WESTFIELD – Municipal employees who work around trees in proximity to electrical wires and conductors are frequently exposed to potentially serious injury risk from direct contact, downed lines, and energized objects. To ensure the safety and health of workers, Westfield recently sent a representative to participate in an Introduction to Electrical Hazards and Trees training seminar, held October 18 at the Hogan Campus Center at College of the Holy Cross in Worcester.
Representatives from a total of 11 municipalities attended the interactive training session, which was conducted for 24 workers. The Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association (MIIA), property and casualty insurance provider for all of the participating communities, presented the training free of charge.
“Workplace safety has been a top priority of mine since I entered office four years ago,” said Westfield Mayor Daniel M. Knapik. “My career prior to public service includes over 20 years as an Occupational Health and Safety officer, and I am very pleased the MIIA has made these training programs available to our employees. While the health and safety of our workforce is its own reward, these safety and hazard awareness programs allow the City to save taxpayers money in the long-term.”
Urban Forestry Solutions of Pelham conducted the training program, which was designed for public works superintendents, managers and foremen, as well as other municipal personnel with responsibility for developing and implementing electrical hazard awareness programs at the departmental level. During the day-long program, participants learned about important regulatory issues; identification and avoidance of electrical hazards; recognition of key electrical hardware; safe aerial working practices; and emergency response protocols.
Upon completion of this and other MIIA risk- and loss-prevention programs, each participating municipality is eligible to receive insurance premium credits through the MIIA Rewards Programs, reducing their property and casualty insurance costs.
