Armando Cortez Recognized with G.E.M. Award

Armando Cortez Recognized with G.E.M. Award

Armando Cortez, an ACRT Pacific utility pre-inspector, recently received a gem for his “significant performance in safety.” After receiving his near-miss report, ACRT Pacific Safety Manager and Tribal Liaison M.K. Youngblood nominated Cortez to be recognized.

While Cortez was conducting a cycle buster inspection along the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains, he witnessed an incident involving a large tractor that plowed backward into a fiberglass pole. He explained that the collision initiated an explosion that dropped one of three high-voltage lines onto the ground. To his surprise, the tractor driver started to drive back towards the downed line — pushing their plow along the ground.

Cortez shared the following in his near-miss report.

Then [the tractor driver] did what I did not expect, he started to drive back towards back to the down line with a large plow on the ground. I immediately started to blow my whistle to get his attention and wave my arms. After two tense minutes, he finally stopped and moved forward toward me as I waved to him to come to me. Finally, he opened his door from his air-conditioned cabin and asked me in Spanish what I needed.

He had not realized what he had done. I explained to him that he brought down a high-voltage line and said he did not hear the explosion. Having his back to the pole and lines, he did not see all the sparks and the oscillating pole from the hard hit. After I showed him the down line on the ground, I told him that he could no longer go and plow the field, until he was told by [the customer] that it was okay.

I secured the area, then had to blow my whistle at the same driver later who was traveling towards lines that sagged four spans down within 10 feet of their cabin. At that point, I asked him to remain parallel to the lines 100 feet and asked him to please stay away and inform his [foreman].

I called [the customer] immediately, followed by 911, then my supervisor — including the SSP.