Safety Forum Speakers

James T. Dollard Jr.

Biography: Jim Dollard is Safety Coordinator for the Philadelphia Electrical JATC. He is a master on OSHA 500 Instructor and works closely with the Penn-Del-Jersey NECA Chapter towards safe working conditions on all jobs. As a member of the NEC, TCC, CMP-10, CMP-13, NFPA 70E, NFPA 90A and the UL Electrical Council, Jim plays a significant role in the development of electrical standards. Jim is the author of the NJATC Codeology textbook, the 2008 NJATC NEC Significant Changes and Co-author of the 2011 NJATC NEC Significant Changes. His excellent presentation skills, knowledge of the electrical industry, extensive background in the electrical construction field, involvement in electrical safety and codes/standards allows Jim to make the most complex requirements seem easy to understand and apply.

Michael J. Johnston

Michael Johnston is NECA’s executive director of standards and safety. Mike holds a BS in Business Management from the University of Phoenix. He served on NEC CMP-5 in the 2002, 2005, and was the Chairman of CMP-5 representing NECA for the 2011 NEC cycle. Mike is currently the Chairman of the NEC Correlating Committee. Among his responsibilities for managing the codes, standards, and safety functions for NECA, Mike is secretary of the NECA Codes and Standards Committee.  Johnston is a member of the IBEW and is an active member of ANSI, IAEI, NFPA, ASSE, the NFPA Electrical Section, the UL Electrical Council, and National Safety Council.

Paul A. Dobrowsky

Paul has over 35 years of experience in electrical and occupational safety, machinery and equipment standards, electrical construction, maintenance, program and policy development, instructing. He also has over 15 years enforcing electrical codes and standards. Paul has is  a Licensed Master Electrician, IAEI Certified Electrical Inspector, an OSHA Construction Safety and Health Instructor, and a Senior member of IEEE. Paul is also actively involved with many organizations such as ACC, ACES, ASTM, IAEI, IEEE, NFPA, UL and their standards activities. He is a past Chair of NFPA’s Electrical Section, and Director of Technology for the Electrical Association of Rochester, a past President of IAEI’s Genesee Chapter Paul is a member of NEC CMP5, NFPA 70E, and NFPA 79. He enjoys combining the experience and background information gained in standards committee work with developing and presenting instructing educational programs.

Joe O’Connor

Mr. O’Connor is a President of INTEC. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from the University of Scranton and M.S.T. Degree from the State University of New York. He is an authorized OSHA Train-the-Trainer and has served on various workgroups for OSHA’s Advisory Committee for Construction Safety and Health. The written programs and training materials he has developed are used by a number of different trade associations and their members including the National Electrical Contractors Associations (NECA). Among these publications are the NECA NFPA 70E Lockout/Tagout Manual and PPE Selector. He is  also  part of the NECA eSafetyLine.

Scott M. Margolin

Scott Margolin is the International Technical Director for Westex Inc. Scott attended Franklin & Marshall College and the University of Delaware. Prior to joining Westex in 2000, Scott M. Margolin was a firefighter for six years and then spent 10 years at a major multinational chemical company working in two of its flame resistant fiber businesses. He also spent over four years leading the flash fire segment. Scott has conducted more than 3,200 flash fires and 1,100 arc flashes in labs in the United States, Canada, and Europe; among this research is groundbreaking work creating arcs in real equipment and utilizing high-speed, super-slow-motion cameras to analyze arc flash and PPE performance. He has presented these topics at seminars around the world, including North and South America, Europe, Russia, and Australia. He is a member of numerous NFPA and ASTM committees, including 2112, F-18, and F-23. Scott participates in a number of industry organizations, including Edison Electric Institute, National Safety Council Utilities Division, ASTM, and NFPA. He frequently addresses trade associations and groups regarding electric arc and flash fire hazards, body burn injury, the protective performance of flame resistant clothing, and other related topics.

James McGowan

James McGowan is Director, Safety Training for Quanta Services Inc. a Houston, TX based corporation.  James has over 15 years of field construction experience and 18 years of safety and training experience.  James is a journeyman lineman and has worked in all phases of the power-transmission and distribution field utilizing the hot stick, bare-hand, and rubber glove method. James is the Chairman of the training task team (Task Team II) for the OSHA Electrical Transmission & Distribution (ET&D) Partnership, and played a role in the development and subsequent implementation of the ET&D Partnership 10-Hour OSHA course and the ET&D Partnership Supervisory Leadership Skills Outreach Training course.

James’ interests include reading, computer science, camping, and public speaking.  James is a member of the American Society of Safety Engineers, The American Society of Training and Development and holds numerous accreditations and certifications.  James attends the Maysville Church of the Nazarene and is working to obtain a Master’s Degree in Occupational Safety and Health.