The fledgling electric utility industry began to expand rapidly during the war years of the 1940’s. Many new utility companies were formed, and existing companies were required to enlarge their facilities to meet the growing demand for electricity.
Coupled with this growth, however, was an accelerating accident rate among the electric utility workers. Electric contact injuries and fatalities became commonplace.
In an effort to reverse the growing accident trend, a group of dedicated safety people from several southwestern Louisiana and southeastern Texas utility companies met in Beaumont, TX on Aug. 24, 1950, to discuss the accident problems and to formulate some action plans to reduce the accident causes.
At their initial meeting, the safety group determined to form an organization to be known as the Southwest Electric Safety Exchange (the “Exchange”). The Exchange would meet semi-annually for the purpose of reviewing safety matters of common concern to the electric utility industry. (Update: Starting in 2012, the Exchange changed from semi-annual to annual meetings due to tough economic times which reduced the travel budgets for many member companies. In April 2011, the organization agreed to reconsider the annual meeting option after having two annual meetings.)
At its inception, the primary goal of the Exchange was to develop guidelines, work procedures and safety rules for recommending to their respective companies that would help eliminate the tragic electric shock and burn accidents that were causing so much human suffering and were so devastating to employee morale.
Realizing however, that other types of accidents occurring within their companies were also demoralizing to the workers, the charter members of the Exchange agreed to review all on-the-job accidents their respective companies were experiencing. Measures would then be recommended by the Exchange members for avoiding similar recurrences.
The newly formed Exchange, which by choice has no charter or creed, grew rapidly over the next few years. Numerous other companies were added to its membership. Today the Exchange has representatives from some 16 utility companies/contractors located in several states. (Update: In April 2011, the Exchange confirmed that member companies could continue to invite three member contractors to the conference. Also, there was a unanimous vote to allow non-utility companies to apply for membership.)
The exchange of accident experiences by the members and subsequent ways developed to avoid similar occurrences have been an invaluable aid in the prevention of accidents. Since the Exchange maintains no official records the member company representatives have been able to discuss, without fear of repercussion, all aspects of accident prevention.
It is imperative to the continuance of the Exchange as a successful accident control organization, that the concept of accident information exchange remain intact. All member companies must make a concerted effort to contribute to this portion of the Exchange meetings.
Many safety rules and work procedures now in place at the member companies originated as a result of the accident exchange sessions of the Southwest Electric Safety Exchange. Although it would be difficult to determine how many serious injuries or fatalities have been prevented since the formation of the Exchange, a look at the accident frequencies of the member companies would be a good indication. The frequency rates have been on a steady decline since its beginning.
Another action concept developed during the early meetings of the Exchange addressed equipment, tools and devices used in electric utility industry operations. In the early meetings, it was discovered that various new or modified tools, equipment and devices were being used by one Member Company that other member companies were not even aware of. Many of these things had been developed in-house by company employees.
By exchanging information on equipment and devices, each member company benefited by the job skills of hundreds of employees making up the work force of the combined companies. Much of the equipment and devices unique to electric utility work in use today can be traced back to some early meeting of the Exchange where it was presented to the membership by one of its member company representatives.
These sessions of the Exchange conferences have proven to be most advantageous to it members, both safety-wise and expense-wise. Often an unfavorable experience by one of the member companies related to a new device or piece of equipment, when discussed at the Exchange, prevented other members from purchasing similar equipment not suited for utility work.
Rarely is there a period of time between Exchange meetings in which the member companies do not have something that could be reported on in the equipment exchange sessions. It is the responsibility of each member company to make a special effort to participate in the equipment exchange sessions.
Another major concept developed in the early meetings of the Exchange was for each member company to make available to the other members any new training aids purchased or developed in house between meeting dates of the Exchange.
This procedure has made available numerous specialty training programs to the membership, many of which were developed in-house by a member company following a serious accident.
By taking advantage of the available training programs, the member companies have been able to provide numerous quality safety meetings for their respective work force. Many times such training aids would either be unavailable from the open market or cost prohibitive.
Member companies must be aware of the obligation they have to participate in the training aids sessions at the conferences. Without full participation, the available material will be limited in scope.
Another aspect of the Exchange formulated by the early members that has been most successful was a plan to invite “operations” personnel to the meetings. The members recognized that first line supervisors are usually the determining factor in the success or failure of a company’s safety program. By getting these people actually involved in the Exchange meetings, the members felt they would then become more active in the promotion of safety at their respective companies.
In addition to the General Session, the Exchange developed four sessions at the meeting specifically for “line” personnel.
The “Stop Shock” session is structured such that “transmission and distribution” personnel discuss ways to prevent the serious electrical shock and burn type injuries. The attendees take active roles in the conference by determining ways to avoid the accidents.
The “Production” session is designed for the production personnel in attendance to share mutual problems, work procedures, unique situations, etc. The attendees are encouraged to participate freely.
The “Supervisor’s Safety Training” session was developed in 1983 and is designed to assist any supervisor in the investigation of accidents. The attendees take active roles in the session by analyzing case studies.
The “T&D Roundtable” was officially developed in 2006 and is designed to allow networking between the transmission and distribution attendees in various companies. The attendees are encouraged to discuss common concerns and ideas that are common to the craft.
The four “operations” sessions along with the General Session have continued to be an outstanding part of the Exchange meetings. The majority of line personnel who have had the opportunity to attend the sessions have overwhelmingly given high marks for the programs.
In the years following the original Exchange conference, the various aspects of the meetings have been fine-tuned by its members to the point where today the Exchange is considered one of the leading safety organizations in the United States in accident prevention. Numerous upper management officers of the member companies were at one time active participants in the Exchange. Most have continued to support the organization.
The safety programs in place at the member companies of the Exchange today in many ways reflect the influence of the Exchange. Today’s membership would do well to occasionally review the format of the Exchange that has proven so successful down through the years.
There are many other aspects of the Exchange that could be discussed. The issues discussed above, however, outline those that are critical if the organization is to continue as an effective accident prevention force.
In conclusion, it is important to reaffirm the purpose of the Exchange. It was conceived in an effort to lower the accident frequency rate and to help eliminate the serious injuries and fatalities that were occurring in the electric utility industry.
The Exchange definitely has a continuing reason for the existence today. Injuries and fatalities are still occurring. The members can be extremely proud, however, of the progress that has been made to date. Dedicated Exchange members will ensure continued success.
If you have fulfilled your individual responsibility as a member of the Exchange, you can take pride and comfort in the realization that through this association some of your fellow employees and friends have probably escaped the maiming and fatal accidents that plague the electric utility industry.
You are urged to continually support the organization and actively promote it among the management, supervision and employees in your respective company.