MONROE, Ga. – For the16th consecutive time, the employees of Walton Electric Membership Corporation have been honored for maintaining an outstanding safety record and safety programs for a three-year period. The co-op is one of six in the state to receive a 2014 Safety Accreditation Award presented by the Electric Cooperative Safety Accreditation Program of Georgia.

Earning the award reaffirms the culture of safety at Walton EMC, says Larry Thompson, the electric cooperative’s loss control director.

“This award acknowledges the commitment Walton EMC employees make to safety,” he says. “We live it, we breathe it and we practice it day in and day out to better serve our customer-owners and our co-workers.”

To earn accreditation, Walton EMC employees completed a rigorous inspection process. This included a multi-day, on-site visit by inspectors who evaluated employees’ adherence to stringent safety regulations from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The inspection process also includes evaluation of public rights of way and utility poles as well as overhead and underground wiring to ensure the safety of the general public.

Walton EMC provides electric service to 123,000 residential and business accounts in a 10-county area between Atlanta and Athens. Because its customers own the company, service — not profit — is Walton EMC's primary focus.

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