In my role, I coordinate the planning, development, and implementation of safety programs, safety orientations, and emergency preparedness programs. I serve as a resource to the cooperative for safety, including ensuring safety equipment is current, conducting field visits, providing personal protective equipment (PPE), and more. I’ve also been very involved in the design of the new headquarters, as well as the indoor training facility described on the following page. I serve as the primary investigator when damages occur on our system. This includes vehicle vs. power pole accidents and when homeowners or contractors dig into our power lines. Related to this, I am on the Kootenai County Utilities Council, which provides Call Before You Dig (811) service to Kootenai County.
Tell us about KEC’s safety program.
KEC has a robust safety program with an excellent safety record. Our goal is to send all our employees home safely each day to their families. We hold regular safety training and promote employee feedback through our three safety committees. KEC’s safety culture is one with open communication and we encourage discussions about safety issues. In fact, any employee can stop work if there is a safety concern. The group can then assess and identify the hazard before continuing work.