1.) We have been discussing Health & Safety as it relates to our daily routines, in a formal monthly meeting setting for about 7 years now. During that time we have learned much and have implemented a Health & Safety Program involving Policies and Procedures. I think it is very important for all of you to know, that there has been a notable improvement in our awareness and therefore our performance in these things. This doesn’t come from a bunch of words written out, and a mindless following of written procedures… this comes from people understanding the principles behind safety awareness and the desire to do something about it. All of you should be congratulated for being of assistance in us getting to this point. However, as with many other aspects of life there is never a time with Health & Safety when we can say we’re done. It is one of those on-going endeavors in which we are continually learning and can always find room for improvement. As I mentioned before, I think the most important benefit we can derive from our continued effort toward maintaining & improving our Health & Safety Program is the understanding of the safety concepts & principles that surround our daily activities. Thank-you all for your assistance and continued cooperation.
2.) First Aid training will be scheduled sometime in early April (the trainer we use is away for the month of March). We need to know the expiry dates of all our employee records of training, so we can schedule each person for either ‘re-certification’ or the ‘full course’ as required.
3.) Smart Grid is a term being used to describe some of the upgrades and changes that we see happening to our power infrastructure. Smart meters are being used for real time communication of power utilization at a “granular” level, creating much more “informed” current and future decisions to be made about grid capacity and power generation. As we all know, the necessity to provide incentive for people to use power during ‘off peak’ hours is one tool that’s being used, but this is also how Distributed Generation (i.e. Solar, Wind, small scale Hydro, etc.) are being driven & facilitated. Due to the ever increasing demand for power, infrastructure facilitators, and governments, see a direct advantage to de-centralizing a portion of the power production, so that it is produced closer to its point of use, and produced when demand tends to be at its peak. This is one reason why solar incentives outperform other forms of energy, since solar production is at its peak when energy use is also at its peak (bright spring, summer, & fall days…with heavy air-conditioning loads). There is a “big picture” that is now being more rapidly painted, displaying the potential in continuing to learn about, and to be involved in building of these systems. Solar arrays (depending on design) can have DC voltages that reach 600V and beyond… and therefore must be duely respected!! Just because it may be a ‘small scale’ solar PV system, does not neccessarily mean it doesn’t involve deadly power.
