Pointe Coupee Electric was recognized for its outstanding safety performance at a recent statewide awards banquet.

Mike Bergeaux, Director of Safety and Loss Control at the Association of Louisiana Electric Cooperatives (ALEC) in Baton Rouge, made the presentation at the association's annual meeting at the downtown Hilton in July.

In his presentation, Bergeaux said PCEMC has logged over 240,296 man-hours without a lost-time accident since September of 2006. The local electric cooperative was one of three ALEC member cooperatives around the state to be honored for their outstanding safety record.

The cumulative total of safe work hours included Hurricane Gustav and the snow storm of 2008.

“It’s a real testament to the quality of our safety program and to the efforts of our employees who implement the program that they can perform under stressful conditions such as a hurricane and still operate in a safe and effective manner,” Bergeaux said.

Pointe Coupee Electric Safety Coordinator Joe Langlois accepted the award on behalf of the board of directors, management and employees at the locally-owned electric cooperative.

“I'm proud to accept this award for those who earned it,” Langlois said. “Safety isn’t something that we just take for granted or something that just happens automatically. It takes everyone working together to create a safe working environment.”

PCEMC General Manager J.H. “Jodie” Cotten said the cooperative’s safety training and practice goes beyond making sure employees and property are free from harm, but also includes co-op members and the public as well.

“We want to make sure everyone is aware of the dangers of living and working around electricity and that no one ever gets hurt,” Cotten said.

ALEC, composed of 10 Louisiana electric cooperatives, is a statewide organization that provides regulatory support, education, public relations, safety/loss control, legislative, legal and a variety of communications services to its member electric cooperatives.

 Pointe Coupee Electric is your electric cooperative serving parts of Iberville, Pointe Coupee and West Baton Rouge parishes for over 70 years. Pointe Coupee Electric is connecting people…impacting lives!