News > We Work For You – Safety

We Work For You – Safety

August 2025

At Stearns Electric Association, our mission is member focused. In everything we do, a team of dedicated employees works behind the scenes on behalf of our member-consumers. 

Safety is a top priority at Stearns Electric, not just for our employees but for our members and local communities, too. We make it our mission to safely deliver reliable and competitively priced power, and we promote the importance of being safe around electrical equipment through various programs and partnerships. 

SAFETY COMMITTEE
Made up of Cooperative employees, Stearns Electric’s Safety Committee meets on a monthly basis to discuss pertinent safety issues and concerns. In addition to safety-focused Cooperative staff, employees from various departments also serve on the Safety Committee. 

“Serving on the Safety Committee has deepened my understanding of how essential safety is to the overall success of the Cooperative. Safety isn’t just about compliance; it’s about creating a culture where every employee feels responsible for one another.”

DEDICATED TO TRAINING
Stearns Electric diligently works to create a culture of safety. Every year, all employees complete compliance training which covers topics like identifying workplace hazards, fire safety and responding to serious incidents at work. All employees review monthly safety training topics in department meetings, and field employees often participate in additional hands-on safety training several months out of the year. 

Stearns Electric partners with Minnesota Rural Electric Cooperative (MREA), the statewide association, in our safety efforts. This partnership allows employees to be trained by industry experts and helps ensure any changes in safety rules and regulations are shared quickly with the Co-op. 

NEAR MISS REPORTING
In addition to submitting injury and/or equipment damage reports, Stearns Electric employees are encouraged to report “near misses” that they encounter. A near miss is a condition or incident with potential for more serious consequences. Reporting near misses provides an opportunity to improve environmental, health and safety practices, and enhance our Cooperative’s safety culture. 

“Looking at near miss incidents gives our Safety Committee and Cooperative staff the ability to help prevent accidents from happening later. These near misses can then become learning opportunities for everyone.” 

JOB BRIEFINGS
Ahead of any work beginning at a job site, Stearns Electric lineworkers hold a job briefing. During this briefing, the entire crew reviews the work plan and identifies potential hazards of the job and the jobsite. This ensures crew members understand the project scope, know their specific roles and perform the work safely. 

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)
The equipment and apparel of our field employees helps keep them safe while working with high voltage electrical equipment. The PPE employees rely on include: 

• Hard Hats
• Safety Glasses
• Rubber Sleeves
• Rubber Gloves
• Hi-Vis Shirts/Safety Vests
• Flame Resistant (FR) Clothing
• Hot Sticks
• Harness

PUBLIC-FACING SAFETY PROGRAMS
Our commitment to safety extends beyond our office walls through our events and promotions. Some of these include: 

• ENERGY EDUCATION: Presented annually to 4th grade classrooms throughout our service territory. A live home and farm model demonstrates first-hand the importance of being safe around electrical equipment. 
• CONNEXUS SAFETY DEMONSTRATION: Presented bi-annually to area first responders throughout our service territory. A large-scale live safety model demonstrates how to safely respond to fires, vehicle accidents and other emergencies involving electrical distribution equipment. 
• FARM SAFETY: Annual outreach promoting “Look Up and Live,” a reminder to area farmers to look up before moving large equipment and to know what to do if their vehicle or equipment contacts power lines. 

“The safety and health of our employees has a direct impact on how efficiently and effectively we serve our members. Injuries can happen for any employee, but we do everything we can to make sure all employees go home safe to their loved ones at the end of every workday.”