The person controlling the thermostat in your house sets the temperature for everyone else. It’s an important job, because the person in control determines how comfortable other people are — too hot, and they may become restless or quick to react negatively, but too cold, and it may slow people down and result in lack of focus. This can apply to all kinds of places and environments, including when establishing a safety culture at your electric cooperative.
Given that utility work is one of the top 20 most dangerous jobs in the U.S., it is imperative that safety be a top priority for co-ops. Cooperative leaders set the safety thermostat in a variety of different ways, such as policies, training and achievement programs, just to name a few. One specific tool co-ops utilize is the voluntary Rural Electric Safety Achievement Program (RESAP).
The purpose of RESAP is to develop and maintain a culture of safety at a cooperative by committing to an “all in” buy-in from every level — from board members and general managers to cooperative employees and statewide associations. By participating in the program, cooperatives commit to safety as an organizational value through training, educating and assessing its workforce. These elements help to promote safe behaviors and environments that aim to reduce and prevent injuries.
The real “test” for co-ops that participate in RESAP is the on-site assessment that occurs on a 3-year cycle. The assessment consists of approximately 200 to 250 questions (the exact number depends on whether the co-op also has broadband or intermittent power generation, i.e., wind or solar). Assessment criteria covers Occupational Health & Safety Administration, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and Environmental Protection Agency regulations, as well as National Electric Codes and best practices.
The one- to two-day evaluation consists of personnel interviews, on- and off-site inspections, and crew visits. A team of Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives staff and other cooperative employees across the state conduct the assessment. This collaborative approach ensures that eyes with a wide range of expertise — from boots on the ground to regulatory compliance — are involved to offer the best overall assessment and feedback possible.
The RESAP certificate of achievement hanging in a cooperative’s lobby is an acknowledgment of their involvement in the program. It recognizes all that goes into making sure a facility is operating at the safest level possible. It also serves as a reminder that another RESAP assessment is right around the corner — and to never let their guard down.
Rest comfortably knowing that the safety thermostat at your cooperative is closely monitored and controlled by amazing employees working hard to keep the temperature just right.
