NEMA’s electroindustry May 2010 - 5

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› Make a Commitment to Electrical Safety
Over the last few years, we’ve faced many new challenges. The economy, new legislation, and new laws have presented all of us with tough decisions to make. As we work to develop solutions and grow our businesses, we must never forget the importance of safety. As industry leaders, we have a responsibility to foster an environment where safety—of employees, customers, and communities—is the top priority. May is National Electrical Safety Month and a great time for us to reassess our own commitment to electrical safety. As an industry, we have come a long way in developing lifesaving technology and devices that provide enhanced protection against electrical hazards, but hundreds of deaths, thousands of injuries, and more than $1 billion in property damage are still reported each year. Education and awareness of electrical hazards are the keys to eliminating these staggering statistics. The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) outreach campaign for National Electrical Safety Month 2010 focuses the national spotlight on four different aspects of electrical safety (see ESFI Celebrates National Electrical safety Month). As an industry, we should support this vital safety initiative by using the tools and resources provided by ESFI to promote electrical safety within our own companies, communities, and families. ESFI’s dedication to increasing electrical safety awareness continues throughout the year. Outreach campaigns address electrical hazards and at-risk demographics. Educational resources David Tallman, Vice President & General Manager, Eaton Corporation, Chairman of Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) break complex technical concepts into easy-to-follow safety steps and tips to be used by homeowners, educators, and workers. Recognizing that our increasingly technology-centric society requires a more dynamic approach to learning, campaigns incorporate innovative teaching technologies like virtual simulations and interactive webbased activities. The past year has been one of unprecedented success in expanding the reach of electrical safety resources. Make Safety a Tradition, a holiday safety awareness campaign, focused on education and awareness to protect families and homes from residential fires and electrical accidents. This campaign resulted in a tremendous national media response, including CBS’s The Early Morning Show, Fox & Friends, MSNBC, USA Today, and The Wall Street Journal. The dynamic Never Assume electrical safety series, which was developed to reinforce the key safety messages in NFPA 70E, has become the “go to” resource for improving the safety of professionals working in industrial environments. Created through collaboration with a panel of safety experts from across the electrical industry, it represents a significant step forward for ESFI and the industry in addressing electrical safety in commercial and industrial settings. Electrical technology is evolving quickly and ESFI is poised to address the resulting safety challenges. This dynamic organization depends on the support of industry and community stakeholders to provide funding for the development of new programs and resources. Supporters recognize that a focus on electrical safety demonstrates genuine concern for the safety and welfare of employees, customers, and community. I support ESFI and urge you and your company to join peers throughout our industry in making this important commitment to electrical safety. ei

ESFI Celebrates National Electrical Safety Month

May is National Electrical Safety Month, and ESFI has launched a public awareness campaign to educate key audiences about the steps that can be taken to prevent electrical fires, injuries, and fatalities in the home and the workplace. Eliminating electrical hazards begins with education and awareness. ESFI focuses on one key electrical safety issue during each week in May: • Renovating the Right Way • Staying Safe at Work • Educating Your Children • Remembering Electrical Safety in the Field To help promote electrical safety, ESFI has developed a campaign toolkit, which can be downloaded at www.electrical-safety.org. This user-friendly website is the “go to” resource to access all of ESFI’s safety materials. The Kids’ Corner and Virtual Home modules are dynamic, interactive tools that provide an engaging and fun way to learn about electrical safety. You can also sign up for ESFI’s electronic newsletter, Electrical Safety Extra. Brett Brenner, ESFI President | brett_brenner@esfi.org

NEMA electroindustry

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May 2010

NEMA’s electroindustry May 2010

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NEMA’s electroindustry May 2010