Month: January 2017

Eversource Energy's New Approach to Change Management in Fleet
Written by Sean M. Lyden, Utility Fleet Professional

About a year ago, the fleet team at Eversource Energy (www.eversource.com) launched an initiative to standardize vehicle and equipment specifications across their three-state service area that includes Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Hampshire. Their objective: Cut fleet costs by limiting vehicle configurations to specific job descriptions. This would enable the fleet to strengthen its buying power (by purchasing a higher volume of same-spec units); streamline parts inventories across all their locations (by operating more equipment from fewer OEMs); and benefit from shorter order-to-delivery cycles (by ordering from fewer vendors).

“If you're a lineworker, the function of a material-handling truck is going to be the same whether you’re in New Hampshire, Connecticut or Massachusetts,” said Steve Driscoll, vice president of operation services for Eversource, which is New England's largest electric and gas utility, with about 6,500 fleet assets, including trailers. “In the past, we allowed for differences and customization in equipment, based on an operator’s personal preferences. We recognized the need for going to a standard vehicle across the board to be more efficient and reduce costs.”

But the Eversource team also recognized that many of their end users might not like the change. After all, operators had become accustomed to having their vehicles a certain way for years. And they would likely feel resentment toward fleet, especially if no one clearly explained the why behind the changes.

Effective Change Management

So, to help ease the transition, Eversource decided to take a new approach to introducing new vehicle and equipment models to operators. Beginning earlier this year, the Eversource fleet team began conducting comprehensive in-service events, each lasting about two to three hours, with classroom instruction and hands-on demonstrations.

The events are led by each of the key vendor partners involved with the build-out of the truck, including the chassis manufacturer, body manufacturer and equipment upfitters. The utility’s insurance agency, Liberty Mutual, also sends an expert, who typically opens the event by teaching safe driving and equipment operation practices during the classroom portion of the agenda.

“We recognized that this change toward fleet standardization was significant, and we would need to address the change directly with those who would be affected by it,” Driscoll said. “We couldn’t simply have new trucks dropped off – as in, ‘Here’s your new truck’ – without explaining the changes. So, it's helpful to have all the manufacturers there because they bring a lot of credibility in helping explain some of the benefits that come with the new specs.”

In the past, if an aerial platform truck was being delivered, only the aerial device manufacturer would conduct a brief in-servicing overview for the operators. “There was no involvement of the chassis manufacturer, no involvement of any of the other upfitters involved with the truck. They would come in, go over the owner’s manual and briefly demonstrate the platform operation,” Driscoll said. And in some cases, depending on the vehicle, “it would just be in-serviced by the mechanics in the garage, with a ‘come by and pick up your new vehicle’ approach.”

But now, Eversource puts on a full-scale in-service event whenever they introduce a new vehicle. “You're taking the time to explain the whys behind the way things are, and I think this has been very helpful with our people accepting the changes,” Driscoll said.

A ‘360-Degree’ In-Service Event

By the end of 2016, Eversource will have conducted over 30 of these comprehensive in-service events – about two to three per month – with anywhere from five to 30 people in attendance, depending on the location and the vehicle being introduced.

What’s on the agenda?

Driscoll said the event starts right after the attendees’ departmental morning meeting. “We try to get the event started early in the morning so the crews can get out to the field.”

The first part consists of a 30- to 40-minute conference room session, with a welcome and introduction by Eversource leadership, a presentation by Liberty Mutual on safe driving techniques and an overview by the vehicle manufacturer. “If it’s Altec, for example, they’ll go over some of the highlights and what’s new in the equipment from previous years,” Driscoll said.

“I’ll do a ‘walk-around’ on PowerPoint,” said Adam Engel, senior account manager at Altec Industries (www.altec.com), who has participated in several in-servicing events with Eversource this year. “And whatever the option we’re going over – whether it’s a ladder rack, a cross-arm holder, a chainsaw box – the goal is to make sure [attendees] understand that there's a function to each piece of equipment that was put on the vehicle.”

