Beginnings

(1 of 6 parts)

The fledgling electric utility industry began to expand rapidly during the war years of the 1940's. Many new utility companies were formed and existing companies were required to enlarge their facilities to meet the growing demand for electricity. Coupled with this growth, however, was an accelerating accident rate among the electric utility workers. Electric contact injuries and fatalities became commonplace.

In an effort to reverse the growing accident trend, a group of dedicated safety people from several southwestern Louisiana and southeastern Texas utility companies met in Beaumont, Texas on August 24, 1950 to discuss the accident problems and to formulate some action plans to reduce the accident causes. At their initial meeting, the safety group determined to form an organization to be known as the Southwest Electric Safety Exchange (the "Exchange"). The Exchange would meet semi-annually for the purpose of reviewing safety matters of common concern to the electric utility industry.

At its inception, the primary goal of the Exchange was to develop guidelines, work procedures and safety rules to recommend to their respective companies that would help eliminate the tragic electric shock and burn accidents that were causing so much human suffering and were so devastating to employee morale. Realizing however, that other types of accidents occurring within their companies were also demoralizing to the workers, the charter members of the Exchange agreed to review all on-the-job accidents their respective companies were experiencing. Measures would then be recommended by the Exchange members for avoiding similar recurrences.