Message From the CEO
ECI REC passes unannounced assessment with flying colors
Building and maintaining a safety culture is a continuous process that relies on the daily attitudes and actions of our employees. Like muscle memory, safety becomes second nature when it’s consistently practiced. One of the ways your Cooperative gauges the effectiveness of our safety culture is by participating in the NRECA’s Rural Electric Safety Achievement Program (RESAP).
The goal of RESAP is to create a culture of safety through collaboration between representatives and safety professionals from statewide associations, distribution and G&T cooperatives, and the Federated Rural Electric Insurance Exchange. RESAP aims to elevate a cooperative’s safety program by facilitating on-site observations by industry professionals and peers every three years. Additionally, cooperatives are required to submit annual safety improvement plans and self-assessments.
Unannounced assessments involve evaluating everything from housekeeping and the security of facilities to equipment, substations, hazard recognition, and documentation. The assessment also includes field observations.
Infrastructure inspections like this ensure that it is safe for ECI REC members and the communities we serve. Our unannounced RESAP assessment was conducted by safety professionals from the IAEC in June. They inspected the facilities and equipment at our operating centers in Independence and Vinton, as well as the Urbana headquarters building; they also observed line crews working in the field.
The goal is not to catch employees doing something wrong, but to observe them in their normal setting to analyze our safety practices. A fresh set of eyes from an outside source can provide valuable input. A highlight of the assessment was that ECI REC had zero employee lost time or vehicle accidents for five consecutive years (2019–2023). The over 200-point checklist included in the RESAP assessment revealed that we have no areas of critical concern, receiving exceeding expectations or satisfactory scores.
Safety is a cornerstone of your Cooperative’s operations and requires commitment at all levels. It’s not just about ensuring compliance with regulations, but also fostering a culture that prioritizes the well-being of employees and the community. Investments in safety measures can indeed involve significant financial resources, but they are crucial for preventing incidents, minimizing risks, and maintaining a positive reputation. Your Board of Directors plays a critical role in endorsing these investments, because at the end of the day, we want everyone to work safely so they can go home to their families.
