NRECA Annual Meeting
There were many highlights from the 2018 annual electric cooperative meeting held in Nashville this year. I would like to briefly discuss one very important topic covered there that impacts all of us.
Safety
EIEC has an annual safety goal that includes ZERO lost time incidents for our employees. The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) and Federated Insurance (a cooperative insurance provider) have coordinated efforts nationally to eliminate electrical contact injuries by raising awareness and setting a goal of ZERO injuries resulting from contact with energized electric lines. This type of contact incident typically results in a lifetime debilitating injury or death.
During one of the general sessions, a video was shown that recounted the events that resulted in the death of a cooperative line worker from Alabama, and the resulting impact on his family and coworkers. The room of thousands of people remained silent and contemplative during the video.
EIEC safety efforts not only include employees, but also keeping the public aware and safe around our facilities. Our territory is predominantly rural farm ground. Each year our facilities are involved in numerous incidents involving vehicles or farm equipment, with many of the events having the possibility of contact with energized lines. Unless your vehicle or equipment has caught fire, or is in imminent threat of doing so, the best course of action is to stay in the vehicle, call for help, and patiently wait for trained personnel to arrive. Please reference the video on our website at: http://www.eiec.org/staying-safe-in-an-accident-involving-downed-power-lines/ It covers the proper course of action if you are involved in an accident involving electric utility lines.
With the start of the spring farming season, please be careful – not only around energized lines – but also
in the safe and proper operation and maintenance of farm equipment of all types.
We will be recognizing our dedicated employees who work to provide reliable service to you in two separate events this April. April 9th is National Lineman Appreciation Day, and April 25th is Administrative
Professionals Day.
EIEC employs over 50 people to serve you via more than 13,000 meters that encompass over 4,500 miles of energized line in a service territory of approximately 100 miles in length by 60 miles in width. If you have a chance, pass on a word of thanks when you see our employees in their daily work.
By the time you read this column, that great harbinger of spring – baseball – will have started another season. Based on our observations of the Cardinals in spring training in early March, it does not appear that the Cubs have anything to be concerned about this year.
Thank you for allowing us to serve you.
Stay safe,
Bob Hunzinger