May is Electrical Safety Month and NECA takes that responsibility very seriously. From our inside electrical contractors who follow NFPA 70E, the Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace, to our outside line and utility contractors who work around high voltage and other hazards, our members are dedicated to providing the safest work environment possible, protecting all electrical workers from serious injuries and fatalities and all of the other hazards they may face on the job. 

NECA has been active with many safety initiatives, from mental health and well-being, to heat hazards in the workplace and the many other issues faced by electrical contractors. Working with the other associations, we have developed content for the 2026 Construction Safety Week and OHSA’s National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction, May 4–8, 2026. Five videos will be released on LinkedIn during that week for our construction industry to use during safety meetings and stand-downs. Our outside line and safety department have also worked with members and the Electrical Transmission & Distribution Strategic Partnership to develop resources and a video for the recent Workzone Awareness Week to bring attention to our workers who may be in harm’s way alongside the roadways and rights-of-way where utility lines are located. 

Speaking of mental health, NECA was recently awarded an Association Mental Health Visionary Award at the Construction Mental Health and Wellbeing Conference earlier this year. Safety Task Force chair and District 7 vice president, Dan Smith, attended the event, which was also co-sponsored by our local NECA chapters and the local IBEW in Oregon. 

“Safety is not a secret!” Our next challenge in safety is related to artificial intelligence and how it will be used to address safety now and in the future. At this year’s NECA Safety Professionals Conference (NSPC) in Atlanta, May 18–20, we will have a keynote and breakout sessions dedicated to educating our safety professionals on what to expect and how to use A.I. effectively, ethically and appropriately, thereby providing guidance that will keep our workers safe. Make your plans to join Wes Wheeler, Mike Starner and NECA Safety at this world-class event. As part of the NSPC for the third year in a row, there will be a dedicated Outside Line and Utility Safety Expo for our District 10 members held at the SELCAT Apprenticeship Training Center on May 20. 

David Long
NECA CEO