Скачать или смотреть Meet Robert Thornton: Safety and Training Manager

Employee Spotlight Series 2022
Robert Thornton - Safety and Training Manager

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Meet our December Spotlight Employee! Robert Thornton is our Safety and Traning Manager, and he provides safety education to Big Rivers employees. Thornton also leads High-Voltage Demonstrations for employees, school children, and civic groups in the Big Rivers footprint.
How would you explain your job? I always tell people that I have the best job at Big Rivers, without a doubt. I am responsible for the safety and training of our ET&S (Energy Transmission & Substation) group. I also am responsible for safety and training with our three member systems (Jackson Purchase, Meade Co RECC, and Kenergy). I will also assist the other members of the safety team as needed.

What does a normal day at work look like for you? Another reason that I have the best job at Big Rivers is that there really are no “normal” days. Every day is different. One day I am doing a 7:00 am safety meeting for Jackson Purchase in Paducah; the next day I may be doing crew visits with our ET&S folks in Brandenburg. Or I may be in my office researching safety programs and trying to come up with new material. Every day is something different.

How long have you been working at Big Rivers?
I have been with Big Rivers for three years. I have a bachelor’s degree in Occupational Safety and Health from Murray State University. I began my career at Nolin RECC (a distribution cooperative) in Elizabethtown, KY in 2003 as the Compliance Coordinator. In 2012, I went to work for the Kentucky Electric Cooperatives as a Safety and Loss Control Consultant. There I did safety training for all 26 of the Kentucky electric cooperatives.

What skills do you need to have to work in your position? Did education, training, or experience help you learn some of those skills? You definitely cannot be afraid to speak in front of others! It is not just being able to speak, you must also have very good listening skills (which is challenging when you are deaf in one ear). You also have to have semi-thick skin and be able to take yourself lightly. While the degree helped me get into the industry, on-the-job training and asking a ton of questions to other safety professionals definitely have helped my career.

What is the biggest challenge you face in your job? The biggest challenge is keeping safety training interesting and relevant. There are only so many ways to talk about blood-borne pathogens or slips, trips, and falls. I am constantly looking for ways to keep the audience engaged, with the end goal that they take something away from the training.

Any recent or upcoming projects that you’d like to share? As many people know, doing high-voltage demonstrations is one of the favorite parts of my job. In early 2023, we are purchasing a high-voltage “tabletop” demonstration unit. This will eliminate the weather aspect of the high-voltage demonstrations. I will be able to take it to any classroom or community room and do presentations. I will also be able to customize it to fit different audiences. I am very excited about the opportunity.

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