Utility Safety Podcast by Incident Prevention Magazine cover art

Utility Safety Podcast by Incident Prevention Magazine

Utility Safety Podcast by Incident Prevention Magazine

Written by: Incident Prevention Magazine
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 Come listen to an extension of some of the excellent utility safety & ops safety content published in Incident Prevention magazine. Dive deeper into insightful safety topics by hearing interviews with the some of the best and brightest minds in the industry! Learn more about Incident Prevention magazine at incident-prevention.comCopyright 2026 All rights reserved. Politics & Government
Episodes
  • The Human Tuning Fork: Harnessing Frequency and Vibration for Utility Safety with Bill Martin, CUSP

    The Human Tuning Fork: Harnessing Frequency and Vibration for Utility Safety with Bill Martin, CUSP
    Feb 1 2026

    In this episode of the Utility Safety Podcast, host Nick chats with Bill Martin, CUSP about a concept that goes far beyond the standard safety manual: the physics of human energy. Inspired by Nikola Tesla’s quote on energy, frequency, and vibration, Bill explains why workers are like "human tuning forks" and how one person's attitude can physically resonate through an entire crew. The conversation dives deep into the biology of leadership, contrasting the stress of "command and control" with the high performance of synchronized teams. Bill also challenges the industry’s reliance on caffeine and energy drinks, arguing that true high performance starts with regulating your own physiology and inputs. Tune in to learn how to move from a state of basic compliance to a state of high-frequency synchronization.

    Key Takeaways

    • The Tuning Fork Analogy: Humans are like tuning forks; energy transfers between people without physical contact, meaning a single person's mood or "vibration" can affect the safety and performance of the entire team.
    • Synchronization Over Compliance: While "command and control" works in predictable environments, high-risk utility work requires synchronization—like pushing a swing in rhythm—to maintain forward momentum and safety.
    • The Chemistry of Leadership: A leader's approach triggers biological responses; criticism releases cortisol (stress/defense), while praise releases oxytocin (connection/higher cognition), changing the frequency at which the team operates.
    • Impact of Substances: Reliance on energy drinks, caffeine, and alcohol dehydrates the brain and lowers cognitive frequency, effectively making workers "stupid" and slower to react in critical situations.
    • The 5-Second Rule: To avoid reacting negatively to a "toxic" team member, use the 5-second rule (count down 5-4-3-2-1) to bypass your biological defense mechanism and choose a constructive response.
    • The Power of Sync (Millennium Bridge): Just as the rhythmic walking of pedestrians caused London's Millennium Bridge to wobble violently, a team that is perfectly synchronized can generate immense power and capability.
    Questions & Answers

    Q1: How does Bill Martin explain the concept of "making your own luck" regarding safety and life?

    A: Bill explains that prediction is simply how our brains work to make things happen, rather than a lottery ticket. He argues that we are in 100% control of our next decision regardless of the hand we are dealt, meaning we decide if our "luck" is good or bad based on our mindset and actions.

    Q2: Why does Bill suggest that energy drinks are detrimental to line workers?

    A: Bill notes that energy drinks alter physiology by spiking heart rates, which the body struggles to distinguish from fear or running from a threat. He states that caffeine dehydrates the brain (which is 70% water), slowing down brain conduction and thinking speed, which is dangerous in high-stakes work.

    Q3: What is the "marshmallow" effect in a team setting?

    A: Using the analogy of Newton's cradle (pendulum balls), Bill describes a person who is out of sync or vibrating at a low frequency as a "marshmallow". If placed in the middle of the team, this person absorbs the energy rather than transferring it, stopping the team's momentum.

    Q4: How can a worker change the "frequency" of a negative interaction immediately?

    A: Instead of reacting defensively to a bully or an angry coworker, Bill suggests smiling or staying silent for five seconds to disrupt their predicted response. By refusing to let the other person decide your energy, and instead responding with curiosity or kindness, you change the dynamic of the interaction.

