Safety is a paramount issue within the utility industry. Safety professionals work tirelessly to manage risk, avoid incidents and ensure safety through a variety of programs and initiatives geared toward employees and consumers. This summit is designed for gas and electric utility safety professionals, and spans across three unique, topical tracks: Safety Strategy + Policy, Electric Safety Work Methods, and Gas Safety Work Methods. Content is designed to promote safety culture through discussions related to the education and training that can influence utility operations, as well as address some of the challenges and successes associated with developing strategy.
- General Details
- Agenda
- Hotel + Travel
- Vendor Displays
- Program Development Teams
- Onsite Safety + Health Info
General Details
- Program Chair(s)
- Dean Battershill, ENMAX - Manager, Safety Operations & Rob Richardson, ATCO Gas - Gas Safety Work Methods & Phil Smithers, Arizona Public Service Company - Safety Strategy + Policy
- Program Location
- Grand Hyatt Seattle
- 721 Pine Street Seattle, WA 98101
- Who Should Attend
- Electric Safety Work Methods – Managers, trainers, supervisors, safety advocates and team leads responsible for safe work methods and practices among employees. Service company delegates are encouraged to attend.
- Gas Safety Work Methods – Operations managers at 1st or 2nd level supervision of employees at local distribution or gas pipeline companies, managers responsible for safe work practices among their employees or who implement training on natural gas operations work methods and safety advocates and team leads interested in learning how to best promote safety. Service company delegates are encouraged to attend.
- Safety Strategy + Policy – Senior management level safety professionals from both electric and natural gas who are responsible for developing and maintaining safety policy, culture, and standards. Participation is restricted to senior leaders of utility companies.
- Registration Options
Member: $699 USD
Regular: $1,199 USDRegistration prices increase by $100 after August 2, 2022. Registration includes meeting materials and networking receptions on Tuesday and Wednesday nights as well as catered breakfast, lunch, and refreshments at the meeting. Guest tickets are available for $100 and allow a personal guest (a spouse or partner who does not work in the energy industry) to accompany a registered attendee at the event. Guest registration includes all meals and receptions, and all program materials.
Please see the Vendor Display tab for vendor registration options.
- General Cancellation Policy
- Due to contractual obligations, cancellations received 15 business days prior to the program will receive a full refund. Cancellations received 6 to 14 business days prior to the event will receive a refund, less a $100 administrative fee. No shows and last minute cancellations, 5 business days prior to the event or less, will be responsible for the full registration fee. Substitutions from your organization for the same event are always welcome.
- Participation Policy
- Western Energy Institute programs and events are open to energy companies (including gas production and electric generation, gas and electric transmission and gas and electric distribution utilities). Select programs and events are open to energy industry product and service suppliers. Programs and events are closed to all media representatives and to the general public. Recording is not permitted for any portion of the event.
- For more information contact Jessica Grant, Program Manager at (971) 255-4970.
Agenda
Tuesday, August 30, 2022
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Tour: Seattle City Light's Denny Substation
Visit Seattle City Light's Denny Substation in downtown Seattle, located less than a mile from the hotel. This 1-hour tour will begin at 3:00 PM. Participants will meet at the Denny Substation, instructions will be sent prior.
Registration is required.
5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Hosted Reception
Wednesday, August 31, 2022
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM
Breakfast with Vendor Displays
8:30 AM - 9:00 AM
Welcome
Speaker(s): Chris Robinson, Power Superintendent, Tacoma Power
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Keynote Address: STOPCHECK™ for Enhanced Situational Awareness
Speaker(s): Jo-Ann Pawliw, Owner and Founder + Trainer and Coach, Heart of Performance
Despite our best intentions, procedures and training, mistakes still happen when our attention and awareness slips. It is essential to maintain a high level of situational awareness to stop accidents and near misses. Often there is so much 'going on' in our work environments, or we can become so absorbed in our own thoughts and emotions, that we fail to spot those things that could pose a serious threat to our health and safety. Situational awareness can be further reduced in times of high workload or when under pressure to get a job done on time. STOPCHECK™for enhanced Situational Awareness is an evidence-based program to help you pay attention to the right things at the right time, while boosting your health and wellness.
10:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Networking Break with Vendor Displays
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Breakout Sessions #1
Electric Safety Work Methods: Case Study: SRP’s Bolster Battery Pre-Incident Safety Training
A case study of SRP’s experience working with the first responders to create Site Training and an Emergency Response Plan for a 25 MW/100 MWh Tesla Battery Site. With first responders still mentally raw from the McMicken Battery Incident, training and coordination was a critical piece of the successful deployment of this battery. Hear from SRP the process, lessons learned, and the ongoing efforts to coordinate with first responders on energy storage safety.
Gas Safety Work Methods: Lone Worker Best Practices
Safety Strategy + Policy: Approaches to Safety Performance Measurement: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
This session will reflect on the traditional methods used to measure safety performance and explore the recent advances made with leading indicators and other means to measure safety performance, safety capacity & resilience and safety culture. It will also touch on the validity of existing safety metrics, their application and interpretation. We will examine the relationship between leading and lagging indicators and how these might coexist within a meaningful report on organizational performance.
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Lunch with Vendor Displays
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Breakout Sessions #2
Electric Safety Work Methods: Reducing the Length of Safe Work Procedures to Benefit Workers
Gas Safety Work Methods: Tools Committee – How do you pick?
Safety Strategy + Policy: SIF Prevention Strategies
Speakers: Phil Smithers, APS, Director of Safety, Environmental, Corrective Action Program and Human and Organizational Performance
Janet Holt-Killingbeck, Hydro One, Director of Learning and Analytics, Health, Safety & Environment
With strong reduction of injuries over the past decade by utilities, focus is shifting to the reduction of Serious Injuries and Fatalities (SIF). This session will explore this shift along with tools and methods for predicting and preventing the most significant events.
2:30 PM - 3:00 PM
Networking Break with Vendor Displays
3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Breakout Sessions #3
Electric Safety Work Methods: De-Escalation in the workplace
Wood Pole Inspection Tech
Gas Safety Work Methods: Driving Sustained Engagement in Safety
Join us as we hear from HR representatives from WEI member companies as they share their experience and learnings in implementing safety programs and learn their best practices in driving immediate and sustained engagement in safety.
Safety Strategy + Policy: Compliance + ESG Roundtable
Facilitator: Charlotte Dorrity, Safety, Health, and Wellness Director, Seattle City Light
4:30 PM - 6:00 PM
Hosted Reception with Vendor Displays
Thursday, September 1, 2022
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM
Breakfast with Vendor Displays
8:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Breakout Sessions #4
Electric Safety Work Methods: Safety and Work Methods Round Table
Please join us for a round table session for an open forum to share and learn. This year’s session will highlight several topics regarding safety and work methods in the powerline industry.
Lessons learned
Join us in this closing session and learn how utilities such as Salt River Project, ENMAX , Fortis Alberta and BC Hydro address safety issues like Digger rollovers, high load moves, trench cave-ins, crane misadventures and other safety issues within their utilities.
Gas Safety Work Methods: New, Young and Transferred Workers
Workers starting a new job at any age, as well as young workers under age 25, are three to five times more likely to be injured during their first few months at work. Successful businesses incorporate training and mentoring programs for new and young workers as an opportunity to instill a safety mindset. This session will outline risks that new, young and transferred workers experience and creative ways for employers to develop programs to reduce the risk associated with this so importation sector of our workforce.
