The dog bite prevention story is the main focus of the Publisher's Page in the latest edition of the Pipeline and Gas Technology magazine. 

 

Bite prevention

Buddy Ives, Publisher

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In 2005, ten Atmos Energy employees in Texas were attacked by dogs. This year, nine employees have already been bitten. The apparent increase in attacks this year led the Dallas-based company to participate in a call for safety during the National Dog Bite Prevention Week.
Unless you are a utility meter reader, the bite prevention week, no doubt, passed by unnoticed by most of you. So, for those of you who didn’t notice, it was the third week of May.
“The trend of increasing attacks is a great concern for us,” said Danny Johnson, Atmos Energy Mid-Tex Division meter reading director. “We want all our employees going home safely at night, and we want dogs to remain safely at home as the family pet.”
According to national statistics from the Centers for Disease Control:

• More than 4.7 million Americans are bitten by dogs every year.
• Approximately 12 fatalities annually are linked to dog attacks.
• The insurance industry pays out nearly $1 billion annually for dog bite injuries.

Certainly Atmos and other utility companies would like to see the program extend longer than a week.
As part of bite prevention week, Atmos encouraged its customers to:

• Make sure utility meters can be accessed without disturbing their dog.
• Ensure dogs are restrained or confined to their yard.
• Keep rabies shots up to date.

In an attempt to reduce violent encounters, the company’s Mid-Tex meter readers have started carrying a new device. It’s the “Bite Terminator” system, which is similar to a quick release umbrella. It confuses the attacking dog, blocks its vision and gives the reader a few extra seconds to escape.
Another preventive measure is the use of automatic meter reading. But it isn’t available in all locations.
 

"We have experienced an 'extraordinary reduction' in dog bites in the AEP company, and those results are expected to be duplicated now that Bite Terminator® is being rolled out to AEP meter readers and other personnel in the eastern portion of the company. At least three employees in West Virginia and Virginia have averted dog attacks by using this device. Meter readers in Columbus are experiencing similar results. We've had several meter readers come in from their routes and say it works."

"Since its inception at the end of October 1996 through December 1996, we have documented uses on 32 occasions. If we consider that even 10% of these had resulted in dog bites, the potential cost of those injuries could have easily surpassed the expense of the Terminators! I thinks we all agree, the results are very promising."

"Here's some more good news....Now that we have nearly 100% of our meter readers really using the BTS as their primary defense against dog attacks, we have  had only ONE dog bite injury in Meter Reading this year."

"The feedback has been very positive indicating the unit is effective in keeping away aggressive dogs. Several customers have even mentioned their appreciation that we're not spraying their dogs any longer."

"We had three dog bites in the month before we started using "Bite Terminator." Since then we've had none, though six of the devices have been destroyed by dogs, but no bites!"

"I'm a full believer in the Bite Terminator® Dog Bite Prevention System. This was reinforced by the timely receipt of a Workers' Compensation Claim statement showing a pension payout to a meter reader for nearly $18,000. This claim was the result of a dog attack that left the meter reader partially disabled and traumatized. Had the meter reader participated in your dog bite prevention training course and had her Bite Terminator® barrier with her, she most likely would not have suffered the injury and trauma."

"Since implementing the Bite Terminator® Dog Bite Prevention System in selected areas, we have been assessing its benefits. While we've been getting some anecdotal evidence of its benefits, we now have one very clear piece of evidence of its prevention use. A St. John's Meter Reader had a "chunk" taken out of his Terminator, compliments of a cross between a German Shepherd/Collie dog (with a second dog on looking.) He was shaken up but unquestionably the Terminator prevented serious injury to him."