6 Best Practices for Managing Utility Work in High-Stakes Emergencies

By Oscar Collins

In times of crisis, utility contractors must swiftly approach the situation and help their communities. Natural disasters and other catastrophes could lead to thousands of people losing power, so efficiency is crucial.

So, how should professionals act during emergencies? Here are six best practices for managing utility work in these situations.

1. Prepare Ahead of Time

Before emergencies happen, utility contractors should prepare for them. Otherwise, their work could be much more complex when it’s time to act. This planning period should include outlining an emergency procedure so the execution goes smoothly.

For instance, you could conduct drills to train employees for these situations. While it’s hard to simulate the real thing, this preparation method establishes roles and aids adaptability.

Another critical part of emergency planning is preparing the vehicles. Utility contractors should regularly check their trucks to ensure they have enough equipment and are ready for the road.

Don’t overlook the tiny details because they could loom large during emergencies. For example, check the owner’s manual for the recommended tire pressure. Experts say appropriately inflated tires help fuel economy, so it’s a wise preparation tactic for utility professionals.

2. Prioritize Safety

Emergencies involve risky utility work for professionals and others in the surrounding area. Safety should be your primary concern, so protect your employees from disastrous situations.

Emergency utility work should include detailed safety briefings to educate contractors and subcontractors about the dangers. You could also conduct regular training sessions to ensure workers know how to use protective equipment and recognize hazards.

Don’t skip safety procedures when you’re at the worksite. While the emergency is pressing, you should still assess the hazards before, during and after.

Another way to protect your colleagues is to wield watches that track their health. These wearables monitor your heart rate, blood pressure and other metrics, thus making them essential for diagnosing issues. They also track location, which is crucial if the jobsite is extensive.

3. Deploy Advanced Technologies

Wearables are only one example of advanced technologies that utility contractors can employ during emergencies. Modern professionals should leverage artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) and other disciplines because they can work well alongside humans.

For example, remote sensors can acquire information and empower hazard assessment before arriving at the worksite. You can detect failures early with the Internet of Things (IoT).

Drones are another example of helpful advanced technology. This crewless aircraft can quickly assess the site and transmit visual data to help utility professionals. They can also fly over hard-to-access emergency sites that are unsafe for humans and vehicles.

While drones are handy for contractors, there are restrictions on where you can fly them. For instance, federal laws say you can’t use drones near airports or stadiums because of their interference.

4. Conduct Assessments

Your crew’s job isn’t complete when the emergency work is over. Utility professionals should conduct post-project assessments to see what went right and wrong. This review should include areas for improvement and what the contractors should do next time.

Growth areas could consist of revising their emergency plans or finding new safety strategies. As you encounter more emergencies, you should standardize the process based on successes.

Your assessment should also include what you can do about external factors. Utility contractors should identify trends in past storm behavior to understand the overall impact. For example, future emergency preparation could include analyzing historical weather data.

With this information, your crew could better understand the potential damage to local infrastructure and plan better services. This preparation is crucial when restoring power following a disaster. 

5. Wisely Manage Resources

Utility professionals only have so many tools and resources to handle emergencies. Therefore, contractors must manage resources wisely and strategically allocate them. If not, utility management could become more complex in chaotic situations.

Contractors should use technology when emergencies arise to make resource management more manageable. For instance, GIS can tell you the areas that are most impacted and where you should focus.

An inventory management system is another vital tool for utility professionals. This software tracks your materials, vehicles and other equipment to show their availability during emergencies.

These systems also let you prepare for emergency utility work by restocking supplies and ensuring their presence when needed. Utility contractors benefit from strategically placing equipment in easy-to-access areas before impending disasters.

6. Heighten Communication

Meteorologists can detect tornado-friendly conditions, but predicting twister formation is more complicated. Experts say tornadoes only last a few minutes and don’t take long to form.

Therefore, utility contractors must be ready to act when this severe weather event occurs. While employee and vehicle preparation goes a long way, communication is among the most significant factors in executing the job and ensuring safety.

How can utility contractors emphasize communication during emergencies? Modern technology lets you diversify your channels and help your fellow professionals. For instance, you could use radios, smartphones, communication apps and other platforms to let you talk in real time.

Contractors should also prioritize coordination with local authorities to ensure efficiency in emergencies. Establish this line of communication beforehand to have a solid relationship.

Managing Utilities During Emergencies

When disaster strikes, utility companies are critical to restoring power and saving lives. Emergencies bring chaos, so contractors and their colleagues must readily employ all the lessons they’ve learned in past events.

Practicing communication and advanced technologies goes a long way in emergency utility management, so industry professionals should prepare as much as possible before disasters occur.

Oscar Collins is the editor-in-chief at Modded. He’s written for sites like Contractor and StartupNation. Follow him on Twitter at @TModded for frequent updates on his work.