The Lessons Learned® video series is intended to increase the level of public safety awareness among all levels of operating personnel within the utility. The ten- to twelve-minute videos dramatically re-enact major losses that have occurred on gas and electric utility systems. Each focuses on critical points that may prevent similar incidents in the future. They are available upon request to member companies.
Lessons Learned
For Gas Utilities:
Find & Fix Syndrome
When responding to odor complaints both inside and outside the home, the proper actions by gas company first responders are critical to the protection of life and property. This video training tool demonstrates the correct actions gas company employees should take to protect themselves and the public when responding to these emergencies and cautions them to avoid the Find & Fix Syndrome.
Each of the two scenarios in the video has a "pause" feature that allows for discussion among the audience.
Public Safety Communication and Emergency Response
This video program focuses on the importance of gas utility first responders identifying and addressing unexpected safety conditions encountered in the course of their work and customer safety information provided by natural gas utilities. Pipeline safety code 49 CFR 192.616 requires gas companies to evaluate and update their public education programs. Gas companies routinely distribute safety information to their customers; however, in many cases, this information may be ignored or misunderstood.
The video emphasizes the importance of thorough and proper actions by gas company personnel when responding to reported gas odor reports and the importance of effective customer safety educational programs.
The program contains two videos which are identical, except for the endings. One video is for natural gas utility employees, while the other is for natural gas utility customers.
People Don't Know What They Don't KnowSM
Hot Tap
This video portrays an incident involving a natural gas utility's newly promoted foreman and his crew performing a hot tap and tie-in in an unfamiliar district within their company's service area. Previously, the foreman and crew had only worked in a district with a single distribution pressure. Now they are working in a district with multiple pressures. Because the foreman and crew didn't know what they didn't know, there is a tragic loss of life and property.
Last Dreams
In this video, a customer calls her local gas company to have the gas service to her home turned on. The gas company technician assigned to complete the turn-on has just recently started working on his own and does not properly handle an unfamiliar condition in the customer's furnace. Because the technician did not know what he didn't know, a life was lost.
First Line of Defense
Portrays the events leading up to the ignition of natural gas escaping from an outside meter set assembly located at the customer's home. Among the contributing factors that led to the incident was a Customer Service Representative (CSR) who logged the emergency call without properly evaluating what the customer said.
Hidden Danger
Portrays the events that led up to the ignition of blowing gas by the discharge of static electricity on a polyethylene gas line, fatally injuring a gas company employee who failed to follow company procedures by wearing the proper PPE and utilizing a “static kit.”
Too Little… Too Late
Details the events surrounding a gas explosion that critically injured several persons and destroyed a building that housed a retail business. Among the causes of this incident was a third-party "dig-in," but this Lessons Learned video focuses on avoiding the "find and fix" syndrome, checking the surrounding area for possible gas migration, remembering to identify the hazard, and protecting life and property first because damage to gas facilities is not always obvious.
Pressure Point
Portrays the events that resulted in the over-pressurization of a segment of a low-pressure distribution system during routine district regulator maintenance. This Lessons Learned video emphasizes the importance of pre-job planning, continuous monitoring of downstream pressure, emergency response training and pre-established lines of authority.
The Smell of Danger
Depicts the events preceding a gas explosion that resulted in a fatality, injuries and the destruction of a home - an incident in which the gas company responded not once, but twice, to odor complaints only hours before the blast. This Lessons Learned video focuses on the importance of recognizing multiple hazards and following established procedures, as well as emergency response training.
A Toxic Tale
Portrays the events surrounding the death of a house sitter caused by carbon monoxide poisoning. A residential furnace previously serviced by the gas company was identified as the source of the toxic gas. This Lessons Learned video emphasizes the importance of recognizing potential hazards, understanding "make-safe" actions and providing adequate warnings.
Back to Top
For Electric Utilities:
Incident Response – Effective Communication and Coordination
Proper communication and coordination between fire service commanders and electric utility first responders is essential at structure fires and other incidents. This video shows how the U.S. National Incident Command System can be used to encourage communication and coordination and to define the responsibilities of on-scene electric utility personnel.
People Don't Know What They Don't KnowSM
Dangerously Close
This video portrays an experienced utility professional driving past a construction site where a crane crew is removing a sign. The utility worker notices that the crane boom appears dangerously close to an electric distribution line; however, he assumes the crane operator and crew know what they are doing, are aware of their surroundings, understand the hazards associated with the electric line and will take the proper precautions, so he continues on his way. The utility worker later learns of an incident resulting in the death of a crane worker at the site he had passed earlier.
Deadly Trap
This video portrays an electric utility employee inspecting a distribution circuit. The employee does not recognize an improperly configured anchor guy that could pose a potential hazard. The improperly installed guy wire is located on an electric distribution pole adjacent to a heavily traveled jogging path in a residential neighborhood. A jogger grabs the guy wire for support, the guy wire breaks free from its anchor rod and the jogger is electrocuted. The utility employee did not recognize the hazard - he didn't know what he didn't know.
Danger Within
Details two separate incidents that occurred when children made contact with the energized parts of a padmounted transformer. This Lessons Learned video focuses on the importance of padmounted transformer inspection programs, proper use of locking devices, clear and visible warning signs, and educational programs for the general public.
Deadly Playground
Depicts an incident that occurred when a child entered a substation, climbed onto electrical equipment and made contact with an energized transformer. This Lessons Learned video emphasizes the importance of substation security inspection programs, proper use and placement of warning signs, public safety awareness programs, and compliance with the National Electrical Safety Code and applicable state regulations.
For more information, or to request copies of any of these programs, please contact:
Lucille Jackowski, Secretary, Loss Control
Telephone: 201.508.2736
lucillejackowski@aegislimited.com