After the indoor session is over, the attendees take a quick break and head outside.

“We have a couple of the vehicles outside pre-staged to go through,” Driscoll said. “We'll do a walk-around on the vehicle with the attendees, with the chassis manufacturer explaining all the options inside the cab. Then we'll go through the body with the body manufacturers.”

If the truck is equipped with an aerial device, the manufacturer’s representative demonstrates the operation and the characteristics of the aerial itself. “We're going to start by highlighting everything inside the cab that pertains to the equipment, such as all of the switches and anything that we've added inside the chassis that the operators might not be familiar with,” Engel said.

Then there’s an opportunity for hands-on driving for the participants. “We'll have an area set up with cones, where Liberty Mutual will take each driver through a course to practice backing, using the mirrors or backup camera, and so forth,” Driscoll said. “Depending on the type of vehicle, we take people over the road so they can get the feel of towing a machine behind that specific vehicle.”

To minimize downtime for operators, the Eversource fleet team and vendor partners bring the in-service event to the area where the operators will be using the new vehicles. “We want to have an efficient session and be cognizant of their time – to get people back out doing what they need to do in the field as soon as possible,” Driscoll said.

What makes an Eversource in-servicing event different than typical new vehicle deliveries?

"Eversource’s in-depth and interactive in-service is unique in the industry,” Engel said. “With [an Eversource event], it's a comprehensive, 360-degree model. You've got somebody who has ownership on each piece of this vehicle, who has the expertise to answer questions specific to their part of the truck. Altec is proud to be a part of Eversource's in-service events, and we recognize the importance they bring with enhancing safety and streamlining the delivery process.”

Moving Forward

Driscoll said the company expects to continue the pace of two to three in-service events per month for the foreseeable future, indicating that the events have been helping smooth the transition to the new standardized specs.

“If you don’t take time to explain things when in-servicing a vehicle, you run the risk that there will be friction with drivers because of all the changes, and that can taint the perception of the fleet,” Driscoll said. “As the asset owner, we’re very sensitive to that. We want drivers to know that when we invest in fleet, we do it in a thoughtful way and understand how they’ll be using these trucks. These in-service events help us communicate that message directly.”

Read more articles from Utility Fleet Professional.

Altec's AC40-152S and AC45-127S just got better. These units are now available on the newest member to the Prinoth Panther Series line-up, the T22. This Tier 4 Final, 46,000 pound payload carrier was an easy choice for the partnership. Altec and Prinoth worked closely together to ensure both systems, the carrier and the unit, would have best-in-class safety, reliability and off-road performance. Mud, snow and swamps can't slow the new AC40-152S-TC and AC45-127S-TC units down!

All of the great features of the dual-rated AC40 are only enhanced when mounted on the track carrier. Now, operators will be able to access hard-to-reach areas and employ the unit in the aerial mode of operation with 222 feet of working height and 1,200 pounds of platform capacity. The quick-attach platform can be used on either the main boom, the 49 foot telescopic jib or the 6 foot composite reach extension. When configured as a crane, the unit boasts 152 feet of main boom, all controlled via the dual-entry, 20 degree tilt cab or the radio remote controls with LMAP display. The unit was designed to optimize deck-space and allow easy access to the cab from anywhere in rotation.

The workhorse AC45 is also available on the Prinoth Panther T22. This machine comes standard as an ASME B30.5 compliant crane, but can be optioned with the ANSI A92.2 Aerial Compliance Package to deliver dual-rated unit benefits like safety, efficiency and operator convenience. When optioned as a dual-rated unit, the AC45 can be configured with either a fixed or rotating two-man platform. Options for the carrier include front and rear recovery winches, night-work job site illumination packages, custom storage boxes, bins and much more. The carrier features a passive-regeneration capability to ensure downtime is minimized and productivity is maximized. Additionally, the carrier features angle warning alarms to ensure a safe job site.

