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A Culture of Safety Starts with Interaction

July 7, 2020

At ACRT Services and our family of companies, safety permeates all that we think, say, and do — from how we serve customers in the field to how we train the industry. For Keith Pancake, safety manager at independent vegetation management consulting firm ACRT and metering services company Bermex, keeping safety at the forefront of employees’ minds is his mission.

With more than 10 years of industry experience, Keith understands the challenges that we all face. At ACRT and Bermex, he uses this knowledge to guide and inform our safety strategy, ensuring that incidents are prevented wherever our team members are working.

“Building a culture of safety starts with interacting with employees, customers, and partners to help them understand that hazards exist at all times,” Pancake said. “Energy and resources invested in building that culture will always return positive dividends.”

For Pancake, part of that interaction includes sharing his own personal safety story with associates to help them understand the applications and importance of safety.

“Having experienced significant injury myself, I openly share that experience with those who are interested in an effort to advance safety across our industry. It’s critical that people have a sense for how safety affects every moment of our daily lives and the decisions we make. As a safety manager, it’s my job to align that reality with the tools, technology, and equipment we all need to work safely.”

Pancake is an ISA Certified Arborist and Utility Specialist, National Safety Council Defensive Driving Instructor, New Hampshire Certified Arborist, Licensed Pesticide Applicator, former New Hampshire Arborist Association board member, UAA member, and UAA Safety Committee member. He is also a recipient of the UAA Silver Shield Award for his efforts to promote a culture of safety.

Learn more about our safety philosophy at acrt.com.

Author
ACRT Staff

ACRT is the largest independent utility consulting company in the U.S. and empowers utilities to proactively manage vegetation across their entire rights-of-way. We consistently stay on top of and share relevant industry content with our employees and customers around the country.