Subject: POWER LINE stamp

The power line stamps arrived today and are in your possession. Here is the program.

When taking an order from the customer you must ask
“Are there any power lines on the job, in the setup area, pour area or cleanout area?” If the answer is to the affirmative then the worksheet, or whatever means you are using to log the information will need to be stamped with the power line stamp. When the job ticket for that job is printed it will also have a power line stamp across the face of the top copy so as to be impossible for the operator to miss the information. Forewarned is forearmed.

This system has proven to be a very effective means of identifying those dangerous jobs, and should make us just that much safer.

You, as dispatchers are the key to making this work. It is the old “If you don’t ask, you will not know” deal. If we are ever unfortunate enough to have a power line contact and are in court playing the dispatch tape for the jury; and then show the stamp on the ticket they will know that we are making a reasonable effort. If we don’t ask, that fact will be obvious to the jury as well. If the contractor lies to you on tape, and then something untoward happens, we are in a very defensible position.

This is a very important question to ask. “Are there any power lines in the set up, pour or clean up area?”

Thank you for your help.

Written By Bob Sanderson
Published by ConcretePumping.com

Our dispatchers currently run a popular dispatching program... whenever a new jobsite is created the customer is asked "are there any overhead powerlines or obstructiions"? If the answer is yes, a box is checked in the order which "highlights" the jobsite on the dispatch screen in orange. This warning is then permanently attached to that jobsite. An entry must be made in the order (ie" overhead powerlines, over head crane etc, etc..). These warnings are then printed on the work order and relayed to the operators in their nightly voice mails. That way they are aware of any potential problems. If a customer replies that there might be a powerline issue, a sales rep is sent out to check the job. I can't begin to tell you how many times I've done a job check and heard "I'm sorry to bring you out here for this". My reply is often "that's why they give us these shiny pick ups to drive around in". Also, whenever an operator arrives on the job,(even if it's not highlighted) dispatch asks "are there any overhead powerlines?" If powerlines are present but the operator can maintain 17" of clearance, they set out orange cones to remind them that the lines are there. We have had more than a few operators comment that they were glad they had put out their cones that morning to remind them that the lines were there.

It only takes a few seconds for our dispatchers to ask these simple questions which can potentially save lives... remember "Look Up And Live"

Thanks for the great sight Todd...

Big Tobacco

Hey Big Tobacco I am glad you brought that up. Pump Magic www.concretepumpingsoftware.com has a field for any job conditions that could be a problem and that info goes strait to the job ticket. Not only that but it then goes on every job ticket that goes out on that job incase the Forman forgets to tell us.