Tailgate Talks
How utility fleets are transforming risk culture one pre-job briefing at a time
By Seth Skydel
One of the most effective tools for improving utility safety is among the most overlooked— the job safety briefing. These routine conversations are so effective, the Construction Safety Research Alliance( CSRA) at the University of Colorado Boulder has identified their absence as one of three precursors of serious injuries and fatalities( SIFs) on jobsites.
While all utility field crews should conduct job safety briefings, however, why are some effective while others overlook crucial details? What tools and processes can utilities leverage to make these briefings more effective? How can field crews hold conver-
6 • 800-247-2000 • February 2026