Lessons Learned
Safety Strategy + Policy: Safety Culture, Climate + Metrics
Speaker: Rod Courtney, CHST, CUSP, WCLS; Health, Safety & Environmental Manager, Ampirical
10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Networking Break with Vendor Displays
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
General Session: Panel Discussion + Closing
Facilitator(s): John McMahon, Director, Safety & Operational Learning, FortisBC
Panelist(s): Phil Smithers, Director of Safety, Environmental, Corrective Action Program & Human and Organizational Performance, Arizona Public Service Company, Dean Battershill, Manager, Safety Operations, ENMAX Corporation, Rob Richardson, Supervisor, Workforce Development, ATCO Natural Gas
Hotel + Travel
- Grand Hyatt Seattle
- 721 Pine Street
- Seattle, Washington 98101
- Phone: 206-774-1234
Click here to make your reservation now.
- Cosmopolitan flair and Pacific tranquility come together at the luxurious Grand Hyatt Seattle, located in the heart of the city's thriving retail and theater district . Classic Pacific Rim styling, extravagant modern appointments and uncompromising personal service make this Four-Diamond downtown Seattle hotel the ultimate escape from the everyday. Bask in the height of decadence while our devoted staff caters to your every beck and call. Fall in love with the magnificent original artwork, gorgeous wood furniture and sumptuous onyx accents that adorn the guestrooms of our downtown Seattle Washington hotel. Experience the breathtaking beauty of the Pacific Northwest and the lavish opulence of the big city at this truly unique hotel in downtown Seattle.
- Reservation Instructions
Please contact the hotel directly at (206) 774-1234 to reserve your room. Identify yourself as being with Western Energy Institute (WEI) to receive a special rate of $255 USD/night. This rate is guaranteed until August 1, 2022 or until the WEI room block is full.
Vendor Displays
Registration Options
Member Conference Registration + Vendor Display: $999 USD
Regular Conference Registration + Vendor Display: $2,149 USD
Member Vendor Display Only: $799 USD
Regular Vendor Display Only: $1,649 USD
+ Vendor Assistant: $200 USD
+ Guest: $100 USD
Registration prices increase by $100 after August 2, 2022. Vendor Display only registration includes one Vendor Display representative, one skirted Vendor Display table for Wednesday Display Events, and Wednesday food events. Conference attendance is not included. Vendors that wish to attend conference sessions should purchase Conference Registration + Vendor Display which includes comprehensive conference materials and food events, and attendance in the Gas Safety Work Methods or Electric Safety Work Methods tracks. The Safety Strategy and Policy track is not open to service companies.
Vendor assistant passes are available for $200 once the main vendor registration is complete and includes access to join Wednesday Display Events only.
Guest passes are available for $100 and allow a personal guest (a spouse or partner who does not work in the energy industry) to accompany a registered attendee at the event.
Vendor Display Schedule
Tuesday, August 30, 2022
4:00 PM – 7:00 PM: Vendor set-up
Wednesday, August 31, 2022
7:30 AM – 8:30 AM: Breakfast with Vendor Displays
8:30 AM – 9:45 AM: Vendor set-up available
9:45 AM – 10:15 AM: Break with Vendor Displays
11:45 AM – 1:15 PM: Lunch with Vendor Displays
2:45 PM – 3:15 PM: Break with Vendor Displays
4:30 PM – 6:00 PM: Reception with Vendor Displays
Thursday, September 1, 2022
7:30 AM – 8:30 AM: Breakfast with Vendor Displays
10:30 AM – 11:00 AM: Break with Vendor Displays
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Tear Down
Shipping Information
Grand Hyatt Seattle will accept only prepaid packages. All packages must be labeled with the following information:
• Return Address
• Name of Group Affiliation
• Meeting Room Name and Dates of Event
• Group Contact (Event Planning Manager)
• Name of Person That Will Claim Package(s) and Date of Arrival
Deliveries will not be Accepted More than Five (5) Days Prior to the Event Date.
