The Safety Moment by Utility Safety Partners

Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1749587/open_sms] What would you do if a colleague invited you to work in Colombia—armed guards, jungle airlifts, and all?   In this episode of the Safety Moment Podcast, host Mike Sullivan sits down with longtime friend and fellow pipeline veteran Brad Burlock to recount their high-stakes, eye-opening journey working abroad on the Enbridge-operated Ocensa pipeline in Colombia.   From sudden evacuations and military escorts to learning humility in a foreign work culture, this conversation sheds light on what it's truly like for Canadians working overseas—especially in high-risk industries.   Listen For  7:31 From Saskatchewan to Colombia  11:11“Would You Go to Colombia?”  26:40 Explosion Alert Mid-Flight  33:37 Snakebite Kit and Jungle Soldiers  56:56 The Learjet Card: Just in Case You’re Kidnapped    Follow The Safety Moment via Utility Safety Partners X [https://twitter.com/Utility_Safety] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/utilitysafetypartners/] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/3588841/admin/feed/posts/] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=utility%20safety%20partners]  Got an episode idea? info@utilitysafety.ca [info@utilitysafety.ca]

Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1749587/open_sms] Ever wonder what it's like to boldly go beneath the waves in your own personal submarine?  Mike Sullivan reconnects with childhood friend and submersible pioneer Charles “Chuck” Kohnen, CEO of SEAmagine.  Together, they dive deep—literally and figuratively—into Chuck’s journey of building state-of-the-art personal and scientific submarines in California.  Along the way, Charles shares stories of exploring uncharted ocean depths, discovering unknown species, and witnessing the tangible effects of climate change underwater.  Listen For: 0:15 Reuniting After 42 Years: From high school to submarines 5:23 Star Trek Dreams and Choosing Engineering Over Art 17:28 Accidental Shark Discovery and Scientific Fame 26:15 Who Buys a Personal Submarine? The Rise of Billionaire Buyers 31:30 Climate Change Below: 30°C Water at 100m Depth 39:04 Whale Shark Encounters and Nature’s Raw Power 45:04 OceanGate, Regulation, and Building Safe Subs   Connect with guest Charles Kohnen LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-kohnen-9b92ba2/] | Website  [https://www.seamagine.com/]  Follow The Safety Moment via Utility Safety Partners  X [https://twitter.com/Utility_Safety] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/utilitysafetypartners/] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/3588841/admin/feed/posts/] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=utility%20safety%20partners]

Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1749587/open_sms] Safety outreach with a digital twist — what’s changing and why it matters? Mike Sullivan sits down with Kassi Zaba, Manager of Stakeholder Relations, to uncover the evolution of utility safety outreach in Alberta.  Together, they reflect on their shared 14-year journey, from fax machines and phone calls to a fully digitized “click-before-you-dig” system and the upcoming launch of the Look Up and Live app to promote overhead powerline safety. They also discuss the growing role of digital marketing, public awareness campaigns, and even touch on the philosophical challenge of balancing public education with infrastructure security.  Listen For: 1:30 Meet Kassi Zaba: From phones to stakeholder relations 4:05 From faxes to clicks: Alberta OneCall’s digital leap 9:07 Mandating the “click before you dig” revolution 13:35 Geofencing & targeting gamers for utility safety 17:32 The rise of the Ambassador Program 31:54 Look Up and Live: A new safety tool is coming 36:57 Navigating the public awareness paradox Connect with guest Kassi Zaba LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kassizaba/?originalSubdomain=ca] | Website [https://www.naylornetwork.com/aocc-nwl/articles/index-v4.asp?aid=835083&issueID=99413] Follow The Safety Moment via Utility Safety Partners  X [https://twitter.com/Utility_Safety] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/utilitysafetypartners/] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/3588841/admin/feed/posts/] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=utility%20safety%20partners]   Got an episode idea? info@utilitysafety.ca [info@utilitysafety.ca]

Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1749587/open_sms] What if the next big thing in utility safety isn’t underground—but overhead?  Mike Sullivan sits down with Nathan Coutu from ATCO Electric to spotlight the groundbreaking "Lookup and Live" application, a collaborative initiative aimed at reducing overhead power line contacts.  Nathan shares how this Alberta-wide, GIS-based mobile and web app helps users visualize and safely navigate around energized overhead lines—especially crucial for agricultural, construction, and utility workers.  Drawing inspiration from similar successes in Australia and Saskatchewan, he reveals the collaborative journey of Alberta utilities working together for public safety, the staggering contact statistics that prompted action, and the powerful simplicity of a solution that could save lives.  If you’ve ever thought "I knew the power line was there—I just didn’t see it this time," this episode could be a game-changer. Listen For: 3:48 The Birth of “Lookup and Live” in Alberta 5:16 From “Where’s the Line” to a Province-Wide Collaboration 7:22 The Overhead Threat You Keep Ignoring 16:51 50% Fewer Incidents: What Australia Taught Us 24:52 The Push for Simplicity and Adoption 27:20 Breaking Through Data Sharing Barriers Connect with guest Nathan Coutu LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathan-coutu-795770a2/?originalSubdomain=ca]   Follow The Safety Moment via Utility Safety Partners  X [https://twitter.com/Utility_Safety] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/utilitysafetypartners/] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/3588841/admin/feed/posts/] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=utility%20safety%20partners]   Got an episode idea? info@utilitysafety.ca [info@utilitysafety.ca]

Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1749587/open_sms] Think locating underground utilities is as simple as spray paint and flags? Think again. Mike Sullivan sits down with Jimmy Yip, Damage Prevention Manager at Fortis BC, to bust myths and unravel the often-misunderstood process of locating and marking utilities in British Columbia.  They dive into the historical roots of BC's unique paper-based locate model, how regulations shape responses, and why empowering excavators with responsibility has reduced damages over the decades.  From comparing provincial damage rates to exploring the Alternate Locate Provider (ALP) program in Alberta, this conversation highlights how thoughtful process design and solid data can drive down incidents while keeping public safety top of mind. Listen For: 3:13 Alberta's Alternate Locate Provider (ALP): A Game Changer 9:00 Why Paper Locates Work in BC 18:44 Comparing Damage Stats: BC vs Alberta 20:19 Decades of Data: Damage Trends Over Time 24:56 Why 65% of Damages Are From Not Calling 36:38 Power Dashboards: Transparent Data Sharing Connect with guest Jimmy Yip LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmyyip/?originalSubdomain=ca]   Follow The Safety Moment via Utility Safety Partners  X [https://twitter.com/Utility_Safety] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/utilitysafetypartners/] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/3588841/admin/feed/posts/] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=utility%20safety%20partners] Got an episode idea? info@utilitysafety.ca [info@utilitysafety.ca]