(JEFFERSON, GA. Nov. 14, 2017) – Jackson EMC’s Tim Sweat, senior director of job safety and training, received the prestigious Cofer-Langston Award during the 2017 fall meeting of the Georgia Foreman and Supervisors’ Association.

The honor is awarded annually to the person who has demonstrated outstanding dedication to promoting training and safety within Georgia’s electric cooperative community. A nominee must also employ and abide by all industry safety rules and use them in his or her personal, professional and civic life.

“Nothing is more important to us than the safety of the men and women who perform sometimes dangerous work on behalf of our Jackson EMC members,” said Chip Jakins, Jackson EMC president and CEO. “Tim’s leadership in safety and training have been instrumental in making sure we all go home safely to our loved ones at the end of each workday.”

Sweat, who lives in Braselton, began his Jackson EMC career at the age of 18, and has served the roles of lineman helper, lineman, and journeyman lineman, before taking a leadership role in job training and safety. He has experience in every area of electric linework, from substations to overhead and underground work, and has experience with major storm restoration, having traveled with crews responding to memorable storms like hurricanes Fran, Katrina and Sandy, in addition to his work during storms closer to home.

Sweat’s qualifications go beyond his years of hands-on experience. He is a Certified Loss Control Professional (CLCP), a Certified Utility Safety Administrator (CUSA), a CPR instructor, a Department of Transportation flagging instructor and an accident investigator expert. In addition, Sweat has been ITS certified for 33 years and has earned his National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (Soil and Water Conservation) Level 1A certification.

His training and experience helped him develop and improve Jackson EMC’s successful safety programs, from line inspection and damage assessment to the cooperative’s lineman’s training program and monthly safety meetings.

“I don’t think there’s anyone better to carry on the legacy of the Cofer-Langston Award, so we are proud to see Tim receive this honor,” Jakins said.

The Cofer-Langston Award is in memory of Red Cofer and Leon Langston, who for many years were job training and safety instructors for Georgia EMCs. These two were the pioneers of Georgia EMC’s present job training and safety program and gave years of faithful service promoting training and safety to linemen and supervisors.

Jackson Electric Membership Corporation, the largest electric cooperative in Georgia and one of the largest in the nation, is headquartered 50 miles northeast of Atlanta in Jefferson, Ga. The cooperative serves more than 225,000 meters on 14,000 miles of energized wire. For more information, visit jacksonemc.com.