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Safety Manager Earns Credentials
Kelly Huffman, center in white, provides employee safety leadership and training at Blue Ridge Electric.
The Utility Safety & Ops Leadership Network (USOLN) is pleased to announce that Kelly Huffman, safety manager at Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation, has received the Certified Utility Safety Professional (CUSP) credential. He is part of the Charlotte, North Carolina class that recently took the CUSP exam.
Blue Ridge Electric has a safety goal of zero accidents for its employees and members. To enable the cooperative to meet these goals, Huffman provides oversight for a strong safety program and employee involvement.
The CUSP program was developed by the USOLN to promote safety leadership in the utility industry by formally recognizing those individuals who meet specific eligibility requirements and pass the CUSP exam. The exam is designed to test a broad-based understanding of utility safety regulations, competencies and task-directed skills. CUSP certification encourages continued personal and professional growth in the practice of utility safety leadership and provides a national standard of requisite knowledge required for certification. CUSP certification is the only program that offers utility-specific safety credentials to meet the unique requirements of utilities and related utility contractors.
CUSP certification is a two-tiered, color-designated program. To be eligible for the CUSP Green – Safety Management program, an individual must have three years of experience in a dedicated safety/training role in the utility industry. The CUSP Blue – Operations Management, Supervisory and Foreman program requires three years of utility operations leadership experience and at least one year in role where safety activities are a part of a job description. All eligible individuals must pass either the CUSP Green or CUSP Blue exam and one endorsement exam in order to be certified.
Huffman met the eligibility requirements for the CUSP Green program and passed the exam to receive his CUSP Green credential with an endorsement in transmission and distribution.
“Successful completion of the CUSP Green exam confirms a high level of knowledge in the utility safety discipline and allows Kelly to use the CUSP credential,” said Carla Housh, USOLN executive director. “We congratulate Kelly on this significant accomplishment in his career, which will only enhance his value to his employer, Blue Ridge Electric, and the industry.
Blue Ridge Electric is a member-owned electric cooperative utility serving some 74,000 members in Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe, Alleghany, Wilkes, Avery and Alexander counties. This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.