Volume 4, Issue 05March 5, 2015

With our extreme winter conditions, it’s important to keep gas meters and fire hydrants clear of snow and ice, including areas above and near it.

Natural Gas Meters

You should use caution near outside natural gas meters. It is important that you never use snow removal equipment, including plows, blowers or shovels, near or on natural gas meters. It is also important that you not cover natural gas meters with plowed snow.

The best winter advice to safeguard your gas meter is to:

1) Gently remove snow or ice from the natural gas meter, any associated piping and the roofline above the meter.

2) Check often to ensure that melting snow or ice is not dripping on the meter from the roof or nearby trees. It can seal the vent if it refreezes. 1950

3) Carefully remove accumulated snow and ice from the rooftop above the meter. Always look up first to find any overhead power lines, and keep yourself and any tools you’re using at least 10 feet away. Contact with a power line can seriously injure or kill you.

4) Carefully shovel around a meter and move snow away from it. Avoid using a snow blower near a meter.

5) Always keep a clear path to your gas meter, to allow quick access in an emergency. A snow-covered meter, in addition to being potentially dangerous, can also lead to a loss of service and freezing of inside pipes as a result of lost heat.

A buildup of ice on the meter can plug the vent and adversely affect the operation of the gas pressure regulator, resulting in a potentially hazardous condition by preventing the flow of natural gas. If your gas meter is encased in ice, do not attempt to melt and/or chip the ice, as this could cause damage to the meter. Allow the ice to melt on its own.

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Volume 4, Issue 05March 5, 2015

Fire Hydrants

We like playing hide and seek as much as anyone else but playing with a fire hydrant during an emergency isn't fun for anyone. If you have a hydrant in your yard or office please ensure they are clear. 1983

A clearly visible, accessible fire hydrant could save your home – or even your life. If a fire hydrant is lost or buried in snow, firefighters can lose valuable time trying to locate it when they first arrive at a fire. You can perform a valuable public service and protect yourself, your family and your neighbors by taking the responsibility for shoveling out and clearing any fire hydrants near your home during and after a snowstorm.

Key 4: Get the Big Picture

Adequate eye lead time is only one of the seeing habits needed to acquire the vast amount of information that exists in the traffic scene. The big picture includes consistent visibility ahead, to the

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Volume 4, Issue 05March 5, 2015

rear, and to the sides of the vehicle. Smith System recommends that at least one of the mirrors should be checked every 5 to 8 seconds. Use your eyes to establish a 360 degree circle of constant awareness.

A significant part of creating better visibility is the avoidance of vision barriers. Any other vehicle on the road can serve as a vision barrier. When it is necessary to drive behind another vehicle, the only way to keep it from obstructing your vision is to maintain the proper following distance. 4135

Another key element to creating better visibility is maintaining a proper following distance. Smith System recommends that you maintain at least a 4 second following distance.

Reduced visibility and tire traction in poor weather, as well as heavier loads, require you to increase your following distance even more.

Give yourself more space and time to react to hazards before they become unavoidable.

Did you see your company ID number to win a Safety T-shirt? (If so, contact your local safety consultant)

When you are following this close to another vehicle, who is really driving your car? Every time they have to brake so do you.

Maintaining a greater following distance will give you a better overall picture of what is ahead of you.

Volume 4, Issue 05March 5, 2015

Gas Specialist – Clarksville – 02/02/2015

The Vectren driver was driving down a one way street with two parked vans, attempted to pass between them, swerved to avoid hitting a pedestrian and hit one of the parked vans.

Gas Specialist Apprentice – Clarksville – 02/12/2015

The Vectren driver rear-ended the driver in front of him while attempting to come to a stop.

Recent MVI’s

Moving Forward67%

Turning33%

Vectren PMVI's

Backing0%

Recent MVI’sRecent MVI’sRecent MVI’s

Safety Statistics as of March 02, 2015

Vectren DART’SEnergy Delivery (Incl. Field Ops) 5

Power Supply 0Utility Holdings Support 0Corporate Office 0Total 5

Incidents Currently Under Investigation 0

OSHA Recordables 9Lost Time Cases 4

Vectren Preventable Motor Vehicle Incidents (MVI’S)

Previously known as MVA’sEnergy Delivery (Incl. Field Ops) 3

Power Supply 0All Other Locations 0Total 3

MVI’S Currently Under Investigation 0