Wherever your work requires you to go, Altec will be there with you every step of the way.

To learn more about the tracked AC40 and AC45, call 800-958-2555 or contact an Altec representative online.

Creating a company culture of safety is extremely important in keeping aerial equipment operators safe. Safe workplaces blend good training, well thought-out work procedures and robust communication between employees and safety leaders.

Hazards are always present on a job site, so it’s up to the company to ensure their operators have the right tools and training to address these hazards.

These five questions are an excellent start in analyzing if you’re doing everything you can to protect your number one asset and priority; your people.

1. Are my operators trained and qualified to use this piece of equipment?

According to ANSI A92.2, operators need two types of training before using aerial equipment—General Training and Familiarization. General Training covers general safety rules and operational safety topics, while Familiarization targets training on specific aerial devices.

Joe Coleman of Altec Sentry, which meets both General Training and Familiarization requirements and also includes personalized hands-on instruction, teaches classes specific to aerial equipment used for the lights and signs industry. “Aerial devices can differ widely, depending on manufacturer and model,” he says. “Operators need specific unit training before they operate any unfamiliar device.”

YESCO, a nationally known custom electric sign and lighting company, has implemented an excellent program to ensure operators that are servicing and installing signs are well trained to carry out safe work practices on an aerial device. Analyzing rental companies, online forums and Altec Sentry, they modeled their training program after the top programs in the country. They identified similarities and then tailored instructions specific to the sign industry and the types of vehicles they use.

YESCO’s training program covers similarities between all of the aerials they use, OSHA regulations, safe operating distances, work environments, etc. It also includes hands-on training where operators demonstrate and practice on the unit.

The training program also covers the generalities of all aerial equipment and then covers the specifics of different models. For example, YESCO would explain that ladder trucks and articulating aerials do not necessarily involve outriggers, so the criteria for setup would differ from a truck-mounted aerial device in that tire pressure would be specific.

For qualification, Michael McInerney, Fleet Manager at YESCO in Las Vegas, explained, “If an operator is well versed on a ladder truck, for example, but was then switched to an articulating aerial device, we’d set him aside and say, ‘Okay, you are familiar with the written training that we talked about and the generalization of aerials, but now we want to look at this model number or specific truck and have a discussion about it and go through our checklist.”

In addition, the YESCO crews hold weekly “Toolbox Meetings” to cover any questions, concerns or issues involved with the aerial equipment.

2. Are my operators carrying out the safest work practices?

Safe work practices take place after training when operators are out on the job.

Before the operator begins work, they must go through several checks and inspections to ensure safe operation:

• Pre-start machine inspection to ensure the unit is safe to use before the operator drives to the job site;
• Traveling to ensure operators are safe while venturing out to the job site and arriving at it;
• Job site inspection to ensure operators are familiar with the work that will be performed and the environment in which it will be performed;
• Pre-operational inspection to ensure the functions and controls of the equipment are working properly; and
• Operation to ensure operators are using the truck in the safest way to perform the work.

In addition, operators must ensure they are using proper personal protective equipment and fall protection equipment per ANSI, OSHA and their employer. Safe work practices should also emphasize minimum clearances from energized apparatus and lifting loads that do not exceed the unit’s load capacity.

YESCO does a great job ensuring their operators are carrying out safe work practices by revisiting training quarterly.

With regards to inspecting the unit, YESCO’s in-house maintenance and service group checks equipment on scheduled intervals. If the service team sees something wrong with the unit, they address it and consult the operator to see if he or she is aware of any issues with the unit. This keeps the trucks in a good state of repair. It works as a great check and balance of operators that are carrying out the proper pre-operational inspections to ensure the unit is safe for operation.

3. How am I helping to prevent on-the-job accidents?

Proper training and safe work practices help operators address hazards that may arise during each job.

