Changing a safety culture takes time. I have been in the field coming up on 22 years. I have been an entry level industrial electrician, electronics technician, Journeyman, Electrical Contractor, and an Electrical Controls Engineer for the past 10 years. Four Years ago I began to change my own curlture regarding Electrical Safety. I am now an Electrical Safety Manager and own an electrical safety business. I have a list of reasons for resistance to using Electrical Safe Work Practices, and in my last thread, "Electrical Safe Work Practices" we agreed there is little compliance. Obviously I am a big believer and a Preacher of Electrical Safe Work Practices LLC my business.
My next question is why electricians don’t want to use Arc Flash Clothing. I have a list. And grant it some do want to use the equipment. What do you think?
"Been doing this work for _____ years, never had to waer anything before"
Dont understand the hazards
PPE is to hot an uncomfortable
Too lazy to go get the PPE and put it on
Thinks coworkers will give him a hard time about wearing it
The PPE looks "wimpy"
These are all common reasons you probally have on your list, you get the idea. The key is for the company to not only have Safe Work Practices but to have a displinary program that is actually enforced. My last company I used this policy for our field guys.
1st violation - Written worning, pulled off job and sent home for day to write a 15 minute safety training program to be presented at our next weekly safety meeting based around the violation. (Forced them to do a little research on the subject and plenty of time to think)
2nd Violation (Had to do this only once) - Brought them on a tour of a burn center at a local hospital, met some patients, scared the pants off them.
3rd violation - Termination
I will be presenting a 4 hour seminar on this topic at the NETA conference in San Antonio in March.