Utility Safety in Depth - The Safety Alchemist: Gina Vanderlin, CUSP, CSP, CHMM, CIT - Data into Utility Safety Insights

Thank you so much.

I'm really excited to, to be here today and to discuss some of the work that's going on in the utility industry.

And in particular, the work that I'm focused on.

I'm so excited to have you here.

Um, and I wanna kick things off with you telling us a little bit more about kinda your professional background.

Um, how did you get, you know, to where you are today?

Sure.

So I actually started my career in environmental science.

Early on I worked in the field doing hazardous waste site assessments and remediation, and I was really kind of focused on the northeastern part of the United States.

Um, it was very much a boots on the ground type of role, and I was involved in projects like trenching, excavation, drilling, and other types of field operations.

Um, as I became more involved in the work, I started engaging more deeply with the different aspects of health and safety, right? I started learning about hazard controls, risk assessment, worker protections.

Um, and the more I became embedded in the work, the more I realized I had a real passion, uh, for safety, and that interest eventually led me to transition full time into an environmental health and safety role.

So I always joke that I add the H&S onto the E where I started.

[laughs]

Um, I later moved into aerospace where I worked full time as, um, an environmental health and safety manager.

I was there for about five years, and it was a really fantastic learning experience because the work spanned a wide range of disciplines.

So on any given day I could've been dealing with ionizing radiation, um, industrial hygiene, or even something like office ergonomics.

So it really gave me a broad perspective on how safety programs functions across different types of risk.

Eventually, I had the opportunity to join utility with PSEG Long Island, and in my current role I support the customer operations line of business, which includes very two distinct groups of folks.

Um, my risk profiles are diverse, and it really helps me keep the work engaging because it requires constant learning and adaptation.

Uh, energy is a critical part of our future, and I'm proud to play a role in helping to keep our people safe.

Do you mind me asking what the two groups are of folks that you have?

Sure.

So in my line of business I have my clerical or administrative groups, which include things like revenue operations, customer outreach and contact, um, our community partnership team, and then I also oversee the technical aspect of our business, which is our meter services group.

Um, unlike some organizations where meter services is grouped with the transmission and distribution, our meter services team is grouped under customer services.

Thank you so much.

I'm really excited to, to be here today and to discuss some of the work that's going on in the utility industry.

And in particular, the work that I'm focused on.

I'm so excited to have you here.

Um, and I wanna kick things off with you telling us a little bit more about kinda your professional background.

Um, how did you get, you know, to where you are today?

Sure.

So I actually started my career in environmental science.

Early on I worked in the field doing hazardous waste site assessments and remediation, and I was really kind of focused on the northeastern part of the United States.

Um, it was very much a boots on the ground type of role, and I was involved in projects like trenching, excavation, drilling, and other types of field operations.

Um, as I became more involved in the work, I started engaging more deeply with the different aspects of health and safety, right? I started learning about hazard controls, risk assessment, worker protections.

Um, and the more I became embedded in the work, the more I realized I had a real passion, uh, for safety, and that interest eventually led me to transition full time into an environmental health and safety role.

So I always joke that I add the H&S onto the E where I started.

[laughs]

Um, I later moved into aerospace where I worked full time as, um, an environmental health and safety manager.

I was there for about five years, and it was a really fantastic learning experience because the work spanned a wide range of disciplines.

So on any given day I could've been dealing with ionizing radiation, um, industrial hygiene, or even something like office ergonomics.

So it really gave me a broad perspective on how safety programs functions across different types of risk.

Eventually, I had the opportunity to join utility with PSEG Long Island, and in my current role I support the customer operations line of business, which includes very two distinct groups of folks.

Um, my risk profiles are diverse, and it really helps me keep the work engaging because it requires constant learning and adaptation.

Uh, energy is a critical part of our future, and I'm proud to play a role in helping to keep our people safe.

Do you mind me asking what the two groups are of folks that you have?

Sure.

So in my line of business I have my clerical or administrative groups, which include things like revenue operations, customer outreach and contact, um, our community partnership team, and then I also oversee the technical aspect of our business, which is our meter services group.

Um, unlike some organizations where meter services is grouped with the transmission and distribution, our meter services team is grouped under customer services.