• Introduction
• Safety accreditation ensures that your cooperative operates safely
• Inspecting the Engelhard District
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Safety accreditation ensures that your cooperative operates safely

A cornerstone of the safety program is the national accreditation process that recognizes cooperatives that continuously adhere to safe work practices. Established in 1967, the Rural Electric Safety Accreditation Program (RESAP) is voluntary, but in this state, 26 of the 27 cooperatives participate – the highest participation rate in the nation.

The RESAP mission is to help electric cooperatives prevent accidents and any resulting financial loss to the members who own the co-op. The buzz phrase is “zero injury, zero loss, nothing less.” It involves a preliminary inspection; full documentation of safety compliance of a co-op’s facilities, operating equipment and protective equipment; a follow-up inspection by trained national inspectors; and regular maintenance of safe practices. Co-ops that are accredited receive national recognition, which can mean favorable insurance rates, among other rewards. Participating cooperatives may apply for re-accreditation every three years, which requires going through the whole process again.

“It’s very important to us to go through the accreditation process,” says Bill Stacy, CEO of Tideland Electric. “It makes sense to have someone from the outside evaluate what we do and whether we do it well or not so well. We take the reports seriously and make any necessary changes to correct the problem.”

Tideland serves more than 21,000 members in six counties of the state’s coastal plain. The cooperative employs a fulltime training and safety director, supports an employee safety committee and holds monthly safety meetings in its four offices (Pantego, Grantsboro, Engelhard and Ocracoke).

Tideland EMC, among others, is going through the re- accreditation process this year. All four offices, their vehicles, equipment, substations, underground line facilities and field work will be inspected twice from top to bottom.

The initial inspection was done this summer by Tommy C. Greer, director of Job Training and Safety for the North Carolina Association of Electric Cooperatives since 1989. Tommy is among the most knowledgeable persons in the country about safety accreditation. He and his staff work every day with cooperatives on training and safety, including the accreditation program. Before joining the statewide association, Tommy Greer was a lineman for 10 years with Brunswick EMC in southeastern North Carolina. He has chaired the National Utility Training and Safety Education Association, and currently is serving a 6-year term as NUTSEA’s delegate to RESAP Accreditation Committee. Jeff Edwards, general manager of Albemarle EMC, is also on the committee.