Shipping Address
Grand Hyatt Seattle
721 Pine Street
Seattle, WA 98101
Program Development Teams
ELECTRIC SAFETY WORK METHODS
Chair
Dean Battershill, Manager, Safety Operations, ENMAX Corporation
Members
David Coates , President/CEO, MoveSafe Inc.
Paul Kiss, Operations Superintendent, Snohomish County PUD
Bryan Sabari, Vice President, Safety & Training, Potelco Inc.
Wade Abbott, Safety Work Methods Manager, FortisAlberta Inc.
Kevin Davis, Senior Safety Specialist, Snohomish County PUD
Paul Hahto, Senior Safety Advisor, BC Hydro
Leonard Rondeau, Sr. Safety & Health Specialist, Salt River Project
Chris Dichard, Safety Director Asplundh Tree Experts West, Asplundh Construction, LLC
WEI Liaison
Traci Pepper, Program Manager, Western Energy Institute
GAS SAFETY WORK METHODS
Chair
Rob Richardson, Supervisor, Workforce Development, ATCO Natural Gas
Members
Jaret Fry, In-house Construction Manager, ATCO Natural Gas
Kevin Rindal, CEO and Co-Founder, Vimocity
Jeffrey Bailey, Safety Consultant, Puget Sound Energy
Andrea Martinez, Manager, Pipeline Safety Management Systems, New Mexico Gas Company
Melissa Karner, Sales Account Executive, Vimocity
Michael Parham, Specialist/Occupational H & S, Risk Management & Safety, Southwest Gas Corporation
WEI Liaison
Traci Pepper, Program Manager, Western Energy Institute
SAFETY STRATEGY + POLICY
Chair
Phil Smithers, Director, Safety & Health Services, Arizona Public Service Company
Members
Gina Orozco, Vice President, Gas Engineering and System Integrity, Southern California Gas Company
James Boyd, T&D Safety Manager, Tacoma Public Utilities
Nazir Fazli, Director of Health and Safety, Los Angeles Department of Water & Power
Nidal Dabghi, Director, Operation & Maintenance North/Distribution Services, SaskPower
Robert Peterson, Director, Safety and Technical Training, MDU Utilities Group
Sara McCoy, Director, Risk Management, Salt River Project
Charlotte Dorrity, Safety, Health, and Wellness Director, Seattle City Light
Kevin Davis, Senior Safety Specialist, Snohomish County PUD
Valerie Sherman, Safety and Environmental Compliance Manager, Tacoma Public Utilities Robert Beidler, Undersheriff – Retired, Snohomish County Sherriff’s Office
John McMahon, Director, Safety & Operational Learning, FortisBC
Manny Albert, Director, Safety & Environment, FortisAlberta Inc.
WEI Liaison
Jessica Grant, Program Manager, Western Energy Institute
Onsite Safety + Health Info
It is WEI’s policy that anyone attending a WEI-hosted program be vaccinated for COVID-19. This policy does allow for a negative COVID-19 test to be submitted in lieu of vaccination if the attendee is unable to receive the vaccine and if permitted by local host cities or venues. This policy applies to all WEI staff, as well as attendees, guests, speakers, and exhibitors.
Fully vaccinated is defined by the United States or Canadian governments. WEI accepts the following as proof of vaccination: (1) a CDC or Provincial-issued vaccination card, (2) a photo of a CDC or Provincial-issued vaccination card (front and back); (3) a document of vaccination from a licensed healthcare provider; or (4) a digital vaccine record issued by the State or Province in which the attendee resides.
Proof of a negative COVID-19 test means a printed document or image on a phone from a test provider, laboratory, or government agency-approved at-home test method that shows a negative result of a PCR or antigen COVID-19 test within 72 hours before first entry.
Attendees must show a picture or document with vaccine status or a negative test result upon arrival at the program. Attendees without the required proof will be denied entry. No refunds will be given if any attendee is denied entry due to vaccine and/or testing requirements.
Please refer to WEI’s Safety + Health Code of Conduct for other important considerations.