December 2023/January 2024

PARKING LOTS: BE MINDFUL OF SAFE DRIVING PRACTICES

Use the “Time Out” Human Performance tool to support responsible driving in parking lots, at work and afterhours for whole-life safety.

Did you know that thousands of crashes occur in parking lots and garage structures annually, resulting in hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries? Given that we use parking lots when we go to work, shop or travel almost anywhere, it is important to maintain awareness of parking lot hazards. (Infographic source material: National Safety Council)

Employees are asked to slow down and heighten your situational awareness of hazards in and around Dairyland parking lots, especially with the arrival of winter weather. The La Crosse Service Center parking lots have 10 m.p.h. signs posted as a maximum speed limit. Dairyland's Safety team is collaborating with Building Services to assess parking lot safety and potential tools (such as signage) to enhance safety.

Stay alert & aware

Don’t rely entirely on technology; look over your shoulder and use mirrors as you back up
When parking, pull through if possible to avoid the need to back-up when departing
Do not cut across parking lots
Drive slowly and use directional signals
Actively anticipate the actions of other drivers
Obey stop signs and no-parking signs

Distracted driving and speeding are the top causes of auto accidents. Dairyland’s Distracted Driving Safety Practice prohibits the use of hand-held devices to help make sure we all go home safe every day. Click here for the Safety Practice, which applies to all drivers of Dairyland vehicles.

Distracted Driving Practice highlights

Prohibits the use of hand-held cell phones or other electronic devices while operating a Dairyland vehicle, whether in motion or stopped at a traffic light. (Cooperative issued radios are exempt from this policy.)
Drivers are allowed to use “hands-free” cellular phone or blue tooth enabled device for calls. Employees are encouraged to pull over at a safe location to conduct a call, if one is necessary.

MAKE AN IMPACT: PPE IS THE RESULT OF SPEAK UP/LISTEN UP

Speaking up about a safety shortcoming or constructive idea is essential for both a strong safety culture and 200% accountability (for individual and team). And, it works! Following are two recent "speak up" actions that have resulted in quick results benefitting the Dairyland team.

Polarized Glasses: During a Power Delivery safety subcommittee meeting, Vegetation Management raised a visibility concern regarding sun glare issues encountered when using our original safety glasses inventory. Within a week of hearing about this issue, the Safety team had polarized glasses in stock at Dairyland's

La Crosse warehouse. In addition to reducing glare, polarized sunglass lenses alleviate eye strain caused by sunlight.

Gloves: Quality PPE = reduced susceptibility to hand injuries. Following employee feedback and as part of Dairyland's "safety by design" strategy, hand PPE options with more robust puncture protection are also underway. New non-insulated gloves with enhanced cut resistance have been stocked in the warehouse since November.

In addition, a pilot group - with participation from JPM, Electrical Maintenance, Building Services, Fleet Maintenance, Field Operations, Vegetation Management, Transmission Construction and Transmission Maintenance representatives - is currently testing insulated winter gloves. "We are evaluating new glove PPE for increased warmth and higher cut resistant qualities to help mitigate hazards and prevent incidents that may occur from the many different tools our teams use in the field," said Work Methods Coordinator-Safety Grant Woychik. Grant assessed vendors and sought recommendations from Dairyland's utility peers to curate several glove options that the pilot group will sample this winter. Following survey feedback, Dairyland will stock the best insulated glove option as part of our warehouse inventory.

Have a safety-related concern or suggestion? Please contact the Safety Department team or provide anonymous feedback here.

SPEAKING OF ICE FISHING...

The mild start to winter will delay the start of ice fishing season. Don't rush it! Follow the below guide from the Minnesota DNR to assess safety.

YOUR OPINION MATTERS

Similar to the Ask the CEO anonymous Q&A on any subject, Dairyland's Ask the Safety Team provides an opportunity for anonymous submissions directly to the Safety Department. For enterprise-wide awareness, the question may be shared on the Breaker page, with an answer provided by the Safety team. If you would like a personal response, please contact any member of the Safety team.

President & CEO Brent Ridge also emphasizes that he can be contacted directly on a safety issue at any time via his mobile: 780-8701.

We want to hear from you! Questions or Comments? Email safetyculture@dairylandpower.com.

A message from Dairyland’s Safety Culture Systemwide Team.

HEATED ICE FISHING SHELTERS: BEWARE CARBON MONOXIDE HAZARDS

Do you look forward to "frozen tundra" season, fishing for whatever swims beneath the ice? Many of us enjoy a heated shelter to warm up in when time on the ice. If you're heating your ice shelter this winter with propane gas, it's critical to follow the proper precautions to avoid the life-threatening risks of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.

Carbon monoxide is an odorless, tasteless, and invisible gas produced whenever fuel is burned. Propane heaters use oxygen from the air for combustion and release CO as a byproduct. Without proper ventilation, CO levels can build up inside your ice shelter without you knowing and can quickly cause illness or death.

Signs and symptoms of CO poisoning: headache, nausea, shortness of breath, fatigue, dizziness, mental confusion. It can feel like you're coming down with the flu. Immediately get to fresh air if you suspect CO poisoning. Every ice shelter should have a CO detector. Be sure to test your detector regularly and keep your vents clear.

The video below shows the quick acceleration of danger from CO.

Did you know?

Every shelter heated with propane needs a vent near the top and bottom of the shelter. Make sure to have an opening within one foot of the ground to allow fresh air to enter the shelter, as well as an opening near the top of your shelter to allow the CO inside the tent to flow up and out.

Snow can block your air vents and cause CO levels to build up in your shelter. Always keep your vents clear of snow and ice. If you have a wheelhouse shelter, make sure to keep your ceiling vents open and free of snow. A carbon monoxide detector could save your life if your vents become blocked with snow during the night.

Do not rely on your ventilation system or “low oxygen shut-off” sensors to work properly. Have a CO detector in your shelter in the event of unexpected malfunction. Make sure to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations when choosing where to place your detector within your shelter.

Propane cylinders should remain outside your shelter at all times. The only exception is small portable heaters – you may have a small (1 lb.) propane cylinder in your shelter. Never use sunflower type heaters inside your shelter.

-Tips from Minnesota DNR

Published by Dairyland Power Cooperative's Safety Culture Systemwide Team.

Contact Editor Katie Thomson at 787-1323. (Area codes are 608 unless indicated.)

Dairyland Power Cooperative is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.