POWERGRAMS

SAFETY Target Zero is a proven success, having reduced Alabama Power's reportable on- the-job incidents by two-thirds since 2003. But its true purpose is in its name – "Zero" – meaning an injury-free workplace measured by no recordable injuries and no preventable vehicle accidents. It's a high standard, but not an impossible one, as evidenced by the teams that are meeting it. Executive Vice President Steve Spencer said he is proud to see employees making Target Zero work for them. "The test of Target Zero isn't just in what it says but in how it's implemented," said Spencer. "From Generation to Transmission to Distribution, crews are applying its principles to their day-to-day work. They have turned a goal into an achievement." What's their secret? "Target Zero puts your focus on safety every day," said Osie Cunningham, crew foreman of the Selma Line Crew, which has gone 13 years without a recordable and 15 years without a preventable vehicle accident. "Our workers know exactly what the job details are before they leave every morning." "Before, we were more interested in what it takes to get the job done. Safety was a concern, but it wasn't at the top," said Johnny Robinson, foreman of Transmission Line Crew 43, which has gone many years without a recordable or preventable accident. "After Target Zero came along, I think safety is at the top of everyone's list now." One of the first steps for crews to achieve Target Zero is to perform a job safety briefing (JSB) before starting work. One recent morning, Robinson's team met at the General Services Complex (GSC) in Calera before going to work on the Bluff Park District Substation line. They were tasked with installing copper grounding rods to prevent overloads. During the JSB at the job site, Subforeman Michael "Smoky" Frazier was designated the day's pointperson on safety. Utility Assistant Tyrone Morris checked off a list of hazards to avoid and precautions to take. The crew members all signed the sheet. By the time they began working, everyone knew exactly what the job required. One crew member even repeated from memory the safety credo developed by former president James Barry: "There can be no operating condition which justifies our employees taking the slightest chance in performing their work. We want them always to take the safe way, even though our service may suffer thereby or our costs be increased." Also at the GSC that morning was the Birmingham South Substation Transmission Maintenance Center Crew, which has achieved Target Zero for seven years. At 6 a.m., they talked about the previous day's job in Bessemer. Foreman Anthony Nix led the discussion, which touched on everything from switches that needed adjusting to a potential shortage of "shims" (washer-like lugs for electric bolts). While every crew tailors Target Zero to its own circumstances, they all share common elements. One is encouraging co- workers to ask questions. "That's something that's always been driven into you," said Wayne Hancock, team leader for Headland Protection and Control Field Services group that has achieved Target Zero for nine years. "You may not want to because you think it's a silly question. But we encourage you to ask it." "The questioning attitude is really big for me," said Robinson. Another common element is trust. Workers know that they can stop a job at any time if they see something wrong. "We're not afraid to stop, any one of us," said J.P. Smitherman, foreman of Transmission Maintenance Major Equipment Roving Crew 41 (three years without a recordable/preventable). "If you see something that doesn't look right, we commend anyone in the crew to stop." On Jan. 20, Smitherman's team was at Plant Miller to check the source of an oil leak in a transformer. The six required elements of every JSB were covered: work procedures, personal protective equipment, precautions, potential hazards, energy source controls and emergency/rescue procedures. Last year, the crew saw a hazard that was life-threatening. Outside contractors at Plant Miller were building metal scaffolding too close to a "hot" 230-kV buss. Crew Leader Robert Ford and Electrical and Wiring Journeyman Daniel Rasberry saw the problem and ordered contractors to stand down and remove the scaffolding. "We knew they weren't where they were supposed to be," said Journeyman Ryan Easterling. "Daniel and Bob realized it was a very dangerous situation and needed to take evasive action very quickly." "The scaffolding was a lot higher than it should have been," said Rasberry. "One person even felt static electricity. We pulled it down." The close call – and the lessons gleaned from it – were shared with others so similar situations can be avoided. It's another effective step toward achieving Target Zero. "We look at what happened and what could have happened and share that with the company as a lesson learned: How can it be prevented in the future?" said Frazier. This mindset is matched by management's willingness to go the extra mile. "They never skimp on safety," said Smitherman. "If it's something we need, as far as safety training, new tools, they never throw budget constraints in front of us." By John Herr Saved by Zero 2 The Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma was the scene of historic civil rights marches that led to voting rights for blacks in the 1960s. Alabama Power has sponsored a number of events commemorating the 50th anniversary of the marches of 1965. ON THE COVER: Transmission Line Crew 43 works out of GSC. Photo by John Herr CREWS STRIVE FO R U LTI M ATE GOAL O F IN JU RY- FREE WO RKPL ACE

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