City of Westerville Staff Profile: Scott

McKenzie, Westerville Electric Division

Born and raised in nearby Sunbury, Scott McKenzie was influenced early on by his coaches. During his time as a high school athlete, coaches taught him the value of hard work and commitment. At home, his dad emphasized the appreciation of a job and career. By age 15, Scott held steady jobs working summers and after school. At 18, he started his first full-time position with the City of Westerville. And now, after years of training and education, Scott is the coach. By day, he is one of the City’s lead safety trainers. In the evening, he works with a new generation of young athletes teaching life lessons on the football field.

How long have you worked for Westerville?

I started my full-time position on July 25, 1988. I remember the exact date because I had been part-time since January, working with the Service Department painting streets and mowing grass. That summer, the position of Groundman opened up in the Electric Division, which is now the Apprentice Lineman position. It was the beginning of my career in the electric industry.

Had you anticipated a career in the electric industry?

I was truly that kid who was all about sports, so I wanted to play college football. But that didn’t happen, and in my family, it was really driven home that I needed to think about my future and plan for it. I thought the electric industry was exciting and challenging. Within a year, I had made apprentice lineman and started my training to be a line worker. By the time I completed my programs, I had my Journeyman card, which is a lifelong certification in the industry. I am also a state-certified Journeyman lineworker, a certification that requires special qualifications.

What is your current role in the Electric Division?

I worked as a lineman for the City from 1994 until 2005. Now, as Electrical Maintenance Worker, my primary duty is to handle all the research and procurement of all the equipment, tools and safety equipment. I’ll work on bids, quotes and research to assure we’re using the right items and tools to get the job done as safely and effectively as possible.

As I started in this industry, I realized the seriousness of the job and the trade, and started really paying attention to safety. You can get seriously injured or even killed in this job. Coming up in the ranks, I was always a strong advocate of safety. So I started going the safety route as a specialization.

I also serve as the department chairperson of the safety team. Our safety program is a daily program; there are always issues and considerations. My job is to bring them to the team and follow up on issues. I’m always looking for safer ways to do things, whether it’s a better process or safer equipment. I consider it my job to put everything together. And I also serve as the chairperson of the Citywide safety team. Safety is a major priority for the City, so I work to promote it across all departments. That ranges from personal office/job safety – like avoiding slips, trips and falls – to renovations or processes that need to be in place for buildings. We work closely with the Police Division to conduct safety inspections, and have made improvements so that employees are as safe as possible while still keeping buildings accessible and user-friendly to visitors.

Tell us about an incident where safety training really affected the outcome.

It has an impact every day in our work. A few years ago, when Hurricane Ike came through town, we had to rely on our safety procedures to get power restored both quickly and safely without creating other issues or damage. After our experience with the hurricane, we created an incident management procedure from lessons learned. One of the strongest points was calling over the radio of all crews to confirm everyone was in the clear or out of danger before management or field staff could either remotely or physically try to re-energize electric lines. This ensures everyone’s safety first, and makes an important procedure a standard protocol.

Based on your expertise in safety, what are some basic things residents should know about household safety?

A lot of people don’t realize just how unforgiving electricity can be, from extension cords to home receptacles being uncovered. Just a tenth of an AMP can kill someone. It doesn’t take much for people to get hurt by things in the home, like frayed extension cords or not being properly grounded when working near electricity. People will hold on to a $5 extension cord for life, but it can take their life if they’re not careful.

Installing outdoor Christmas lights can create some safety issues. It’s important that you do not overload circuits. Don’t use damaged extension cords, like any of those with bad or worn ends. Do not cut the grounding prong out of extension cords to be able to plug in lights, and never use indoor extension cords for outside use. When hanging lights, use a fiberglass or wood ladder and always maintain three points of contact, which means both feet and one hand on the ladder at all times. Avoid using chairs or buckets, or standing on porch railings to reach. And be aware of overhead power lines attached to your house. Stay clear of them.

What is something most people do not know about the Westerville Electric Division?

Employees have come and gone in the 23 years I’ve been there, but I think residents will appreciate knowing that the ones who stay do so because they really care about the residents and making sure their power is reliable. The Westerville Electric Division is known for having a very high level of customer service. Our teams respond to power outages as if they are taking care of their own families. That is just the attitude we have.

What do your other future professional activities and objectives entail?

I am also an OSHA-authorized outreach trainer, so I provide general awareness training in the public and private sector. Safety training has really been something that I have enjoyed. Maybe someday after I retire I will look into safety consulting, but for now, I want to be able to make sure my co-workers work safely.

What keeps you busy outside of work?

It really depends on the time of the year. Right now, football keeps me busy. I am the head coach of eighth grade football at Big Walnut Local Schools. My son is a senior on Big Walnut’s varsity team, so I have more of a “dad” mindset this year than ever before. I do more watching on Friday nights from the sidelines than coaching right now. On top of that, I have been married for 21 years. I also enjoy a few other hobbies, like hunting with my co-workers. A lot of us are friends outside of work.

What is your personal philosophy?

Vince Lombardi: “It’s not whether you get knocked down; it’s whether you get back up!”