By Tasha Hunter, USP Technical Administrator
Have you ever wondered if there was a resource for your team to help get the word out about safety? Maybe to educate your organization on safety regulations and best practices while excavating? Well, there is! Utility Safety Partners has a team of safety ambassadors you can request for various events, such as trade shows, presentations or ground-breaking ceremonies. This is a great group of folks that is always happy and willing to share knowledge with the excavating community.
BUT if you are looking for TRUE safety ambassadors, may I suggest cats? Yep — you heard correctly, CATS! Cats are very territorial and regularly mark their areas by rubbing up against objects. Need your water line marked? Send out Mr. Wiggles to rub up against your line. Want to know where your electrical line is? Foo-Foo’s hair may just stand up on end when near the electrical current. Why can’t I access the internet? Oh, it’s jammed with kitties! Cats can help with all these things and more!
In all seriousness, of course your little fur balls can’t actually help you with your excavation projects, unless maybe you’re digging very shallow, and you don’t mind cat “presents” left in your trench. But they are a great resource when it comes to curbing stress. If you’re having a rough day in the office or out in the field, knowing a fur covered purr machine is waiting at home can help alleviate some of that stress. It’s a proven fact that those with pets (especially cats, but I may be biased here) are able to handle hardships better than those who have no fur baby to cuddle at home. Folks who are stressed out are more likely to make mistakes than people who have an outlet for reducing tension. Cats (and I guess dogs as well, I’ll concede) are actually very beneficial in reducing errors made by their humans due to the release of oxytocin, the happy hormone, when interacting with them. So, Utility Safety Partners recommends that all excavators, big or small, go straight out and adopt a cat! Or three!
If that is not an option, I recommend booking one of our safety ambassadors instead. If you ask them very nicely maybe they might even dress up as a cat for you!