Little River Electric Supervisor of Safety and Loss Control Josh Strickland (left) and CEO Jeff Lewis with the President’s Safety Award.
by Josh P. Crotzer
In sports, players and coaches often don’t like to talk about winning streaks for fear of inviting a jinx that could ruin their run of good fortune.
Little River Electric Cooperative’s manager of safety and loss control, Josh Strickland, doesn’t mind the topic, because the streak he’s enjoying means his coworkers have been safe and are of the mind to stay that way.
Little River Electric has gone more than 1,600 consecutive days without a loss-time accident. That’s more than four years, resulting in the co-op winning its fourth consecutive President’s Safety Award, given to electric cooperatives in South Carolina with the fewest recordable OSHA recordable accidents. OSHA recordable injuries are those that require more than basic first aid.
“You always feel proud that nobody’s been hurt,” says Strickland. “But I don’t think there’s a lot of bragging that goes on. We don’t want to set ourselves up for failure by not being in the right mindset.”
Strickland says the right mindset is to not become complacent, adding that every hazard they haven’t encountered is still out there. “We have to always be aware.”
Each month, Little River Electric holds safety meetings for all employees that work in the field. There, linemen, servicemen, staking technicians and engineers discuss potential hazards, as well as ways to prevent accidents and injuries. Additionally, each quarter, Strickland meets with crew foremen and servicemen.
“I try to keep everybody safety-minded,” says Strickland. “We talk about anything that can be an issue and whether there is a better way of doing things.”
Foremen and veteran lineman are also encouraged to spend one-on-one time with younger lineman and help them learn safe practices on the job.
“Leaders know they are responsible to an extent for what happens to the guys working with them,” says Strickland. “I think it makes them want to spend more time to make sure things are done right.”
Being in the right mindset isn’t just for the guys working around powerlines. Strickland says all employees are encouraged to look for hazards, in or out of the office. That safe environment is beneficial to members, too. Safe work practices help Little River Electric hold down operating costs, which in turn saves members money.
“Winning the award is definitely a co-op-wide effort,” says Strickland. “It shows that everyone is trying to be mindful of safety.”
We want you to be safe, too
Little River Electric’s distribution system includes high-voltage equipment and high-risk areas. Safety and Loss Control Manager Josh Strickland recommends members follow these guidelines.
- Avoid fallen utility lines as well as tree limbs and debris that could hide fallen lines. They can also carry electricity.
- Report all downed lines immediately to Little River Electric by contacting us at 800-459-2141 or call 911.
- Keep away from high-voltage towers, substations, overhead lines and other utility equipment.
- Fly kites and ballons away from power lines. Contact could cause shock or fire.
- Avoid digging near underground lines, transformers or utility equipment. Always call 811 before you dig.
