Some days you get the bear and some days the bear gets you. This popular expression describes the physical toll a typical gas utility worker endures every day by working outside in the elements.  Routine tasks such as shoveling, bar holing, or lifting heavy equipment dramatically puts the body at risk for injuries. According to a Pipeline and Gas Journal article, many injuries reported are not catastrophic one-time occurrences but instead may occur, with repetition and overexertion, over several years.¹ A GRI report states that strain or sprain injuries accounted for 43.6% of all reported injuries for local distribution companies. Gas worker injury statistics indicate that each time an individual files a lost-time injury claim; it costs the utility between $20,000 and $30,000.² Additionally, these types of injuries often occur to the most common group of field personnel. The average age of an injured worker is 38, and the 31 to 35 age group experienced more injuries than any other group surveyed. The cost to recruit and train replacements can be significant, and both work quality and productivity suffer. ^1,2

 According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than one million workers suffer back injuries each year.³ Preventing back injuries will always be a challenge. However, in a recent study it was determined that up to one-third of back injuries could be prevented through better job design (ergonomics). ⁴ Equipment design can have a significant impact on decreasing everyday pain many field workers experience, as well as the long-term injuries that curtail productivity and pull experienced workers out of the field. ⁴ 

Excavation is often the largest cost for most projects and losing workers due to a work related injury is an even larger cost. The TurboSpade offered by PLCS is an ergonomic pneumatic tool that may help decrease work related strains or back injuries when performing the daily repetitive task of digging in keyhole or traditional excavations. The ultra-lightweight tool weighs about 13 lbs for the most common model, which is at least 43% lighter than most tools in its class. The robust TurboSpade, constructed with a special plastic frost-proof body, uses a low consumption of air to produce a high percussion of power with less vibration. The tool is armed with a variety of quick change bits to loosen difficult earth, break concrete, rock, asphalt or frozen ground. The TurboSpade may be one tool to add to the digging arsenal to increase excavation production and to decrease injury claims, keeping workers healthy and injury free.  

>Click to learn more about the TurboSpade and other ergonomic tooling such as Seize-Free Drill Bits, the Air-Spade, and the Poly-Tap.

¹ Campbell, Bruce, "Researching ergonomics for the natural gas industry: the natural gas industry is working with Gas Technology Institute to develop tools and techniques to relieve the pain and cost of common utility tasks", Pipeline & Gas Journal Thursday, April 1 2004, pgs 25-26

² Kapp, E. Andrew, Kramer, Joseph M., Tikalsky, Susan M., "Injury and Illness Trends in the Natural Gas Industry", Topical Report, GRI-99/0237, pg. 3

³ U.S. Department of Labor,  Fact Sheet No. OSHA 89-09

⁴ Seeley, Patricia A., Marklin, Richard W., "Business Case for Implementing Two Ergonomic Interventions at an Electric Power Utility", Applied Ergonomics, 34 (2003) pg. 434.

PLCS Gas-Vac Service Water Remover Shown

Winter is here again. The cold temperatures coupled with adverse weather not only make life difficult for the gas utility worker, but also for customers who rely on uninterrupted gas supply to heat their homes, schools, hospitals, and businesses. The rain, snow, ice and occasional water main break, can all contribute to the ingress of water into low pressure gas mains and service lines causing disruptions to supply.

Regardless of weather conditions, water in the main or service must be quickly evacuated to reinstate the supply.  However, it can also be a laborious task, especially in adverse weather conditions. Typical methods for removing the water from a service are blowing it back into the main using nitrogen or manually swabbing the pipe to try to mop up the water. Both of these methods run the risk of being temporary or moving the problem to further along the main. Hand pumping may be an option but can be very tedious work. Using a "suck truck" may be overkill for some jobs.

For common blockages, PLCS offers two portable Gas-Free* Gas-Vac Systems; one for Services and one for Mains water removal.  Both are complete with deflagration assemblies that quickly connect onto service risers or main drips. The systems utilize a lightweight hand held Venturi gun to suck out the trapped water in minutes powered by an on-site compressor or nitrogen bottle. The water is conveniently discharged into a vented storage container making for safe environmental disposal. A clear pipe section located near the Venturi gun connection allows the operator to see when all the water has been removed.  The Gas-Vac Service and Mains Water Removal Systems are a safe and efficient way to get the customer back online no matter what the weather.

>Click to learn more about PLCS water removal products and watch the Gas-Vac Service Water Removal System Video.

*In a controlled gas environment