Safety and Co-ops Go Together Like Peanut Butter and Jelly

Peanut butter and jelly often bring back simple, familiar memories. For some, it may be the excitement of opening a lunchbox at the school table to find a sandwich made by mom. For others, it may be preparing the same sandwich for their own children after a day of playing outside. No matter the memory, peanut butter and jelly have long been a classic combination. The two are rarely seen apart, and they work best when each plays its part.

Powell Valley Electric Cooperative has a strikingly similar situation with safety. You won’t see us without safety as the No. 1 priority. Our co-op, our employees and our members share a responsibility to one another when it comes to safety, and all of us work best when each other does their part.

It is our responsibility as your electric co-op to build a safe system all the way around — that goes for infrastructure and our daily work. We are responsible for designing, maintaining and operating a system with safety at the forefront. We ensure ongoing training, strict safety protocols and regular equipment inspections happen. We also empower crews to slow down or even stop work if something doesn’t feel safe, even when power is out and the pressure is high for restoration. Safety isn’t something we compromise, even when the work is urgent.

Safety is not just found in policies. It is part of the everyday work. Crews hold daily briefings and complete pre-work safety checks before every job. Linemen also watch out for one another on the job site. In fact, each crew designates a lineman to focus on safety. These practices help ensure every lineman goes home safely at the end of the day.

You can join this safety partnership, too. It’s not an obligation. It’s a way to protect yourself, your families and our linemen. Be aware of overhead lines when working outdoors. Call 811 or us before digging. Give crews space when they’re working along roads.

Electricity is powerful but unforgiving. A few extra seconds of caution can prevent life-changing injuries. Small actions from every party in this partnership help keep everyone safe. So, make yourself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, join us by doing your part when it comes to safety and celebrate National Electrical Safety Month with us all month long.

-Brad Coppock