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Be safe, Daddy
04/23/2025
Serviceman keeps safety close at hand through daughter’s art
For those of us who have seen one too many movies featuring mobsters, the term “fixer” might have a nefarious connotation. However, for Entergy Mississippi team member Andrew Hearn’s daughter, it describes what her father does for a living and what she wants to do when she grows up. As a serviceman in the Rankin network, Hearn is often called out to “fix things” and restore power to customers following storms or other power interruptions.
Having worked with Entergy for more than 20 years, Hearn has a tremendous amount of experience keeping the lights on, serving in the Madison network, the Jackson network, the Distribution Operations Center and, for the past several years, the Rankin network. Throughout his time at Entergy, from the training he received during the three-month boot camp at Entergy’s Knowledge and Skills Training Center in Clinton to his current work, safety has been stressed.
“The trainers stress safety from day one,” said Hearn. “They would teach what to do and how to do it safely. We want to go home at the end of the day and they want us to return to our families, so they preach safety.”
Hearn’s family, including his wife, Melissa, and daughters, Reagan and Ellery, is at the heart of the reason that safety is so important to him. They know how hard he works and when he is called at night or on weekends to restore power for other families. Ellery takes it especially hard when he leaves but is very proud of the work he does.
“She always makes it a point to tell me to be careful,” said Hearn. A talented artist, Ellery loves to draw and has given him artistic reminders to be safe that he carries in his truck.
Hearn has long admired custom-made glove and sleeve bags but found they were not very budget-friendly. Instead of ordering an expensive custom bag, he took a standard-issue glove and sleeve bag and gave Ellery the opportunity to customize it for him. While her only instructions were to have fun, her artistic touch did more than make the bag more attractive, it also reinforced the safety messages that are stressed on the job each day, with the phrases “Be safe, Daddy” and “I ♥ you” added along with the butterflies, stars and hearts she drew on the bag.
“I love my job, but my family is the reason I do it,” said Hearn. “My family is my life.”
It is often said that “experience is the teacher of all things.” This is especially true when it comes to safety, which Hearn learned first-hand. Four years ago, he was involved in a serious accident and spent 13 days in the hospital and six months recuperating before returning to work.
“I take a lot of pride in my work and in doing it right,” said Hearn. “I missed something and made an error. I was fortunate to walk away, eventually, but that day opened my eyes.”
That experience and others during his 20+ years in the industry have shaped him so that he lives safely and shares the gospel of safety with others, starting with his family and reminding them to be safe. He provides his daughter with her own PPE—a yellow safety vest and gloves—when she helps him with tasks outdoors. She wears them with pride.
He also helps give Arcs and Sparks demonstrations in the community, helping both children and adults understand the importance of respecting electricity and how to stay safe around power lines. He serves as the safety chairperson for the Rankin office and previously served as a representative on Entergy’s Health and Safety Board. He has good advice for those just starting out in the field.
“Don’t be afraid to ask questions or stop work if something doesn’t feel right,” said Hearn. “Don’t cut corners. Use the safety tools provided by the company and take your time to do it right.”
And he always remembers the reason for doing his tasks the right, and safe, way.
“I work safely so I can come home every day.”
