FreeState is committed to safety, not only of those who work for the cooperative but also of our members. From crews in the field to infrastructure updates and making payments online, FreeState has built a culture of safety for all.
When John Malone, FreeState’s manager of safety and resources, divides up his time, there is one component of the job that rises to the top — safety.
“Everybody comes home safe, and everybody has a reason to work safe,” said Malone. “There is absolutely no room for silly mistakes in our line of work.”
Malone, a former journeyman lineman, oversees the cooperative’s safety plans and monthly training to ensure that every employee at FreeState understands the vital role that safety plays in providing members with service — on the job site, the office, and at home.
“While most people think safety only impacts our line and tree crews, it impacts every single employee here at the co-op,” Malone said.
“We also collaborate with our information technology department to provide information on how cybersecurity and information protection plays a key role in providing service to our members.”
“While I may be the safety officer at the cooperative,” added Malone. “Everyone has a job to do safely.”
From the Inside Out
A culture of safety starts internally. FreeState has several safety requirements for every employee. One of those requirements is CPR and basic first-aid training. The second is cybersecurity training, and for some, advanced cybersecurity training to obtain Fort Leavenworth credentials.
“We train every employee in basic first aid and CPR because even if they aren’t on the job, they are in their communities, and things happen,” Malone said. “It’s something that we have had employees come across off the job, and that training has come in handy and been helpful in the event of an emergency.”
Malone added that not only has line staff had encounters with car accidents and emergencies on the job, so have the office staff. “It happens from time to time that someone needs assistance, especially with our Topeka location being right off Interstate 70 and our McLouth location being on highway 92. We just want always to be prepared to help.”
Helping doesn’t always come in an emergency. One aspect of safety the cooperative has been keeping at the forefront and is working to educate members about is scam phone calls and online security — especially on the heels of a pandemic. Technology continues to evolve rapidly.
“I think one aspect of safety that is often just inadvertently overlooked is information protection and data security,” said Brent Edgecomb, manager of information technology. “We take technology and safety very seriously here, and it is something we train yearly for. Everyone at the cooperative goes through cybersecurity training, from each member of a line crew to every trustee.”
Edgecomb oversees a staff of three certified in advanced training and considered experts in their field.
“As technology evolves, so does FreeState,” Edgecomb added. “Not only are we looking at securing member data, but we’re also looking at securing our infrastructure and on a bigger picture scenario, the electric grid.”
Safer and More Efficient
Efficiency is important to FreeState. That’s where the resources portion of Malone’s job comes in. In both offices, fleets of trucks are used on the job, and in each office, a mechanical technician is available to maintain and monitor the fleet.
Each month the fleet undergoes rigorous inspections to maintain strict Department of Transportation regulations. These regulations are meant to keep workers safe not only on the roadways but on the job site.
Dean Lasher is the maintenance technician in McLouth. He oversees the fleet, as well as the facilities.
“One part of my job is keeping the fleet roadworthy, safe, and functional,” Lasher said. “We keep the oil changed, lights working, and things in shape here in the shop and out in the field.”
Lasher has been known to make field calls when needed if a tire goes flat or if something breaks while the line crew is on the job. Lasher’s counterpart in the Topeka office is Scott Halverson, who helps keep the Topeka fleet ready to go.
“If there is something to tinker with, that’s where you’ll find me,” Halverson said.
Paul Herring handles all the purchasing and inventory for FreeState and works with suppliers and vendors across the country to make sure the crews have precisely what they need when they need it. The recent global pandemic has slowed production in some areas and has caused FreeState to stop selling wire and other smaller resale items due to availability.
“We’ve just seen an increase in prices and lead time,” said Herring.
“We have to be so much more proactive in getting materials ordered, especially this time of year as storm season ramps up.”
“We’ve been working with several of our vendors closely to be as prepared as we can be,” Herring added. “It’s my job to make sure we have access to things like supplies, fuel, and other resources the line crews or tree crews might need.”
Malone says at FreeState, the culture of safety starts with teamwork.
“None of this works without every single employee being on board,” added Malone. “We’re fortunate to have leadership committed to safety and committed to our employees and providing the safest, most reliable energy to our members as possible.”
It is getting the job done safely. That’s what it’s all about.