    #UtilitySafety #Leadership #TeamSync #HumanPerformance #Mindset #LineLife

    Subscribe to Incident Prevention Magazine - https://incident-prevention.com/subscribe-now/

    Register for the iP Utility Safety Conference & Expo - https://utilitysafetyconference.com/

    ________________________________

    This podcast is sponsored by T&D Powerskills. If you are looking for a comprehensive lineworker training solution, visit tdpowerskills.com today and use the exclusive podcast listener promo code IP2026 to receive a 5% discount!
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    53 mins
  • Closing the Hazard Awareness Delay - Real-Time Grid Visibility with Active Grid Response

    Closing the Hazard Awareness Delay - Real-Time Grid Visibility with Active Grid Response
    Feb 1 2026

    In this episode of Incident Prevention’s Utility Safety Podcast, host Kate Wade sits down with Tim Bedford, a 36-year veteran of PG&E and current Principal Customer Success Manager at Gridware. Together, they explore a critical new category of grid intelligence: Active Grid Response.

    Tim explains the concept of "Hazard Awareness Delay"—the dangerous gap in time between a grid event occurring and the utility becoming aware of it . By utilizing Gridware’s Gridscope, a mechanical sensing device installed on poles, utilities can now detect hazards like broken poles, vegetation impact, and conductor vibration in real-time .

    Listen in to learn:

    • How real-time grid visibility eliminates unnecessary exposure for linemen, drastically improving utility safety.

    • The role of mechanical sensing in preventing wildfires by identifying risks before they ignite .

    • How Gridware’s technology creates a "zero delay line break" response, potentially de-energizing falling lines before they hit the ground .

    • Strategies for funding safety technology through reliability and fleet maintenance budgets .

    Whether you are in operations, safety management, or fleet logistics, this episode offers actionable insights into modernizing grid protection.

    Guest Contact: Tim Bedford | tim.bedford@gridware.io Learn More: www.gridware.io

    Key Takeaways

    • Defining Hazard Awareness Delay: This is the critical time lapse between an event occurring on the electrical system and the utility’s awareness of it; reducing this delay prevents outages and catastrophic events like wildfires.

    • Mechanical Sensing Technology: Gridware’s "Gridscope" acts like a pickup on a guitar string, detecting vibration, sound, and pole angle changes to pinpoint exact fault locations without needing to patrol the entire line.

    • Enhancing Lineman Safety: By providing the exact location of a fault, utilities reduce the need for linemen to patrol hazardous terrain in the dark, significantly lowering safety risks and exposure.

    • Rapid Installation: The devices are approximately the size of a shoebox, weigh 3.5 lbs, and can be installed in under five minutes; a single crew can install upwards of 50 devices per day.

    • Future "Zero Delay" Capabilities: Gridware is currently piloting technology that can detect a line break and trigger a recloser to de-energize the circuit before the wire even hits the ground.
    Q&A: Utility Safety & Grid Visibility

    Q: What is the "Active Grid Response" solution provided by Gridware?

    A: Active Grid Response is a new category of grid intelligence that provides real-time visibility into the physical, electrical, and environmental conditions of the grid. It uses sensors to monitor vibrations and pole angles, allowing utilities to identify specific hazards—like a tree striking a line or a car hitting a pole—before they escalate into major outages or wildfires.

    Q: How does this technology directly improve utility safety for the workforce?

    A: It drastically reduces the "hunt and seek" method of finding faults. Instead of a troubleman patrolling miles of line in hazardous conditions (darkness, rough terrain, severe weather), the system provides a pinpoint location . This minimizes the time employees spend in dangerous environments and reduces fleet vehicle exposure .

    Q: Is this technology cost-prohibitive for smaller utilities or tight budgets?

    A: Tim Bedford suggests that funding often comes from shifting budgets based on the use case. For example, the technology offsets costs in fleet fuel, engine hours, and patrol time. Additionally, it can replace less effective legacy devices like standard fault indicators, and deployments can be scaled to focus only on high-risk protection zones rather than the entire system immediately.

