Linemen aren’t the only ones at risk of electrocution from contact with a live electrical wire.

Heavy equipment operators, first responders, emergency management workers, motorists and the general public all may find themselves in a dangerously charged situation at some point or other.

That is the message Cimarron Electric Cooperative representatives wanted to drive home at four halfday safety training sessions last week attended by more than 200 county workers and emergency responders.

“We wanted to offer the classes to emergency responders and county crews, in case they responded to an accident or were involved in an accident, to help them know what to do,” Jeff Hyatt, Cimarron Electric marketing director, said.

The morning and afternoon classes were offered last Thursday at Chisholm Trail Technology Center and Friday at Northwest Technology Center in Fairview.

The free classes were the first offered by the co-op in five years and the first-ever to feature the High Voltage Safety Demo Trailer, Hyatt said.

Constructed by Cimarron safety director Justin Glazier and energy auditor Matt Crandall, the trailer includes an actual set-up of high voltage lines powered by a generator.

“Matt and Justin spent many hours constructing the trailer,” Hyatt said.

He said most of the state’s rural electric cooperatives conduct similar classes and many have also constructed demonstration trailers.

Attendees at the two training locations came from Kingfisher, Major, Logan, Canadian, Blaine, Garfield, and Oklahoma county commissioner district offices and county sheriff’s departments.

Also participating were representatives from Richland, Cleo Springs, Ames, Fairview, Seiling, Isabella, Okeene, Canton, Drummond, Loyal, Greenfield, Pioneer, Hitchcock, Dover, and Thomas fire departments and Major County Emergency Management, Hyatt said.

Helping Glazier with the class were Crandall, Brandon Shirey, Bobby Smith, Jarod Flynn, Jerry Stroope, Aubrey Cook, Eric Roberts, and Ron Pennington.

The co-op also provided lunch to all participants.

“We appreciate CTTC and NWTC for making their facilities available and allowing us to host the training at their campuses,” Hyatt said.