Safety leadership and training were the focus of the 2026 Safety and Energy Conference, held January 28-29, 2026, in Springfield, Illinois. The two-day event brought together electric cooperative professionals, safety leaders and industry partners for educational sessions, networking and recognition of outstanding safety performance.
The conference, which was hosted by the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives, covered a range of topics focused on leadership, safety and workplace culture. These topics dove into specific areas including personal influence and leadership, technical safety training, and the role of safety culture in the workplace.
Safety awards were also presented, recognizing cooperatives for exemplary safety performance over the past year. Wayne-White Counties Electric Cooperative was proud to be recognized for outstanding workplace practices by earning the 2025 RESAP Certificate of Achievement.
This certificate indicates that the cooperative completed the Rural Electric Safety Achievement Program, a program that was developed to maintain a culture of safety at cooperatives. By participating in the program, cooperatives commit to safety as an organizational value through training, educating and assessing its workforce. In order to complete the RESAP program, five inspectors visited each facility to examine our facilities and processes. These inspectors verified that Wayne-White Electric was following all National Electric Safety Codes and OSHA codes of conduct.
As the electric industry continues to evolve, safety will continue to be a top priority. Wayne-White Counties Electric Cooperative will always be committed to a strong safety culture for our employees, our communities, and our cooperative members.