    Subscribe to Incident Prevention Magazine - https://incident-prevention.com/subscribe-now/

    Register for the iP Utility Safety Conference & Expo - https://utilitysafetyconference.com/

    #UtilitySafety #GridModernization #LinemanSafety #WildfirePrevention #SmartGrid #ActiveGridResponse

    ________________________________

    This podcast is sponsored by T&D Powerskills. If you are looking for a comprehensive lineworker training solution, visit tdpowerskills.com today and use the exclusive podcast listener promo code IP2026 to receive a 5% discount!
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    39 mins
  • Utility Safety Podcast - Deep Dive - The Evolution of Personal Protective Grounding from the Articles Written by Alan Drew

    Utility Safety Podcast - Deep Dive - The Evolution of Personal Protective Grounding from the Articles Written by Alan Drew
    Jan 23 2026
    Read the articles writted by Alan Drew - https://incident-prevention.com/blog/the-evolution-of-personal-protective-grounding-part-1/ https://incident-prevention.com/blog/the-evolution-of-personal-protective-grounding-part-2/ About the Author: Alan Drew began his power industry career in 1959. While working for a local utility company, he earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. Drew was hired as the general superintendent for Clallam County Public Utility District in 1991. He moved to Boise, Idaho, in 1998, where he became an instructor with Northwest Lineman College and advanced to the position of senior vice president of research and development. He is a lifetime member of IEEE and a 2008 International Lineman Museum Hall of Fame inductee. Drew’s most recent accomplishment is writing “The American Lineman,” a book that honors the evolution and importance of the U.S. lineman. He retired in 2020 and is now a part-time technical consultant for Northwest Lineman College. These articles chronicle the historical transition of personal protective grounding (PPG) from primitive, improvised tactics to rigorous modern safety standards for electrical workers. Early utility pioneers relied on basic tools like grounding chains and simple water pipe connections, but rising accident rates eventually necessitated more sophisticated testing and insulation. Mid-century research by experts like Charles Dalziel provided a scientific understanding of how electrical currents impact the human body, shifting the industry toward standardized equipment and formal regulations. The narrative highlights the move from bracket grounding toward the equipotential zone concept, ensuring that lineworkers are protected by maintaining equal voltage across all contact points. Ultimately, the sources emphasize that while technology and OSHA mandates have advanced, the core mission of PPG remains the most vital safeguard in high-voltage environments. Based on the two-part series "The Evolution of Personal Protective Grounding," here is a podcast package designed to summarize the content effectively. Key Takeaways From Primitive to Precise: The history of grounding began with crude methods like throwing chains over conductors or simply shutting down generators. It has evolved into a highly technical science focusing on creating "equipotential zones" (EPZ) to guarantee worker safety. The Pivot to Worksite Grounding: Early practices relied on "bracket grounding" (grounding at adjacent poles). However, 1950s testing by the Bonneville Power Administration proved this was insufficient, leading to the modern standard of grounding and short-circuiting directly at the worksite. The Impact of Research: Charles Dalziel’s mid-century research on human shock thresholds provided the crucial medical data needed to evaluate whether grounding methods actually protected human life, moving the industry away from guesswork. Standardization Saved Lives: The shift from homemade tools (like copper wire and water pipes) to manufactured, certified equipment was driven by regulations from OSHA (1970s) and standards from ASTM and IEEE, ensuring reliability and accountability. 4 Questions & Answers Q: How did early lineworkers verify a line was de-energized before modern voltage detectors existed? A: Early methods were incredibly risky and often involved "fuzzing" (listening for a buzzing sound) or primitive "tests" like throwing a crescent wrench tied to a grounded tower onto the conductor to see if a fuse would blow. Q: What major flaw did the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) discover in 1954 regarding "bracket grounding"? A: The BPA tests revealed that placing grounds only on structures adjacent to the work area (bracket grounding) did not provide adequate protection. They found that to truly protect the lineworker from accidental energization, all conductors had to be short-circuited and grounded directly at the work location. Q: What is the "Equipotential Zone" (EPZ) and when did it become the industry standard? A: The EPZ is a safety method where grounds are arranged to ensure that all equipment and the worker are at the same electrical potential, eliminating hazardous voltage differences across the worker’s body. It became a formal regulatory requirement with the issuance of OSHA standard 1910.269 in 1994. Q: How did the "Shotgun Stick" improve safety in the 1950s? A: The development of the grip-all or "shotgun stick" allowed lineworkers to apply protective grounds while maintaining a safe distance from the conductor. This was a significant improvement over earlier methods that brought workers dangerously close to potential hazards during installation. Subscribe to Incident Prevention Magazine - https://incident-prevention.com/subscribe-now/ Register for the iP Utility Safety Conference & Expo - https://utilitysafetyconference.com/ #LinemanSafety #UtilityIndustry #ElectricalSafety #...
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    17 mins
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