Safety Stand-Down: Look Up and Live

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Safety Stand-Down: Look Up and Live

Electricity is a killer. About 150 people die each year at work from contact with electricity, according to the Electrical Safety Foundation International. Half of those are from contact with power lines. That data is just workplace deaths, so recreational and public service volunteering aren’t even accounted for.

In a recent article, ARRL New Mexico Section Manager Bill Mader, K8TE, shared safety concerns and processes that can be implemented at ARRL Field Day sites. I’d like to share a simple phrase that may enhance your situational awareness: Look up and live.

“Look up and live” was drilled into me and every other television news employee who worked with electronic news gathering vehicles that had a pneumatic mast or satellite dish. It was the title of an industry-standard safety video published by the National Press Photographers Association.

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Canadian Amateurs in Yukon Territory Get Separate Section

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The amateur radio map of Canada has undergone a change with the creation of a new section. 

Radio amateurs who live in Canada's Yukon Territory now have a section to call their own. Radio Amateurs of Canada has separated the Yukon Territory from the overall Territories section and given it a designation of its own. It now carries the abbreviation Y U K, setting it apart from hams in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories. Those regions will continue to be part of the section known as "Territories," which carries the abbreviation T-E-R. 

Radio Amateurs of Canada made the announcement in the July/August 2025 issue of the journal, The Canadian Amateur. The change took effect on the 1st of July. While the new section may have consequences for ARRL Field Day, Sweepstakes CW, Sweepstakes SSB and the 160 metre contest, the changes are not expected to have an impact on any major contests from the ARRL or RAC. Organisers of QSO parties may need to review their operating rules.

The RSGB Releases High-Contrast Logbook to Improve Accessibility

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The RSGB is proud to announce the release of a new high-contrast logbook designed to support amateur radio operators with visual impairments or learning difficulties. Responding to feedback from members and accessibility advocates, the RSGB developed the logbook with wider spacing and a high-contrast black-and-yellow design to improve ease of use.

This release reflects the RSGB’s wider commitment to improving accessibility across all areas of the Society and amateur radio as a whole. The organisation continues to explore ways to make the hobby more inclusive and user-friendly for all participants. This version will be available through Amazon and is expected to be a useful addition for both seasoned operators and newcomers looking for a more accessible logging option. As part of its long-term vision, the RSGB is looking to recruit a dedicated team to assess and enhance accessibility throughout the Society and help shape a more inclusive future for amateur radio.