ELECTRICITY PLAYS A necessary role in almost every part of our lives, making it vitally important for us to use it safely. May is National Electrical Safety Month and a great time to raise awareness on how to avoid potential hazards.

At Palmetto Electric Cooperative, keeping our employees and community safe around electricity is a top priority.  We strive to deliver safe, affordable and reliable electricity to our members, and to return our employees home safely to their loved ones each day. In order to do this, we must remain focused, dedicated and committed to high safety standards.

Working with electricity is a dangerous job, so we have implemented numerous initiatives to create a culture of safety here at the cooperative. Employees participate in monthly safety meetings and report “near-misses,” allowing us to identify possible safety concerns before they become a problem. Our linemen and crew members are outfitted with personal protective equipment (PPE) and hold pre-job briefings before beginning each job. Every three years, the cooperative participates in the Rural Electric Safety Achievement Program, where we are evaluated on our safety measures.  In 2019, we were named a winner of the President’s Safety Contest for our extraordinary efforts in the prevention of injuries and related loss.

Because we live in the communities we serve, we also know the importance of educating our neighbors on how to stay safe around electricity. Our website, palmetto.coop, and social media channels offer tips and information that will help protect you and your family against the risks of electricity. Some tips include:

• Check cords for fraying or cracking.
• Keep electric appliances away from water.
• Never put anything other than an electrical plug in an outlet.
• Call 811 before digging to locate any underground utility lines.
• Stay away from downed power lines!

Electrical injuries can happen to anyone, regardless of age, making it important to educate children, as well as adults, about how electricity works, and  the dangers associated with it. Palmetto Electric employees have made frequent presentations to students in local schools and summer camps, including our very own Safety Days summer program.  Because of COVID restrictions, the program was moved to an online format in 2020 but is still available for viewing online, here at palmetto.coop.

This May, I hope you will join us in focusing our efforts on staying safe around electricity. By being aware, we can all play a part in preventing electrical hazards and injuries in the future