December 15, 2023
Initiated in August 2004, the OSHA Electrical, Transmission, and Distribution (ET&D) Strategic Partnership celebrates a pivotal milestone of 20 years. One of two national partnerships between OSHA and employers, the ET&D Partnership assumes a significant role in how linemen practice safety day-to-day.
The Partnership is a collaboration of government, industry, union, non-union and trade association safety and health professionals – and, although competitors – united with a solid commitment to creating a safe and healthy work culture. The Partnership has grown from five to twelve contractors in electrical transmission and distribution construction in the past two decades.
Roles of the Partnership include performing data collection, developing Best Practices, safety & health training, and communication. Training includes the ET&D 10-hour training program and the 20-hour Supervisory Leadership Program.
Incident and injury rates have significantly decreased since the Partnership’s inception. Over the past five years, the Partnership achieved a 91% reduction in fatality rates, while the industry average rose about 14%. The Partnership continues to analyze data and trends to improve Best Practices, training, and other communications.
The Partnership also participates in an annual Electrical Safety Stand Down, where employees nationwide participate in safety education activities. For more information, visit https://www.osha.gov/stop-falls-stand-down.
Looking forward, the Partnership has begun using the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) safety classification and learning (SCL) model, which leverages the latest scientific knowledge and the best features of existing methods. To improve as a Partnership, we must utilize new technologies. Innovation allows us to practice and learn about the most important thing: keeping our contractors safe. Here’s to 20 years!
For more information on the Partnership, click here.
