Electric Co-op Today

Talking about safety is easy; getting it to sink in can be tougher. But one Florida electric cooperative has created a culture of safety that can serve as a model.

One of the signs at Tri-County EC’s headquarters that the co-op uses to encourage a culture of safety. (Photo By: Rusty Smith)

“We tend to pay special attention to the unforeseen situations,” said Rusty Smith, safety director at Tri-County Electric Cooperative. “We try to think ahead—what will be the consequences of this decision down the road.”

The Madison-based co-op leads the Touchstone Energy® Balanced Performance Scorecard for Best in Class Safety Score among large cooperatives.

One thing Smith stresses is the concept of “It’s not only about you—it’s about your family and it’s about your co-workers.”

“When I say that I bring your family into it,” Smith said. “What happens to your family if you lose a limb or lose your life? Who is going to take care of your family? Your friends and family are going to suffer too, because they also have to deal with your broken safety rule.”

Smith has even created signs that are posted in the co-op’s meeting room. One reads, “Safety first. We love you Daddy!!!” Another reads, “Think. What would my family think about me breaking safety rules?”

That factored into the annual Safety Day that Tri-County holds. At the 2011 event, held Nov. 18, employees heard from Eddie Black, a South Kentucky RECC employee who lost both arms below the elbows.

“His wife [Lisa] travels with him,” Smith said. “She talks about it from the wife’s standpoint, what she went through.”

Tri-County’s safety culture isn’t limited to linemen. This year’s Safety Day also included a visit from Madison’s police chief.

“He did a walk-around of our main office and gave us suggestions of things we need to do to keep our people safe,” Smith said. “He talked to our folks out in the field collecting and gave some pointers about what to do when people are getting upset.”

Smith came to Tri-County in 1983 as a lineman. “I’ve been there, and what I’m telling these guys is first-hand information,” he said. “There’s not a path they can go down that I haven’t been down,” though he stresses, “This isn’t about me; it’s about our people.”

Tri-County also encourages staffers to speak up if a work rule causes concern. And Smith said the general manager and co-op board are “110 percent on-board with safety.”

Smith said the Balanced Performance Scorecard also helps keep Tri-County a safe place. “I can not only tell how we’re doing as a whole, but also what areas we’re having trouble in.”

A case study outlining Tri-County’s efforts can be found online in the safety section of the Balanced Performance Scorecard, located in the Touchstone Energy Interest Area on cooperative.com. Registered users may click here to access it.

Tags: Safety, Touchstone Energy, Trends Reports and Analyses