Ever think about what you would do without an effective pole management for your firm’s operations?
The goal is all about simplifying operations along with promoting industrial safety and adherence to safety standards. Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation (CEMC) in Ashland City, TN, realized the necessity of change in their pole storage system.
And to counter this challenge, they collaborated with CMS Utility Services (CMSUS), a pole yard optimization industry leader, to improve safety, efficiency, and organization.
Interested in knowing how we made that happen?
Let’s go!
The Challenges Faced by CEMC
But first, let’s get to know Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation (CEMC).
So, CEMC is utility company known for maintaining reliable electricity distribution in Ashland City, TN. CEMC stores and controls a large inventory of utility poles, which are essential for maintaining and expanding their electrical infrastructure.
However, their existing pole yard raised several challenges that affected them in terms of safety compliance and operational efficiency.
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Lack of a structured pole management system
Having no structured pole management system means poles were often stacked in a way that led to instability. Just like the domino effect, this issue further created significant equipment safety risks, as poles could roll, shift, or collapse, endangering workers handling them.
In reality, the problem was far worse than it sounded on paper. Employees had to work around unstable piles, never knowing that a misplaced step might set off an accident.
With no pole rack system in place, poles were wherever there was room, and the pole yard was cluttered and unsafe.
More than that, CEMC started having increasing issues with the firm’s safety, regulatory compliance, and business efficiency. It was obvious that a rack system was no longer a want but a need to introduce order and safety to their utility yard.
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Retrieval Inefficiency
Having poles of different sizes lying around with no systematical organization, it became difficult for employees to access and remove the proper poles rapidly. So what it caused then?
A greater time spent in searching and adjusting through manual efforts.
Let’s not forget about the direct influence of these issues on labor costs and safety enhancements.
For example,
- It created cumbersome handling and enhanced the likelihood of workplace injury
- Inability to meet with safety standards
- And, of course, less productivity and more operational delays
What Solution Did CMSUS Provide?
The problems stated above required the urgent action as the safety of workers needed to be preserved.
Responding to this issue, we designed a safer yet efficient solution to enhance pole safety, resource safety, and overall operational efficiency.
The unique challenges of CEMC led us to having 3 main goals, precisely:
- Ensuring organized, accessible, and optimized pole storage to reduce delays and disruptions
- Implementing structured handling procedures to minimize risks and improve workplace safety
- Designing a system that enables workers to locate and access poles quickly and safely
How did we achieve it?
It wasn’t that simple but we supplied and installed nine 16-16-2 Portable Pole Racks, specifically designed to accommodate 35, 40, and 45-foot poles.
These racks offered a structured, stable, and secure storage system that catered to both safety issues and workflow inefficiencies. As opposed to the conventional stacking systems, the rack system made sure that every pole was stored in a predestined place, without any shifting, rolling, or collapsing.
In addition to mere installation, CMSUS planned the positioning of the racks to maximize pole space. The racks were placed for easier accessibility, enabling employees to recover and move poles without unnecessary handling or safety hazards.
The Impact: How CMSUS Improved Safety and Efficiency
With countless benefits resulting from CMSUS’s solution, let’s discuss the ones that actually made a difference in CEMC’s Pole storage facility operations:
- The new system created a structured Utility storage site, ensuring each pole had a designated place.
- Secure storage minimized accident risks while aligning with safety improvements and standards.
- Workers could now retrieve and transport poles faster, reducing downtime.
- The system was designed with scalability in mind, allowing for future pole site expansions if needed.
- Workers spent less time manually handling poles, which decreased physical strain.
- CEMC experienced long-term financial benefits in labor and material costs via reducing damage or loss.
Results and Measurable Improvements that CEMC Experienced
Following the benefits of CMSUS’s system, let’s discuss the client’s experience with the solution.
CEMC saw immediate and tangible improvements in their utility yard operations. Safety incidents related to pole handling significantly decreased, as the structured storage minimized risks of poles shifting or rolling. Operations became more streamlined, cutting down the time workers spent retrieving and transporting poles.
Contemplating the goals we had before starting this project, we are proud to say that CEMC has gained reduced manual labor, fewer delays, and a safer work environment.
Final Takeaways
The implementation of CMSUS’s system not only alleviated CEMC’s current pole yard problems but also prepared them for future operational success. By serving to industry standards, the organized storage system is compliant with safety regulations, mitigates workplace accidents, and boosts overall productivity.
The design is also scalable, future-proofing CEMC’s pole yard for added capacity and demand when the company expands.
This success story is a proof of CMSUS’s ability to provide utility yard safety solutions that enhance safety and efficiency. If you search goes like a pole yard near me, then CMSUS provides the best pole storage solutions in the industry. Call CMSUS today to learn how they can maximize your utility yard for long-term safety, sustainability and success.
