From left: Brenda Ward, Debra Storkman, Janice Day and Rachel Hensley from Indian Electric Cooperative undergo CPR training taught by Bill Graham.
Janice Day practices her technique on a CPR dummy while in training at Indian Electric Cooperative.
This person conducts trainings, organizes safe- ty committees, investigates safety violations and reports on the overall progress of an orga- nization’s safety initiatives to management. In addition, OAEC provides statewide re- sources to assist with training. Guffey and his team of safety professionals regularly provide training to both cooperative linemen and of- fice staff. In addition, they conduct Rural Electric Safety Achievement Program (RESAP) inspections to certify each cooperative meets national safety standards. RESAP was initially developed as the Rural Electric Safety Accreditation Program in 1967. The primary goal of RESAP is to reduce inju- ries over time. The program’s inspections and re-certifications are conducted every three years in Oklahoma. In 2010, the NRECA board of directors en- hanced the program to focus on continuous safety improvements based on performance feedback. Co-ops are encouraged to incorporate RESAP into their daily operations so safety improvement happens constantly rather than only during the RESAP inspections. According to Bud Branham, NRECA’s director of safety and loss control programs, revisions in the RESAP program have gained momentum over the past three years because of widespread support from statewide associa- tions’ safety and loss control staffs. “They’ve encouraged the adoption of the new approach at the co-op level and have helped develop safety programs focused on continuous improvement. “The challenge is always honestly evaluating your current state of safety performance, then involving your employees to help make improvements,” Branham adds. “This supports the development of your safety improvement plan and helps make the overall commitment to safety even stronger.” Choctaw Electric Cooperative based in Hugo, Okla., has adopted this
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“Safety can be summed up with one word— ‘A t tit ude . ’
The attitude of safety starts at the top.”
- Bill Graham, safety and loss coordinator at Indian Electric Cooperative
approach. Guy Dale, director of safety and loss, says the co-op has created a RESAP inspection commit- tee that meets regularly; each month the committee reviews a different aspect of the organization to en- sure it is meeting safety standards and to find ways to improve the safety of the co-op’s operations. The benefits to this continuous focus on safety
have been clear. According to Dale, Choctaw Electric’s most recent RESAP inspection was one of the best Guffey has ever seen. State safety coordinators like Hambrick go out to
each cooperative nine times per year for outdoor linemen safety training and perform an average of four training classes per year for indoor office staff. They use a variety of training materials from a wide range of sources. While some of the training mate- rials come from NRECA, materials are also devel- oped at OAEC headquarters in Oklahoma City and shared with its member systems throughout the state. OAEC is member of the National Safety Council and uses training materials from the
Oklahoma Safety Council. “Co-op folks are really good about sharing safety information,” Guffey
says. “I go to national training seminars twice a year and listen to presenta- tions by other co-ops on safety issues they have encountered. They will include training materials on a thumb drive and pass it out to other co-ops, sharing important training materials they have developed.” A federal organization that helps ensure safe working conditions is the
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Every electric cooperative incorporates OSHA initiatives in their training programs. OSHA requires each line crew to perform a five-item checklist before each
job. The lead lineman runs through this pre-job “tailgate” briefing with the crew. It covers everything from the job requirements to personal protection equipment. One checklist item on a tailgate briefing when working with live power is to ensure the safety breakers are set to “one shot mode.” In normal operation, these devices try to re-energize a line three times before tripping
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