At YVEA Safety Is Important To Us

Stay Back and Stay Safe

Working with electricity can be a dangerous job, especially for lineworkers. In fact, USA Today lists power line repairers and installers among those having the most dangerous jobs in the United States That’s why for us at Yampa Valley Electric Association, safety is the number one priority. This is not empty talk. Over time, we created a culture of putting our crews’ safety and that of the community above all else.

Our mission is to provide safe, reliable and affordable energy to you, our consumer-members. Yes, we strive to deliver affordable and reliable electricity to you, but getting our employees home safely to their loved ones at the end of the day is equally important. This requires ongoing focus, dedication, vigilance — and your help.

Distractions can be deadly

While we appreciate your kindness and interest in the work of our crews, we ask that you stay back and let them focus on their task at hand. Even routine work has the potential to be dangerous, and it takes their full attention and that of their colleagues, who are also responsible for the team’s safety.

Distractions can have deadly consequences. If a lineworker is on or near your property during a power outage, for vegetation management or for routine maintenance, please allow them ample room to work. These small accommodations help protect our crews — and you.

If you have a dog, try to keep it indoors while lineworkers are on or near your property. While most dogs are friendly, some are defensive of their territory and can’t distinguish between a burglar and a utility worker. Our crews work best without a pet “supervising” the job.

We recognize that for your family’s safety, you want to make sure only authorized workers are on or near your property. You will recognize YVEA employees by their hi-visibility shirt, emblazoned with the YVEA logo.  and the service trucks with our name and logo on them. You may also recognize our lineworkers because they live right here in our local community.

Slow down and move over

In addition to giving lineworkers some space while they are near your property, we also ask that you follow state law and move over and slow down when approaching a utility vehicle on the side of the road. This is an extra barrier of safety to help those who help all of us.  There may be times where traffic is limited to one lane or the road is closed completely.  Please help us out by finding an alternate route or waiting for us to complete our work.  A little patience goes a long way for our employees who are safely trying to complete their task and get off the road to get you on your way.

 

YVEA Repairs Broken Pole RCR 129

Zone In On Safety

Roadside close-call incidents are on the rise, a work zone crash happens every few minutes in this country. Distracted drivers are a growing concern for utility workers.

Please follow state law and move over and slow down when approaching a utility vehicle on the side of the road. This is an extra barrier of safety to help those who help all of us.

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CDOT Work Zone Safety

Normal speed limits may be reduced, traffic lanes may be changed, and people may be working on or near the road.

Speeding is one of the major causes of work zone crashes.

Keep a safe distance between your car and the car ahead of you. The most common crash in a highway work zone is a rear-end collision, so leave two car lengths between you and the car in front of you.

Keep a safe distance between your vehicle, and the construction workers and their equipment.

The warning signs are there to help you and other drivers move safely through the work zone. Observe the posted signs until you see the one that says you've left the work zone.

Flaggers and law enforcement  know what's best for moving traffic safely in the work zone. A flagger has the same authority as a regulatory sign; you can be cited for disobeying his or her directions. In Colorado, the fines are doubled for most infractions in a work zone. 

Dedicate your full attention to the roadway, and avoid changing radio stations or using cellphones while driving in a work zone.

Help maintain traffic flow and posted speeds by merging as soon as possible. Don't drive right up to the lane closure and then try barge in.

Schedule enough time to drive safely, and check radio, television and websites for traffic information. Expect delays, and leave early so you can reach your destination on time.

Work zones aren't there to personally inconvenience you. Remember: The work zone crew members are working to improve the road and make your future drive better.