NC Safety Campaign Featured at National Summit

(L to R) Steve Wehner, Don Gatton, Chris Walker and Farris Leonard at the 2018 Safety Leadership Summit in Atlanta.

The North Carolina Association of Electric Cooperatives’ Job Training & Safety (JT&S) team was one of 20 organizations nationally selected to present at the 2018 Safety Summit in April, hosted in Atlanta by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. The NC team used the opportunity to bring national attention to its “I WILL” safety initiative, created to make safety personal, create an emotional impact and emphasize personal accountability every day.

“The team was not only proud to represent North Carolina but to share an idea that we know will make a difference across the nation,” said Manager of JT&S Field Services Farris Leonard. “There was great interest in the program as we shared our story. Many co-ops from other states asked how they could create such a program. The answer was very simple: Take our concept and personalize it to their cooperative. Involve employees, and most of all, make it about them.”

The program was developed to address the rise in contacts and serious injuries among lineworkers in the state, which follows a national rising trend. The JT&S team’s strategy became a purpose to make safety personal.

Eight safety promises were created to build the foundation of the program. Each safety promise begins with the simple but powerful words “I WILL” and contains key words such as accountable, focus, family and engage. These words together provide guidance to make the right decision daily.