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Marietta BLW approves emergency-shift change to allow up to 24-hour first shifts
Summary
The Marietta Board of Light and Water voted unanimously to revise Policy 6.2 to allow a single crew shift to extend to 24 hours during declared extreme events, with managerial sign-off and limits to protect CDL compliance.
The Marietta Board of Light and Water on Monday approved revisions to Policy 6.2 that allow crews to extend an initial emergency shift to 24 hours during declared extreme events, with supervisory checks to limit worker fatigue and maintain compliance with Department of Transportation rules.
Board members adopted the change unanimously. The revision lets one crew work up to 24 hours on the first shift during a major event so that the utility can maximize outage restoration in that initial period; subsequent consecutive shifts would revert to the existing 16-hour standard unless additional approvals are granted.
The change, presented by Eric (BLW staff member), was motivated by operational experience in prolonged storms. Eric said the policy is intended to prevent gaps in response that occur when crews work a 16-hour shift and then go off duty, leaving several hours with fewer field crews available. "This helps make sure that we're getting as much power as we can back on in that first 24 hours," Eric said, adding that concentrating repair work during the initial period can reduce the number of customers affected.
The revision includes two explicit safeguards: written sign-off by the general manager and a second manager (Eric referenced "myself and Ron" during the presentation) before any 24-hour activation, and an added line to confirm compliance with DOT commercial driver-license (CDL) rules for employees who operate trucks. The board also emphasized that safety, including supervisors' responsibility to release workers who feel too fatigued to continue, remains the top priority.
Board members asked procedural questions and discussed logistics including daylight work windows and the practical difficulty of locating small equipment failures. A motion to approve the revised Policy 6.2 (Maximum Working Hours) carried by voice vote with the board indicating support (tally recorded as 7-0 by roll call).
The approved policy text requires managerial authorization for any emergency extension to 24 hours, directs supervisors to enforce rest and safety protocols, and references CDL/time-of-service considerations for vehicle operators. The board recorded no amendments beyond the added sign-off requirement and the compliance language.
The policy change takes effect immediately as an internal operational policy; the board did not tie the revision to any external regulatory filings in the meeting discussion.
Votes at a glance
- Revision to BLW Policy 6.2 (Maximum Working Hours): Approved, tally 7-0.
