LILESVILLE — Dustin Marsh, the safety coordinator at Pee Dee Electric, has completed an intensive program in electric utility safety and loss control. The Certified Loss Control Program is a series of workshops offered by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association in partnership with the National Utility Training & Safety Education Association. The program aims to teach participants various aspects related to electric utility industry safety.
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, nearly 4 million workplace injuries occur each year. One of the goals of a Certified Loss Control Professional is to help ensure a safe work environment for utility workers and the public. Avoiding workplace accidents avoids downtime and can ultimately lead to lower utility rates.
Marsh is among only a few electric utility professionals in the country to receive this certification this year. The program requires participants to complete a rigorous series of seminars and tests, a 30-hour OSHA course, and a detailed final course project.
Loss Control participants go through four week-long sessions designed to challenge and educate them in new, innovative safety techniques. Participants must also maintain their certificate by attending courses each year to stay up to date with industry changes.
“Safety is about making sure every employee goes home the same way they arrived,” Marsh said. “This certification strengthened my ability to identify risks before they become incidents and reinforces Pee Dee Electric’s commitment to protecting our employees, our members, and the communities we serve.”
