So you want to work in the electrical utilities industry. You studied hard, got your technical degree from an accredited school, even earned a certificate or two that says you’re qualified to work on a specific type of utility or grid. But are you prepared to enter the workforce with safety in mind?
Unless you’re applying for an office job where you’ll never set foot in a power plant, examine a junction box or check out a grid system, you’ll need some safety training—and the certification to prove you can practice what you learned.
Safety and loss control play a major role in protecting a utility company's employees and its bottom line. The ever-increasing complexity of workplace-safety requirements places a heavy responsibility on the safety professional for managing disaster recovery, emergency procedures and workplace violence.
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) offers a four-part Loss Control Internship (LCI) program in cooperation with the National Utility Training and Safety Education Association (NUTSEA). The four one-week seminars offer the training today’s electrical industry safety professional needs, combining technical knowledge with practical application. Topics covered include regulations affecting electric power generation, transmission and distribution, "Best Practices" for ensuring safety, and practical communication techniques for teaching others how to manage the electrical hazards.
A Loss Control Internship is a major step toward certification as a Loss Control Professional (CLCP). Those certified gain recognition by safety professionals and the electrical utility industry. Candidates for certification must complete all four seminars in the required sequence with a score of a least 70 percent. Candidates must also complete a project to be approved by the Loss Control Internship Certification Panel and attend a 30-hour OSHA compliance course for general industry.
After successfully completing the internship, NRECA's Rural Electric Safety Accreditation Program (RESAP) helps professionals organize, document and manage their loss-control efforts. Once an organization meets RESAP's requirements, it can earn national recognition as a RESAP-accredited system.
Like many field utility jobs, there’s a rush to fill the vacuum left by scores of retiring utility workers. This puts the emphasis on safety training, which can help you become more employable and even save your life someday.
For more information on how RESAP can work for you, call 703.907.6414, e-mail ken.brubaker@nreca.coop.
"Image from dreamstime.com"
Become a member to take advantage of more features, like commenting and voting.
Register or sign in today!