“Fall hazards, equipment stability concerns, and electrical hazards are very common issues on the job site,” says Phil Doud of Altec Sentry. “It is crucial that operators use the correct fall protection equipment, stay outside minimum approach distances to energized conductors, and take time to properly set up the unit before every job.”

Preventing accidents requires constant vigilance and communication between operators and supervisors. YESCO also holds a regular “Supervisor Meeting” to review any mishaps, changing regulations or industry accident reports.

“We have built healthy, trusting relationships with our crews so operators will feel comfortable reporting accidents,” says McInerney. “We want all YESCO associates to feel confident to speak up if there is a safety issue.”

4. Are my operators using the right truck for the job?

There are several factors that go into choosing the right equipment. Operating height, reach and material handling load capacity are just a couple of the more important considerations.

For example, choosing a slightly larger unit with greater load capacity can give an extra margin of safety compared to using a smaller unit at its maximum capacity.

Buyers should also evaluate different manufacturers to decide which company offers the highest quality aerial device with the specific features that make the job easier and safer for their operators.

Simple features such as direct-read load capacity charts are a major benefit to operators. More advanced options for aerials might include outrigger short jacking with rotational interlocks, an Altec feature, which allows users to operate the unit in a pre-determined zone with an operator aid to protect against rotating into a less stable zone.

Mark Kruger, Lights and Signs Sales Manager at Altec, detailed some other features available on Altec’s aerial equipment. “We designed a single handle controller as an option on some of our aerials, says Kruger. “This feature gives operators the ability to handle materials with a free hand, enhancing the safety of the work practice while also making jobs easier to perform.”

5. Is my maintenance program keeping my operators safe?

If the company already has equipment in their fleet, it should be regularly serviced to ensure it is safe for operation.

If the company has developed a solid relationship with the crews, the service group will perform the required periodic servicing on the equipment. The operators will report deficiencies and request additional service work as needs arise.

“Our operators take pride in their work and jobs and want their equipment to be serviced immediately, if needed,” says McInerney. “It is not about the money; it is about making sure we do not let anything fall through the cracks and then have something catastrophic or dangerous happen.”

This not only keeps YESCO’s operators safe but also enables them to fix small problems up front before they become larger issues months down the road.

Creating a company culture of safety is extremely important in keeping operators safe. Do I have a top training program? Have I developed relationships with employees where open communication helps keep my associates, equipment and company safe? Is the equipment well maintained and regularly serviced? If answered yes, you are well on your way to ensuring safety is a top priority within your company.

Joe Coleman says, “Yes, Altec is a manufacturer. But if you really think about it, in essence, Altec produces safety products. Everything we do is part of a system to put people in the air safer or get the work done safer than it was the day before.” Whether you’re a manufacturer of aerial equipment or the end user of aerial equipment, your company’s culture should be built around safety.

Learn more about Altec's Safety and Training and Lights and Signs Equipment.

 

“Imagine being able to sit in your lawn chair safely away from your knuckle boom truck as you use your radio remote to completely dismantle a tree and feed its remains into a chipper and onto the truck’s log body, never touching a piece of the tree. Would that be a game-changer for this industry? Altec and the arborist who helped develop this product are betting on it.” — Rick Howland, TCI Magazine

Altec is proud to announce our new remote controlled tree removal device is featured in Tree Care Industry’s January magazine! TCI’s Rick Howland wrote the feature article for the issue which details the product’s development, current design and testimonials from tree industry experts.

Unveiled at the TCI Expo in Baltimore last November, Altec’s fully hydraulic remote controlled tree removal device is the first of its kind. A complete, Altec engineered product, the unit allows operators to remove limbs and trees while staying away from potentially hazardous job sites, increasing safety, productivity and efficiency on the job site.

Read the full TCI article:
Is Altec’s New Boom-Mounted Grapple Saw an Industry Changer?

Learn more about Altec’s new remote controlled tree removal device (EC175-5S-FG).