ISPC Tailboard Talks

Host Jim Vaughn interviews Dr. George Gela, PhD, Peng.  Dr. Gela is an internationally recognized expert in electric utility systems with a PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Toronto and a distinguished career spanning research, teaching, and consulting. He has managed major R&D initiatives at EPRI, taught power systems and renewable energy at several universities, and delive...

Jerry Havens and Jim Vaughn kick off a new era for Tailboard Talks and discuss what’s next. They talk about upcoming guests and both the iP Conference and T&D Trainers Conference and Tradeshow. Jim also shares his experiences about writing for Incident Prevention Magazine and its early days of publication.   This episode is sponsored by: UBM Utility Business Media

Mark Forster & Jerry Havens sit down with Mark Savage to discuss everything Underground. In this episode of ISPC Tailboard Talks, we dive into the life-saving importance of proper cable identification and remote cutting in the electric utility industry. Our guest, Mark Savage shares real-world stories, proven best practices, and critical safety steps that align with OSHA 1910.269 and NFPA 70E...

Mark Forster Jerry Havens sit down with NECA’s Mike Starner to discuss the high-level changes under the new regulatory landscape in Washington DC and what that means for the electric utility industry in the ISPC Tailboard Talks segment.  The conversation with Mike continues as they dive into regulatory changes, training, attracting new people to the industry, what is changing from a contractor sta...

In episode 27, host Mark Forster sits down with Jim Vaughn to discuss EPZ for Trucks and Step Potential in the electric utility industry. In the Tailboard Talks segment Mark and Jim discuss what OSHA requires of the employer in EPZ for trucks and step potential. During the guest segment the conversation continues by discussing EPZ for trucks and step potential and what hazards are brought into the...

In episode 26, host Mark Forster sits down with Jim Vaughn to discuss EPZ for Substations in the electric utility industry. In the Tailboard Talks segment Mark and Jim discuss what OSHA requires of the employer in EPZ for Substations. During the guest segment the conversation continues by discussing EPZ in Substations and what the big differences are when working inside the fence. If the substatio...

In episode 25, host Mark Forster sits down with Jim Vaughn to discuss EPZ for Transmission and Induction in the electric utility industry. In the Tailboard Talks segment Mark and Jim discuss what OSHA requires of the employer in EPZ for Transmission and Induction with the real difference being the increased likelihood of induction being present at higher voltages.  During the guest segment the con...

In episode 24, host Mark Forster sits down with Jim Vaughn to discuss EPZ for Distribution and URD in electric utility industry. In the Tailboard Talks segment Mark and Jim discuss what OSHA requires of the employer in EPZ for Distribution and URD.  During the guest segment the conversation continues by discussing EPZ in overhead distribution and underground distribution and what challenges exist...

This is the first in our six-part series on Equipotential Zones and Field Safety. Host Mark Forster sits down with industry expert Jim Vaughn to discuss the law and principles of EPZ in the electric utility industry. Mark and Jim discuss what OSHA requires of the employer regarding EPZ, as well as the three safety principles for grounding and bonding.  Their conversation continues by discussing EP...

In episode 22, host Mark Forster and co-host Jerry Havens sit down with Jim Vaughn to discuss Grounding and Bonding in electric utility industry. In the Tailboard Talks segment Mark, Jerry, and Jim discuss what OSHA requires of the employer in grounding and bonding, the difference between grounding and bonding and more. During the guest segment the conversation continues by discussing the history...

In episode 21, host Mark Forster and co-host Jerry Havens sit down with Terry Clinefelter, Department Head, Construction Technologies for Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City and Mike Eckart, Training Supervisor for Oklahoma Gas & Electric to discuss training in the electric utility industry in the ISPC Tailboard Talks segment. Mark, Jerry, Terry, and Mike discuss how colleges support the e...

In episode 20, host Mark Forster sits down at the 2025 Trainers Conference in San Antonio to discuss support for our veterans with four special guests. Jeremy Gee from Jackson EMC, Joesph Fields from Linetec Services, Ronnie Abernathy from Centerpoint Energy, and Ryan Cooper from Centerpoint Energy discuss utility industry support for veterans, making the transition from military life to the workf...

In episode 19, host Mark Forster and co-host Jerry Havens sit down with Annie Wittenberg and Kody Morris to discuss the next 20 years of ISPC in partnership with NWPPA and Lubbock Power & Light respectively. They discuss how the partnership started with both organizations, how we got to today, and what the future looks like. This episode is sponsored by: The Institute for Safety in Powerline C...

