Understanding the Complexity of Electrical hazards
In a perfect world, electrical hazards would be simple - one source, one solution. But utility professionals know the reality is far more complex. Multiple risks require multiple strategies, and understanding which safety measure applies in which situation can be the difference between a safe worksite and a tragic outcome.
What You'll Learn in the Field Classroom
At The Utility Expo 2025, Phil Doud’s session, Electrical Hazards and Equipment, will take a deep dive into this complexity. Attendees will gain practical guidance on how to evaluate hazards, apply the appropriate safety controls, and understand the shared responsibility between operators, manufacturers, and safety managers.
Safety is a Shared Responsibility
“There must be a hierarchy of controls in the way we mitigate or eliminate hazards,” says Doud. “Safety is a partnership, often involving four or five or more entities.”
As manager of the Altec Sentry Program for safety and training, Doud brings deep expertise to the session. He’ll guide attendees through the show floor, highlighting specific equipment safety measures. Participants will learn to identify components and understand their functions, perform diagnostics, and spot risks such as missing or damaged safety-related parts.
The class will also explore environmental factors that impact safe equipment setup and operation—as well as the correct response if energized contact occurs.
“We do everything we can to avoid energized contact, but you have to have a trained response if contact is made and that response varies depending on conditions and whether the operator is capable of responding.”
Hazards can present themselves overhead, underground, or within the equipment itself—making situational awareness and equipment familiarity critical.
Training Makes a Difference
A strong safety program starts with training.
“You are looking at equipment that is designed to be operated; there will almost always be an operator involved. You need to look at things from the operator’s perspective.”
“Operators can be partners in the company’s safety program or hazards to themselves and others. The difference is training and protocol.”
Protocols, Not Assumptions
Doud emphasizes the employer’s responsibility to provide proper training and enforce safety protocols, which are mandated by OSHA and other established safe work standards.
Even well-trained workers can develop blind spots, especially when switching to unfamiliar equipment.
“Someone gets moved to a different truck and assumes it operates the same as the truck they’d been on when it does not.”
Attendees will learn the importance of daily checks and tests; simple but vital habits that can prevent costly mistakes. Think of the Test button on a GFCI outlet as a simplified example of this daily practice.
PPE: Know the Limits
The session will also cover PPE, including gloves, sleeves, hot sticks -and their proper applications.
“Gloves, sleeves, hot sticks…they all have their place, but they all also have limitations. Knowing what to use as well as where and how to use it is essential”.
A Must-Attend for Safety-Minded Pros
Join Phil Doud for a guided walk-through of jobsite safety strategies, hazard response protocols, and equipment-specific risk awareness—all delivered by one of the top safety experts in the industry.
Tuesday, October 7 | 10:15 AM - 11:45 AM
Don’t miss this and 30 more sessions packed with practical training at The Utility Expo 2025, happening October 7–9 in Louisville, Kentucky. Discover new strategies and techniques while making lasting connections with your peers in the utility industry.
The Utility Expo’s comprehensive education program is the leading source for the utility industry to obtain cutting-edge information for today’s challenging economy and business model. In addition to jobsite safety technology, topics include aerial devices, vacuum excavating, horizontal directional drilling, equipment hydraulics, and more.
About the Speaker
Prior to joining Altec, Doud spent 22 years as a U.S. Air Force flight school instructor pilot. His background gives him a unique perspective on the discipline required to train equipment operators to prioritize safety in high-risk environments.
Get Hands-On with the Future of Safety
If electrical and jobsite safety are a priority for you or your crew, this is one session—and one event—you won’t want to miss. The Utility Expo 2025 is your chance to see and get hands-on with the latest equipment, technology, tools, and safety gear shaping the industry. You’ll learn directly from experts like Phil Doud, sharpen your safety strategies, and return to the jobsite better prepared than ever.
Want to dive deeper into jobsite safety? Industry-leading equipment brands will be on-site at The Utility Expo. Don’t miss the chance to connect, learn, and demo the latest tech firsthand.
See the full list of companies that will be exhibiting at The Utility Expo 2025: Exhibitor Directory.
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