In our line of work, safety is paramount:
Working with high voltage electricity is a dangerous job. Doing so safely is a top priority at Burke-Divide Electric Cooperative.
BDEC is a member of the North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives (NDaREC). NDaREC offers a variety of services to North Dakota electric cooperatives. One of these services is a robust safety training program.
Throughout the year, BDEC employees participate in a variety of safety training courses, some of which include CPR, First Aid, use of AEDs, defensive driving, and pole top and bucket truck rescue.
NDaREC safety services employees also conduct field visits with employees. During a field visit, safety services employees observe BDEC employees performing normal day-to-day tasks to make sure safety procedures and policies are being followed in daily operations of the cooperative.
In addition to safety training courses, BDEC safety coordinators also perform inspections of the cooperative’s facilities to ensure that work areas a free from hazards. Every three years, NDaREC safety services conducts a comprehensive review of BDEC facilities and provides the co-op with suggestions for safety improvements.
We can’t stress enough how important it is to provide our employees with these safety training opportunities. We just never know when these skills may need to be used, on the job or in our personal lives.
BDEC employees Jason Bruner, Terry Knutson, Richard (Joe) Thomas, and Kyle Helmers were called upon to put their safety training skills to use in three separate emergency situations in 2023. Each of these gentlemen recently received the NDaREC Life Saver Award for their actions. We are proud of how these employees acted in each of these situations and congratulate them on receiving the Life Saver awards. Click here to learn about their life saving stories.
Until next time,
Jerry King
General manager