Video: Don’t Gamble with Safety: How Simulation Training Lowers Risks, Costs and Claims in Utilities
Utility jobsites demand precision and safety. Crews work around live lines, heavy equipment and tight deadlines. One mistake can trigger costly damage, insurance claims or worse. That’s why Compact Equipment and Utility Contractor hosted the recent webinar “Don’t Gamble with Safety: How Simulation Lowers Risks, Costs and Claims in Utilities,” sponsored by CM Labs — which is now available as a new Machine Heads video on the Compact Equipment YouTube channel. I also embedded it above.
Learn How Simulation Changes the Safety Game
In this episode, industry experts Mark Woodward, director of training and safety manager at Sellenriek Family of Companies, and Mary Lee Shalvoy, director of communication and content at CM Labs, explain how simulation is reshaping training in the utilities sector. Simulation training lets operators build real-world experience without real-world risk. Instead of putting new hires into dangerous scenarios, utilities can use simulators to teach best practices for tasks like digging near underground lines, operating digger derricks or setting poles. Every session delivers measurable data that safety managers can use to prevent incidents and lower insurance costs.
Safer Training for Compact Equipment Pros
CM Labs’ simulation systems are purpose-built for heavy and compact equipment. Contractors, municipalities and trade schools use these platforms to prepare crews for real-world operations with zero jobsite danger.
CM Labs’ training catalog includes:
- Digger Derrick and Boom Truck Simulator Packs for overhead utility work
- Mini Excavator, Backhoe and Compact Track Loader Packs for underground operations
- Telehandler and Wheel Loader Simulators for load handling and lifting safety
Each system recreates true machine behavior using CM Labs’ proprietary physics engine. Trainees feel every movement through realistic motion feedback, learning how the equipment reacts before they ever step into the cab.
Training That Builds Safer, Smarter Crews
Simulation gives instructors full visibility into operator behavior. With CM Labs’ Intellia Instructor Station, trainers can monitor performance, set challenges and record objective data on precision, speed and safety. That data helps identify where operators need more work — long before those skills are tested in the field. For contractors and utilities alike, the benefits stack up fast:
- Reduced training accidents
- Faster operator certification and onboarding
- Lower insurance premiums and downtime
- Data-driven insights for safety teams
CM Labs also supports mobile training centers, allowing organizations to deliver simulation-based instruction anywhere — from job trailers to classroom environments.
Watch the Webinar Replay
If you missed the live webinar, you can still learn how simulation reduces risk and improves performance. The full session is now featured as a Machine Heads video on Compact Equipment’s website and YouTube channel. See how utilities and contractors are integrating CM Labs’ technology to protect workers, cut claims and create safer, more efficient crews.
Keith Gribbins is publisher of Compact Equipment.
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