San Patricio Electric Cooperative hit a major milestone Saturday when it surpassed 2,920 days—eight years—without a lost-time accident. Lost-time accidents are defined as work related accidents or injuries that require employees to take time off from work. 

This is the longest stretch the co-op has gone without a lost-time accident since it started keeping record. SPEC surpassed its previous record of 2,500 days last year.

The electric industry has a number of risks that make it a potentially dangerous field. SPEC employees deal with live electricity, operate heavy machinery, and make repairs in hazardous weather. They also travel thousands of miles, day and night, across SPEC’s nine-county service area. Hitting the 8-year mark is no small feat for the cooperative.

 “Despite challenging work conditions, SPEC makes every effort possible to ensure its employees make it home to their families safely each night,” said Ron Hughes, general manager of SPEC. “It’s thanks to each and every employees’ commitment to safe work practices that has allowed the cooperative to reach this significant accomplishment.”

The safety of SPEC’s employees is also a benefit to the cooperative’s customers, or member-owners. Being accident-free helps keep co-op expenses down so electricity prices stay low. Workplace accidents impact insurance and workers compensation rates. Accidents can also negatively affect productivity and create a staffing challenge, issues that could create more operational expenses for the co-op and a bigger burden for its member-owners.