Economics, Lund University, Sweden, 2009
Masters in Social Work, University of Calgary, 2000

Follow The Safety Moment via Utility Safety Partners on Twitter @Utility_Safety
We’re also on Instagram @click_before_you_dig
Got an episode idea? info@utilitysafety.ca

Understanding the DIRT Report Feb 22, 2023

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The Damage Information Reporting Tool provides a summary and analysis of damages reported through Canada in the DIRT System.

We know from the latest report there were, on average, 45 damages reported per day last year in Canada. And we know from previous reports that number has remained fairly consistent over the last five+ years. It’s actually a very positive sign that damages per excavation are declining as individual companies are aware digging activity has escalated substantially due in large part to fibre optic installations.

This is just one of the benefits of the DIRT Report. In this episode, Mike is joined by Rob Morrison of Manitoba Hydro and Joseph Rosenberg of Utility Safety Partners.

Guests
Rob Morrison, Manitoba Hydro, vice chair Canadian Common Ground Alliance

Joseph Rosenberg, Utility Safety Partners, Damage Reporting Evaluation Committee’s chair – Canadian Common Ground Alliance

Download the DIRT Report from the CCGA website https://www.canadiancga.com/

Follow The Safety Moment via Utility Safety Partners on Twitter @Utility_Safety
We’re also on Instagram @click_before_you_dig
Got an episode idea? info@utilitysafety.ca

Utility Safety Partners – By the Numbers Jan 25, 2023

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In this episode Mike looks back at the numbers in 2022 and ahead to big plans in 2023. If you’re a member, employee, or supporter of Utility Safety Partners this is a great recap episode.

There were 460,000 locate requests in Alberta in 2022. Second highest in a decade and amazingly 88% f those requests were made online.

The big Utility Safety Conference in Red Deer is coming up March 28 and 29. Mike looks ahead to it and outlines this year’s plan for two new Safety Ambassadors this year.

Promotion of the safety message is important and Mike walks through some of our plans this year and recaps 2022’s unexpected success targeting “gamers” online who proved very active in placing locate requests.

And Legislation for damage prevention in Alberta. It’s been a long road and Mike updates what’s happening.

Locate requests and response times last year – 3:56
Safety Conference in Red Deer this March – 8:34
Promotion of the Safety Message – 9:47
Legislation – 15:10

Follow The Safety Moment via Utility Safety Partners on Twitter @Utility_Safety
We’re also on Instagram @click_before_you_dig
Got an episode idea? info@utilitysafety.ca

Holiday Safety – Personal Stories From Members of Edmonton Police and Fire Nov 30, 2022

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Holiday season is a unique time of year, one that introduces more visiting, more driving, more parties, and the need to remain safety conscious.
In this episode Mike talks with members of Edmonton’s Fire Rescue Services and Police Department. They share their personal stories.
Guests: Dennis Friedel, Assistant Fire Marshall, Edmonton Fire Rescue Services
Seth Dodman, Edmonton Police Constable
Adam Cotterall, Edmonton Police Constable
Follow Prairie Podcast via Utility Safety Partners on Twitter @Utility_Safety
We’re also on Instagram @click_before_you_dig
Got an episode idea? info@utilitysafety.a

Getting to Know the Facility Notification Centers Association (FNCA) Sep 28, 2022

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The FNCA is the evolution in the One Call Industry from One Call to Notification centres. Predecessors include One Calls of American (OCOA) and One Call Systems International (OCSI).

Careful analysis showed the industry needed an international organization, open to all Notification Centres regardless of operational model, to provide support and training for all facets of business for the modern-day Notification Centre.

The FNCA’s stated mission is “to evolve our industry by facilitating collaboration among One Call Notification Centres.”

In this episode Mike talks with Bruce Campbell who helped with the transition to the FNCA and the chair of the organization Susan Bohl.

Guests:
Susan Bohl, chair FNCA, OKIE 811 in Oklahoma
https://www.okie811.org/
sbohl@okie811.org
Listen to the Okie811 Podcast Digging Deep https://okie811.podbean.com/

Bruce Campbell, Director FNCA, Michigan Utility Notification Center (Miss Dig)
bcampbell@missdig811.org
Listen to the Digging In Podcast by MissDig811 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/digging-in/id1535477095

Interested in membership in the FNCA?
http://fncainc.org/

Follow Prairie Podcast via Utility Safety Partners on Twitter
We’re also on Instagram @click_before_you_dig
Got an episode idea? info@utilitysafety.ca

Gone Digital – the 2022 Utility Safety Partners Advertising Campaign Sep 14, 2022

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Every Spring Utility Safety Partners needs to get the word out: Click Before You Dig This Season.

