June is National Safety Month, and as a leading next-generation energy provider, Duquesne Light Company knows the potential hazards that working with and improperly using electricity can bring, as well as the special care and attention it requires.

As such, DLC puts safety first in multiple ways for 1,700 employees and more than 600,000 customers in the City of Pittsburgh and Allegheny and Beaver counties.

From providing extensive safety training for team members to offering a wealth of online safety tips and resources to customers, here are some of the ways that DLC prioritizes safety.

Safety is a Core Value at DLC

Electricity keeps daily life flowing, from lighting homes, businesses, and highways to powering televisions, computers, and cell chargers. However, this modern marvel is dangerous in many circumstances. That’s why safety is a core value at DLC.

“Our line of work is hazardous, and the safety of our employees and customers is part of our core values,” said Alex Burns, Director of Safety & Operations Services at DLC. “While our employees are given rigorous safety training, it is equally important for our customers to approach projects involving electricity or electrical equipment with a high level of precaution and a firm understanding of electrical safety procedures.”

Thanks to DLC’s enduring safety commitment, the company holds multiple safety awards, including the Energy Association of Pennsylvania’s Safety Achievement Award, Safety Sustainability Award, and Motor Vehicle Fleet Safety Improvement Award.

Employee and Contractor Safety Training

DLC crew members work in all kinds of conditions at real-world job sites to keep the lights on. To prepare for hazardous settings, employees complete rigorous exercises with the company’s Safety and Training team in a controlled facility that simulates various situations in the field. During these sessions, crew members learn to use essential equipment like forklifts, cranes, wire pullers, and underground equipment. The program’s top goals are zero on-the-job injuries and for all crew members to get home safely to their loved ones each night.

Duquesne Light Co. also shares training tips, case studies, and videos with contractors on its e-SMART Workers website. Topics include staying safe around power lines, who to call before digging, how to prevent common mistakes, and a quarterly “Tips of the Trade” email newsletter.

Helping Those Who Help Others Stay Safe

First responders constantly risk their own lives to save others in dangerous situations. DLC extends its safety awareness outreach to volunteer firefighters, police officers, and other emergency personnel via special Electrical Hazard Awareness Training sessions.

“DLC wants to improve emergency responders’ understanding about electricity and how to respond to emergencies where there is an electrical hazard,” said John Andzelik, workforce development manager at DLC.

The larger-than-light energy provider is proud to help these community heroes stay safe via this effort.

Sharing Customer Safety Tips   

To help keep customers safe, DLC shares important online tips for using electricity and being near power lines and electrical facilities.

Focus areas include indoor and outdoor electrical safety, line clearance, how to report and treat downed power lines, emergency generator safety, and lighting precautions. For example, helpful indoor electrical safety tips include:

• Replace or repair outlets if plugs fit loosely.
• Don’t use frayed or damaged electrical cords.
• Never place cords in a walking path or near children or pets.
• Keep all appliances away from water; if a plugged-in appliance falls into water, never reach in to pick it up – even if it’s off. First, turn the power off at the electrical panel. Then, unplug the appliance before taking it out of the water.
• If any appliance constantly blows a fuse or trips a circuit breaker, repair or replace the appliance.

Supporting Innovation that Improves Safety

As a forward-thinking energy leader, DLC supports innovative energy solutions that improve safety and reliability for employees and customers. In one prime example, Duquesne Light partnered with Exelon to launch the Monitoring Electrical Cable Challenge: The Future of Underground Inspection.

Hundreds of millions of miles of cable are buried underground around the world. Monitoring and inspecting lines as they age is critical to ensure proactive maintenance, maximize safety for employees, customers, and communities, and prevent failures that cause power interruptions.

The challenge “seeks novel solutions to monitor and detect precursors to failure in underground Medium Voltage Power Cables.” It specifically focuses on “monitoring the health of Paper-Insulated (PILC)- and Solid Dielectric (EPR)-based cables and applications when both types are used and spliced together.”

Winners of the $750,000 challenge receive prize monies and the opportunity for a potential contract “to demonstrate their solution across an extensive underground electrical grid.”

Always Here to Help

Knowledgeable DLC team members can help answer any questions for National Safety Month and beyond. To report downed lines, outages, flickering lights, and other emergencies, call 1-888-393-7000.