Safety is at the heart of every call cooperative crews answer. It guides decisions in the field, shapes every step of the response, and reflects an ongoing commitment to protecting the people and communities they serve.

One of the people helping shape that culture of safety is Randy White, manager of job training and safety for North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives. Working alongside crews from across the state’s 26 electric cooperatives, White draws on nearly two decades of experience as a lineworker, bringing firsthand knowledge of the job and the challenges crews face every day.

For White, that commitment to safety goes beyond the job; it is shaped by personal experience.

“We lost my father-in-law in a coal mining accident caused by someone else taking a shortcut that should never have been taken,” White said. “It really affected my family; it was a major blow.”

When the safety coordinator position became available at Surry-Yadkin Electric Membership Corporation (EMC), White knew it was a role and responsibility he wanted to take on, bringing with him the lessons he learned from his own loss.

“I tell that story to all the cooperatives I visit,” White said. “I want to bring attention to the hazards that can occur in our line of work and make sure everyone understands the importance of safety. There are no shortcuts in our line of work.”

White later transitioned to a role with the statewide job training and safety team, where he has been since 2018. His job is to help crews stay up to date with the latest safety training and technology. Throughout the year, the team conducts safety visits with co-ops across the state to share OSHA standards and best practices, as well as offer lineworker training programs like the one at Nash Community College.

“Every co-op in North Carolina has a good safety program,” White said. “You have to stay on top of it with the rules and the ever-changing landscape of what we do, and the co-ops pride themselves on upholding that standard.”

Having served as a lineworker himself and now supporting more than 1,000 cooperative lineworkers across North Carolina, White said he understands the impact these individuals make and the importance of their work.

“I tell anyone considering linework that it’s a great career, but it’s also hard work,” White said. “It’s hard work at 2 in the morning when you’re out there in the pouring rain or snow. You have to be dedicated to your job and ready to respond when you’re called on.”

Reflecting on his time with the cooperatives, White believes the loss his family suffered has guided him and helped him better prepare the next generation of lineworkers coming up through the cooperative network.

“Everything I do is based on what happened; that’s the reason I do what I do,” White said. “You hear about accidents on the news, but you don’t realize the impact until it hits home. No matter the job, no matter the call, it’s important to do the job right and not take any shortcuts.”