A new one-of-a-kind certification from Utility Safety Authority aims to help utility craftworkers enhance and validate their field safety knowledge. As the demand for skilled safety professionals grows, this innovative training and certification program empowers field safety professionals with the essential tools and mindset needed to protect themselves and their colleagues in high-risk environments. With insights from industry experts and a commitment to addressing real-world challenges, the certification program represents a significant step forward in promoting safety excellence in the field.
Field Safety Certification Bridges Potential Knowledge Gaps
Bonnie Knopf, CEO of KNX Utility Services, is one of the industry professionals behind this certification. Knopf joined the utility industry in 2015 as a safety director and currently serves as the Director of Safety and Compliance for Ryker Holdings. Knopf and her team began noticing a few knowledge gaps when it came to field safety personnel, during her tenure as Safety Director for Arc American (a Ryker Holdings company).
Most utility field safety professionals start their careers as linemen installing, repairing, and maintaining electrical power lines. This dangerous work requires a very technical skill set. Most linemen are extremely safety-conscious and know proper procedures for working at heights and around high-voltage electricity.
But a field safety worker isn’t just responsible for linemen’s safety. They must be aware of all job site hazards, including approaching the site, setting up equipment, and monitoring the surrounding environment and conditions.
“Lineman have deep technical experience in a particular area. In a safety role, you have to put safety first and being a lineman second,” explained Knopf. “It can be hard to shift your perspective after a career working exclusively on powerlines.”
Knopf and Utility Safety Authority began working on a refresher training and certification program designed to promote a safety mindset and equip craftworkers with the tools to identify and eliminate hazards. The program is driven entirely by industry needs and focuses on safety expertise that is needed in the field but not necessarily directed by organizations like OSHA, ANSI, and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
Nocti Business Solutions (NBS) Leads Assessment Development and Validation
An important addition to the training program is a certification developed and issued by an accredited third party. A third-party certification reduces any potential conflict of interest and helps ensure a fair and reliable testing process.
With a long history of developing technical assessments and a reputation for following the highest standards, Utility Safety Authority chose NBS as their certification assessment development and delivery partner. As with all our industry-based assessments, we began the process with a Job and Task Analysis and Test Development workshop. Utility Safety Authority invited key stakeholders within their industry to participate as subject matter experts representing field safety experts, linemen, contractors, and utility experts.
An NBS on-staff psychometrician led the workshop. A psychometrician is an expert who specializes in designing tests to measure skills and knowledge. Workshop participants defined the key competencies needed by a field safety manager and began drafting questions for the certification test.
“I’m really impressed with the workshop and the test development process,” said Knopf. “The NBS team helped organize our ideas and distill key competencies down into a manageable list. It felt a little chaotic at times with so many industry experts in the room, but NBS has everything down to a science. The workshop was so well orchestrated that everyone came out the other side on the same page.”
After the workshop, NBS refined the individual test questions, constructed the assessment, and prepared it for pilot testing. Pilot testing is a critical part of the validation process that identifies unknown biases, recognizes areas for improvement, and ensures the test is valid and reliable. Pilot test data and demographic responses were used when industry experts were reconvened for the cut score workshop to determine the legally defensible passing score.
The final Field Safety Certification includes the following competencies:
- General Safety Rules
- General Equipment Safety
- Material Storage and Handling
- Incident Investigation
- Human Performance
- Personal Protective Equipment
- Environmental Safety
- Hazard Energy Control
- OSHA Mandatory Training
Certification and Two-Day Training Program Met Industry Needs
In addition to the Field Safety Certification, the Utility Safety Authority also developed training materials. The two-day refresher course is designed for professionals who already have safety or field experience. The topics covered are extensive, and everything is tailored to a “boots on the ground” employee. NBS was not part of the training development.
Expected outcomes include:
- Improved knowledge and understanding of workplace safety
- Validated understanding of hazards, accident prevention, and emergency response
- Ensured understanding of OSHA compliance
- Enhanced communication
- Decreased workplace incidents
- Improved safety culture
- Increased performance and productivity
The credential and training program launched in early 2025, and the industry response has been overwhelmingly positive. Training courses began in March, and spots are filling up fast. Knopf shared that there are already discussions about developing micro-learning opportunities and additional certifications for specialties like gas, wind energy, solar energy, and fiber communication.
“The Field Safety Certification reflects how critical safety is in our industry,” said Knopf. “So we wanted to be sure it adds value to a utility craftworker’s career and is something they can be proud of earning. NBS helped us achieve that.”
For more information on the certification and details on upcoming courses, visit Utility Safety Authority’s website.
NBS Is Your Certification Development Partner
NBS is proud to improve safety and verify critical skills and knowledge with certification partners like Utility Safety Authority. As a nationally recognized credentialing body, we can help ensure your certification aligns with industry standards, validates knowledge, and provides an accurate and comprehensive picture of an individual’s technical skills. Please contact us if you have any questions about certification development or our other testing services.
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