Who REALLY made it possible for the industry to have a base for safety information?
In 1994, a phone conversation with Jack Vines of Television Engineering
Corporation initiated another to
one of the smallest stations in one of the smallest markets in the US,
KWWL in Waterloo, IA. The calls provided information about how one
small group of
stations, then owned by AFLAC, helped assure safety for their
employees. Their safety program also helped assure that the stations
and
the corporation would also be protected against potential liability
claims for having uneducated or untrained operators, and/or no written
safety policies applying to equipment that can reach overhead power
lines. When stations train their operators, it also helps TV truck
integrators and equipment manufacturers avoid costly liability lawsuits
as well.
Pictured
on the left is Leroy Paul, the President of the AFLAC Broadcast
Division. When Mr. Paul found out that Mark Bell, magazine writer and author of the ENGsafety.com website, was writing a three part series for Television Broadcast magazine, he had some concern, as it was thought many stations or companies MUST have had manuals
for the critical aspect of employee safety, and
theirs was
just another from a small company. The first two parts of a three part series on safety written for the magazine was sent to Mr. Paul through Vice President of Engineering LaVaughn Thompson.
(Picture, right.)
Mr. Paul and Mr. Thompson reviewed the text and were informed about the lack of education and training outside their company. By the time their review was complete, part three had been written and sent to them. Mr. Paul and Mr. Thompson agreed that making the AFLAC manual available to broadcasters would be a great service to the industry, and authorized the free and unrestricted distribution of the manual to anybody who would simply request a copy. Over 300 people did so, making the manual the basis for many safety manuals in the industry.
Their action was cause for the three part series to become a four-part series, the last being the details of this great manual, and the generosity of the AFLAC Broadcast Division.
Mr. Paul and Mr. Thompson, no doubt, are responsible for saving many lives.
John Dodge checked in with us. He's another of the FATHERS of ENG Safety
Here is a little background on me: I graduated from Brooks Institute of Photography in Sept 1971 with a major in Motion picture, since there was no openings in Hollywood, I came back to my home town Waterloo, Ia, and a neighbor of my parents invited me down to Kwwl TV, and offered me a job as a New Photographer. At this time we were using 16mm film, and was one of the first stations in Iowa to go all video tape. When the first ENG trucks came out, ours was a converted GMC Suburban with a 3 pipe mast with a golden rod antenna. Safety was always first and foremost, and at that time there were no safety shut off switches on the mast. After one of the young photogs forgot to wait for the mast to drop all the way down, he drove off and hit a high power line and cut the mast off. No one was hurt, but it did shut off power to some farmers, who were very unhappy with our company. After that the chief engineer and I talked over, that as we add more photographers we needed some type of training. Since I was on the ground floor of ENG, he wanted my input on the use of the truck, and he added the technical part, that is how the training book started. The new photogs had to pass a written test the Jim and I put together, then do a test in the field using the truck. After passing the 2 test they were assigned to me, to follow me, and help in doing live shots, till I was satisfied that they can go on there own. I would make the training as simple as I could, and always pushed safety. That's how the safety program got started. There is no story in the world, that is worth putting people in life and death situation, just for the sake of a story. The hardest part was working with young new out of college producers, who had no idea on what it is like in the field, in all weather conditions. That's why I always wanted them to go out with us on a live shot, to see what's it is all about. Due to a non work related injury I was forced retired after 34 years. I loved my profession, and would not trade it for the world. Hope this helps. John Dodge Jr
One of the finest and most well known proponents of
ENG safety is Mr. Dave Wertheimer, who is certainly one of the
"Fathers" of safety. Dave's efforts have been paramount in getting
information about safety around. One example of this is the "Look up
and Live!" video that's been passed around the industry for over a
decade. Dave Wertheimer, a true "Father" of
ENG safety. Dave has had numerous jobs around the US in his diligent career, and spends time on the faculty of the NPPA News Video Workshop, now teaching safety, and the many other aspects of photojournalism, through another technological change and transition. Dave's had to keep up with them all. Dave, we salute you, a true Father.
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