JOB BRIEFINGS

Communication, Safety, & Adaptability

James Morrow NLC ELP March 2016

Introduction When it comes to ever present hazards to workers in the power delivery industry, there are

several factors that contribute to the overall safety of performing the jobs required and ensuring

unnecessary risks are avoided. These factors must be identified and communicated clearly to all

workers involved and may require planning and strategies to protect third parties such as the

public. It is important to understand all potentials of hazards, actual and possible, and the need to

adapt to the inevitable changes in the work environment should conditions change. The most

effective way to accomplish these goals is to outline and make record of the job being performed,

establish individual work related responsibilities, identify potential hazards, designate roles in

case of emergencies, ensure the proper tools and personal protective equipment to be utilized and

understand that regardless of how well prepared we are, plans can always change.

What’s Required? Essentially, a job briefing is a tool used to to assess the safety and health conditions specific to a

job or task. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 29 CFR 1910.269(c) states

that the “employer shall ensure that the employee in charge conducts a job briefing with the

employees involved before they start each job. The briefing shall cover at least the following

subjects: hazards associated with the job, work procedures involved, special precautions, energy

source controls, and personal protective equipment requirements (See graphic #1 on page 1 of

the attached graphics and pictures).” Understanding what is required is just the beginning of

identifying and mitigating potential hazards and ensuring safety is paramount.

When and How Often? A job briefing should be revisited and performed each time a new job begins (See graphic #2 on

page 2 of the attached graphics and pictures). OSHA 1910.269(c)(3)(ii) states “Additional job

briefings shall be held if significant changes, which might affect the safety of the employees,

occur during the course of the work.” During the course of a job performance, at anytime if any

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worker has a concern with the safety of the work being performed, work should stop and safety

discussions should take place. This practice allows for open verbal communication to promote

alertness from everyone on the job site and is crucial to remaining vigilant and adaptable should

the scope of work change and modifications to the job briefing are needed. What is one special

instance where an employee need not to perform a job briefing? (Working alone. Although the

employer shall ensure that the tasks to be performed are planned as if a briefing were required.)

Identifying Hazards Job briefings have been shown to significantly contribute to the reduction of fatalities, injuries,

and incidences at the workplace. In many cases, companies have improved upon the basic

requirements that job briefings encompass and have included several other facets of information

they feel are important to the overall safety of their employees (See graphic #3 on page 3 of the

attached graphic and pictures). Identifying the hazards of the scope of work should be conducted

in an open discussion that promotes involvement by all workers. This practice ensures all

workers are “cut in” and can serve as an opportunity to develop future crew leaders.

The first hazard referenced in OSHA 1910.269(c) standards for job briefings is Hazardous

energy control (lockout/tagout) procedures. When the scope of work includes potential

energizing sources, at a minimum it is imperative to communicate and establish understanding

for, 1) the special precautions that need to be taken, 2) energy source controls and the equipment

needed, 3) work procedures to be done and sequence it should be done in. Other examples that

can be included on the briefing might look like: 1) company specific procedural steps on how the

work will be done and by who, 2) attachments or updates by the crew leader including the

current status of the potential energy sources or progression of other crews involved in the scope

of work 3) the integrity and inventory of protective materials and hardware associated while

performing work.

Next we should identify the personal protective equipment that may be utilized during the course

of work performance. One of the most overlooked and crucial aspects of job briefings can be the

inspection of personal protective equipment. The Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates falls

comprise the highest fatality numbers and therefore puts falls at the top of the “Focus Four” list. JOB BRIEFINGS !3

In many cases, jobs performed at night pose hazards that can be identified during the job briefing

but may be unavoidable on account of low visibility. Although the work site may be lit up to

provide visibility, certain hazards associated with climbing wood poles such as clear path

identification and structure integrity may present fall potentials. It is an OSHA requirement that

employees use fall protection when climbing, changing location, and/or working on poles,

towers, and similar structures anytime they are higher than four feet above ground. If a workers

duties were primarily under water, why wouldn’t that worker pay particular attention to their

oxygen supply tank integrity? In the case of electrical line workers, utmost care and inspection of

fall restraint systems are just an example of attention to detail required during hazard

identification. Also on the Focus Four (four major causes of fatalities, injuries, and incidents) list

are Caught-In or -Between and Struck-By hazards. Almost always will a line-worker be utilizing

some sort of rigging or heavy equipment that present the potential of becoming a victim of these

two hazards. Something as simple as using a hand-line to send up heavy tools or as complex as

utilizing certain rigging configurations to provide counter weight or support to much heavier

objects all have the potential to put a worker in a Caught-In/Between or Struck-By hazardous

situation. This is why inspections should be done to ensure the integrity of rigging applications

that will be utilized during the work performance. In no particular order, the fourth hazard is

Electrocution hazards. Special attention should be given when inspecting equipment that

facilitate proper insulation and isolation techniques. As we know, something as small as a

pinhole can compromise the integrity of protective equipment when working on energized

conductors and can result in severe injuries to workers. Always be sure to inspect the tools that

will be utilized to manufacturer specifications and take good care when storing to make

inspecting easier for later use.

Responsibilities Although written job briefings may not be required, they can provide employees an easy

reference during highly involved work performance (See graphic #4 on page 4 of the attached

graphics and pictures). Workers should make a strong attempt at fully understanding what is

required of them and the duties they're responsible for as outlined in the job briefing. Just as JOB BRIEFINGS !4

well, they should be certain of the responsibilities of the other members of their crew and should

be able to relay information specific to the work performance and the locations work is being

performed. In case of emergencies where members of the crew or public are injured or

incapacitated, all workers should a have a strong understanding of how to direct help to facilitate

rescue and aid as fast as possible. Information such as time logs, maps, GPS coordinates, area

accessibility, first aid and cellular communication availability should be considered to be

included on the job briefing as this information can sometimes be the difference in the matter of

life and death.

Written job briefings also provide the company evidence that they’ve met the required standards

and that their employees have been informed of the scope of work, understand and accept

responsibilities, and agree to adhere to company policies by signing his/her name on the briefing

itself.

Adaptability Awareness and understanding that changes in the work environment can have profound impacts

on work performance and the adaptation solutions to overcome these changes should be

discussed and outlined in the job briefing. Work performed during maintenance, repair, or

construction projects all have specific variables unique to each situation that should be identified

as well. A crew might ask each other questions regarding their health, fatigue factors, and maybe

small quiz type questions to promote getting “cut in” before beginning work. Sometimes it can

help to establish and identify some adaptations they may have during the shift. One major factor

that might go unnoticed is knowing that mother nature can be an entirely different challenge in

itself. A crew may be working in an area conducive to flash flooding or in dangerous wildlife

habitats which may be overlooked until it’s too late. Understanding these types of potential

challenges can better make a crew prepared to adapt and complete the task efficiently and safely.

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Conclusion As you can see, job briefings are a simple yet effective tool that contain information that

facilitates an avenue of communication and safety. Identifying potential hazards, understanding

roles and responsibilities, establishing plans and procedures, reviewing company policy, and

promoting safety involvement from all members of the crew are all goals we can accomplish by

taking this practice seriously. Although this process of establishing plans can at times seem

somewhat bothersome, utilizing this communication resource gives us the opportunity to be

something we all hold dear; our brothers keeper.

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