At UCEMC, safety is more than our top priority. It is a shared responsibility and a core value that guides every decision we make.

National Safety Day provides an opportunity to pause and reflect on the importance of protecting our employees, our members, and the communities we serve. Delivering reliable electricity requires skill, coordination, and commitment, but it also requires a culture where safety is woven into every task, every process, and every conversation.

From the moment a crew rolls out to respond to an outage to the planning that takes place in the office, safety is always part of the equation. Our linemen operate heavy equipment, work at heights, work with high voltage, and respond in challenging weather conditions. Our operations team maintains substations and critical infrastructure. Our right of way crews manage vegetation to reduce risk. Even inside our offices, safety protocols help protect employees and members alike.

UCEMC has a dedicated Safety team that works year-round to evaluate procedures, lead training, and strengthen our overall safety program. But safety does not come from one department alone. We also maintain a Safety Committee made up of employees from across various roles within UCEMC. These team members bring real world experience and practical insight to the table. They review videos, discuss employee ideas, test improvements, and help shape safety decisions from the perspective of those who rely on these procedures every day.

This structure ensures that safety initiatives are not simply top down policies, but thoughtful practices shaped by the people working in the field and offices. When employees have a voice in safety discussions, the culture becomes stronger and more effective.

Another key part of our safety culture is our Near Miss reporting program. This program allows employees to report situations that could have resulted in an accident but did not. These reports are reviewed by our Safety department to determine whether process changes, additional training, or system adjustments are needed. The program encourages transparency and open communication without fear of blame or discipline. It allows us to learn from potential risks before they become real incidents.

For us, safety is not about statistics. It is about people. It is about ensuring that every employee returns home safely to their family at the end of the day. It is about protecting our members when they interact with our crews or facilities. It is about maintaining a reliable electric system in a responsible way.

On National Safety Day and every day, UCEMC remains committed to fostering a culture where safety is proactive, collaborative, and continuous. Because when safety comes first, everyone benefits.