It’s an important advertising campaign designed to save from damages, and, potentially, save lives.

This year’s campaign shifted to a more digital campaign which provides significantly better opportunity to report accurately on how many people went directly to the website and clicked to place a locate request online. It’s a shift from what some call a “spray and pray,” strategy using traditional media, to a very precise method for reporting.

This year Utility Safety Partners saw a significant increase in the number of homeowners going to the website to place their locate request. In total, the digital ad campaign drove over 120,000 website visits. Videos used in advertising were viewed over six million times and for the most part, viewed to completion.

In this episode Mike talks with Robin Eldred who led the digital campaign, to share the strategy.

Guest Robin Eldred
Wulver Digital Advertising
https://wulver.ca/
Watch the video outlining Utility Safety Partners’ 2022 Advertising campaign here

Follow The Safety Moment Podcast via Utility Safety Partners on Twitter @Utility_Safety
We’re also on Instagram @click_before_you_dig
Got an episode idea? info@utilitysafety.ca

The Ground Disturbance 101 Standard Aug 31, 2022

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You may already be familiar with the Ground Disturbance 201 Training Standard intended for supervisors, until now something more for entry and mid-level employees has never been available.

Ground disturbance occurs when workers perform an operation that disturbs the earth. These activities present unique risks including cave-ins, contact with underground facilities, and electrocution. Employers have a legal obligation to ensure their employees are prepared, trained, and competent to carry out their required tasks.

The Ground Disturbance 101 Training Safety Standard is new and designed specifically for those employees working under supervision.

Guests:
Joey Motokado, co-chair Utility Safety Partners Training Standards Committee
Jeff Mulligan, co-chair Utility Safety Partners Training Standards Committee and Astec Safety Inc

Learn more about the Ground Disturbance 101 Safety Training Standard
Interested in becoming a member of the Training Standards Committee? Email tscadmin@utilitysafety.ca

Follow Prairie Podcast via Utility Safety Partners on Twitter @Utility_Safety
We’re also on Instagram @click_before_you_dig
Got an episode idea? info@utilitysafety.ca

How Ontario has Coped With A Massive Dig-Safe Behavioural Change Aug 17, 2022

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This year in Ontario there are expected to be nine million locate requests. That’s a lot of moving pieces, all coming through the Ontario One Call system thanks to Bill 8 which requires all owners of underground infrastructure be members of Ontario One Call.
So, nine million locates all of them expecting to make contact once and within five days have all the locates made at their dig site. It's a massive behavioural change for many in Ontario and to some extent, a massive amount of automation behind the scenes to make it happen.
In this episode Mike talks with the CEO of one of the biggest software providers, Competers about what it takes, what some of the challenges are they are overcoming, and what that behavioural change for Ontario was really like.
Guest Shane Hart, CEO Competers Inc
Follow on Twitter @ComPeters_Inc
Connect on Linked In
Utility Safety Partners on Twitter @Utility_Safety
We’re also on Instagram @click_before_you_dig
Got an episode idea? info@utilitysafety.ca

A Look Ahead to the CCGA Damage Prevention Symposium October 22 in Whistler, BC Jul 13, 2022

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Doug Lapp wears several “safety” hats. He’s the President and CEO of the Ontario Regional Common Ground Alliance (ORCGA) and the Chair of the Executive Committee of the Canadian Common Ground Alliance (CCGA).

Later this year, the CCGA will get everyone back together again at it’s annual symposium in October, to be held in Whistler, BC. In this episode we learn a little more about the planned Symposium as well as some of the background to the CCGA and ORCGA and the roles they play in promoting damage prevention.

Guest: Doug Lapp, President Ontario Regional Common Ground Alliance (ORCGA)
Email douglas@orcga.com
Twitter - @ORCGA_Pres_CEO
Connect on Linked In
ORCGA website

Follow Prairie Podcast via Utility Safety Partners on Twitter @Utility_Safety
We’re also on Instagram @click_before_you_dig
Got an episode idea? info@utilitysafety.ca

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