Safety First

Building a culture of safety at Farmers RECC

What comes to mind when you think about electrical safety?

Hopefully, we can all remember some basic rules - like staying far away from power lines, using outlet covers in homes with small children and installing fault interrupters in kitchens and bathrooms. 

But electrical safety is more than just a list of do's and don'ts. Here at Farmers RECC, we cultivate a safety culture - an approach to our work that puts safety first. May is National Electrical Safety Month, and there's no better time to consider how Farmers RECC integrates safety into everything we do. 

Electricity powers our lives, but it can also be dangerous. According to the Electrical Safety Foundation International, electrical fires affect an average of 51,000 homes each year. This is true on the job, too. Over the last 10 years, more than 1,650 workers have been killed in workplace electrical accidents - and 70% of those fatalities were in non-electrical occupations. This is why we are so committed to creating the conditions that keep our employees safe - and helping you and your loved ones stay safe, as well. 

Farmers RECC understands that there's a difference between a checklist mindset and a true culture of safety. A checklist mindset treats safety like a set of requirements to get through before the actual work can start. But a strong safety culture embeds safety into the work itself. 

Angela Duckworth, a psychologist and bestselling author, defines culture as "the way we do things around here." Every workplace has a unique culture, and we can shape that culture in ways that are beneficial. 

You can see our safety culture at work in the way we approach every job, integrating safe practices from start to finish. We consult with safety professional from our statewide association, Kentucky Electric Cooperatives, to sharpen our skills and improve our processes. We also participate in the Rural Electric Safety Achievement Program, a national effort designed to enhance co-op safety programs. 

In addition to looking out for our employees, we care deeply about keeping you and your loved ones safe. That's why, in every issue of Kentucky Living we share safety tips and articles to arm you with knowledge to stay safe around electricity. In the last year alone, we've looked at safety practices for downed powerlines, device charging, agriculture, flooding, generators, space heaters and so much more. 

Safety is our priority - and we are proud to build a culture that supports what really matters. It's the way we do things around here. 

Toby Moss

President/CEO