OSHA is coming. Are you ready?

All the new releases and reports coming out of OSHA are saying that the focus has changed from compliance to enforcement. You can debate or disagree all you like, but the fact is they are coming to a location near you. Everyone needs to review your safety processes, re-evaluate your hazard communication programs, ensure your employees are adequately trained in the safety issues that effect them, and get your supervisors on board with safety. Check your record keeping paperwork, and follow-up on your accident investigations. Now is a good time to review your safety manuals and incentive plans. Remember, anything that might keep an employee from reporting a near miss or accident, is not a good incentive plan, and will spark a closer look from OSHA when they visit. Let's make our working environments safer for everyone.

Robert Fitzgerald

Robert Fitzgerald
Employer: Etex Telephone Cooperative, Inc.
Department: Cut-Over
How long employed: 13 years
Hobbies: Nascar, Drag Racing, Spending time with grandkids!
Congratulations to Robert for answering February and March's RTR.

Another RTR Winner: This time from ETEX!

Jared Harty
Employer: Etex Telephone Cooperative, Inc.
How Long: 2 1/2 years
Department: Construction
Hobbies: Hunting and Fishing
Congratulations to Jared "Bubba" Harty
Jared answered February and March's RTR!

Another RTR Winner:

Name: Jason Bowers "Yankee"
Company: Directional Service, Bossier City, LA
Position: Crew Leader
Employed with Directional for almost 6 years.
Enjoys cooking Cajun food!
Congratulations Yankee on answering two RTR questions. Yankee has actually answered a third question and is on his way to another hat!

RTR Winner Bob Dehart

Congratulations goes to Bob Dehart for answering two RTR questions.
Company: R.D Quinn, Inc.
Job Title: Driver
Date started working at RDQ: May 2007

Great job Bob, keep up the great work!

Here is our fourth RTR winner!

Name: Sharon Hurley
Company: Peoples Telephone Cooperative, Inc. Quitman, TX
Years with Cooperative: 24 (She was 12 when she started)
Position: Administrative Assistant
Hobbies/Interests: Piano playing, reading, exercising and having fun at whatever I am doing, and being as active as possible in church

The Utilicom Safety family congratulated Sharon for Reading the Regulations! Good job Sharon.

Special Recognition by a Utilicom Safety Family Member

R.D. Quinn, Inc., a long time Utilicom Safety family member has made a special recognition to Juan Diaz. Juan has been designated as the first MVP of R.D. Quinn, Inc. The MVP award is an internal RDQ award given to an employee that most exemplifies the type of employee that others should strive to be. Safety attitude and behavior play a large part in an employee being awarded this recognition, so all members of the Utilicom Safety family can share in Juan's achievement. Cudo's to R.D. for taking the time to honor his employees like this. "Notice the Gold Hard Hat by the way!" Pictured with Juan is Jesus Lozano, a RDQ Foreman who presented the award.