Lessons learned from the development of a global electrical safety program

This paper takes the recent example of a European company´s efforts to develop a global electrical safety program tailored to the wind industry. In order to get top management buy-in, three components are demonstrated to be essential. First, the complexity of a comprehensive global electrical safety program will create great confusion unless there is a clear focus on the two most basic safe work practices: lockout before work and test before touch. This is especially important since countries outside of North America commonly lack any formal lockout/tagout program. Second, the complexity of the program must be managed with a layered approach in order to effectively meet the needs of a global organization. Third, an awareness campaign that highlights real electrical injuries within the company is required to garner management support, as most managers are simply not privy to injury reports and associated costs. Most important is the role of effective storytelling in addressing fundamental beliefs, as a prerequisite for changing the company´s electrical safety culture.