In episode 18, host Mark Forster and co-host Jerry Havens sit down with Ron and Mack to talk about the origins and the past 20 years of ISPC. They discuss how it all started, what some of the challenges where and are, what successes happened and where they see ISPC and the industry going in the future.   This episode is sponsored by: The Institute for Safety in Powerline Construction Timeline: [0:...

In episode 17, host Mark Forster and co-host Jerry Havens joins David McPeak with Utility Business Media in the ISPC Tailboard Talks segment to discuss the core components and principles of Human Performance. Mark and Jerry then continue the conversation with David, covering key topics such as Utility Business Media’s mission, Incident Prevention strategies, cutting-edge safety training practices,...

In episode 16, host Mark Forster sits down with Alan Ames to discuss the workforce challenges that face Michels Power and the contracting world. Mark and Alan then continue the discussion around training, manpower, and other challenges facing contractors in the electric utility industry’s ever-changing landscape. This episode is sponsored by: T&D PowerSkills Timeline: [0:00] Introduction [0:25...

In episode 15, host Mark Forster and special cohost Mack Turner, Executive Director of ISPC, sit down from the trade show floor at the NWPPA/APA Alaska Electric Utility Conference in Anchorage to discuss the challenges of cold weather work and some tips to keep yourself safe in cold conditions while performing work. Don Maynor, Loss Control and Safety Specialist at Alaska Power Association, shares...

In episode 14, host Mark Forster and co-host Jerry Havens continue their discussion on The Power of Mental Wellness, Part 2 with special guest Mark Taylor, CUSP, Senior Advisor of Corporate Services at Primary Engineering and Construction in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Mark Taylor, CUSP continues to share with Mark and Jerry his story regarding mental wellness, and the importance of creating a suppo...

In episode 13, host Mark Forster and co-host Jerry Havens are back for The Power of Mental Wellness, Part 1 with special guest Mark Taylor, CUSP, Senior Advisor of Corporate Services at Primary Engineering and Construction in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. In the ISPC Tailboard Talks segment, Mark and Jerry share and discuss mental wellness, as well as statistics on suicide in the construction industry...

In episode 12, host Mark Forster and co-host Jerry Havens are back for Training and Accountability, joined by special guest Kody Morris, Transmission and Distribution Manager for Lubbock Power and Light in Lubbock Texas. In the ISPC Tailboard Talks segment, Mark and Jerry, discuss training and accountability and what OSHA says about that. They discuss how training and accountability can reduce inc...

In episode 11, host Mark Forster and co-host Jerry Havens are back in Harnessing Safety: The Importance of Fall Protection where they are joined by special guest Kat Clemmons-Lea, Co-owner/Vice President of JELCO, a manufacturer of fall protection equipment since 1892. In the ISPC Tailboard Talks segment, Mark and Jerry, discuss training, care, maintenance, and inspection of fall protection equipm...

In episode 10, host Mark Forster and co-host Jerry Havens are back for episode 10 called So you want to be a lineworker? where they are joined by special guest Curtis Bradley Jr., VP-Safety, Quality, and Training for the Desoto Group and Founder of Premier Lineman Consulting and the author of a book called “Selected to Lead” A foreman’s guide to success and his latest book called Welcome to Linewo...

In episode 09, host Mark Forster and co-host Jerry Havens are back for episode 09 called Are We Just Talking the Talk? where they are joined by special guest Derek Grimes, Director of Safety for El Paso Electric. In the ISPC Tailboard Talks segment, Mark, Jerry, and Derek discuss the core elements of an effective safety program, having good safety conversations, types of safety conversations and h...

In episode 08, host Mark Forster is back for episode 08 called Partnering for “LIFE”. In this episode, he highlights some lifelong partnerships that are being developed through a grassroots approach to safety and training in the electric utility industry to help save lives every day.   In the ISPC Tailboard Talks segment, Mark sits down with special guest Brent Jeffries, VP of Field Operations and...

In episode 07, Mark Forster is back for the episode about “The Power of Association,” where he covers how public power associations work together to support their members, sharing resources throughout our industry to make us all better. In the ISPC Tailboard Talks segment, Mark reminds us that June is Fire Safety month and covers the top 7 ways to prevent fires both at home and in the workplace. M...