Promoting Safety
McClay’s path exemplifies lineworkers’ opportunities for growth, advancement, and leadership
When Steve McClay applied for a job at Pioneer Electric Cooperative, it wasn’t because he was an experienced lineman or had extensive knowledge of the electric industry. He simply trusted his father’s word that the cooperative was a good place to work and hoped that his experience operating heavy machinery would make him stand out in an interview. At the time, he was young, had just purchased a home, and was ready to start a family.
“I came to Pioneer, and when I walked in, there were probably 50 people in the room, all applying for the same job,” McClay recalls. “I didn’t know what I was getting into, but I put in my application anyway.”
To his surprise, he was called for an interview, then a second interview, and was eventually hired as a groundman trainee in March 1998, beginning a co-op career that has so far spanned nearly three decades and seen him consistently advance in knowledge and responsibility.
“The foreman took me out and dropped me on my first job with a hammer, a pair of pliers, a screwdriver, and a wrench,” McClay says.
At first, he was still trying to understand his role at the cooperative while also adjusting to its culture.
“I was a town kid, not a country boy or a farmer. The other guys told me, ‘You’re not going to make it,’” McClay says. “I’m competitive by nature, so I decided I was going to do the job well and prove them all wrong.”
And that’s exactly what he did.
In June 2000, McClay was promoted to lineman trainee and then to lineman first class in June 2002. His progression didn’t stop there. Three and a half years later, in December 2006, he became a leader lineman.
“I think it was my second year here when I was involved in a couple of close calls that scared me — really woke me up. That’s when I decided to join the safety committee,” McClay says. “I quickly learned that safety meant change, and change was hard for some.”
A near-miss incident with another Pioneer lineman ultimately led McClay to his next role within the cooperative and sparked a broader cultural shift toward safety.
“It was one of my first calls as a lineman,” McClay says. “That’s the one call I remember every single day and what drove me to eventually apply for the manager of safety position.”
The call involved responding to a downed power pole after a car accident. The foreman assured them he had de-energized the power lines, so they proceeded with their work. But something felt off.
“I just remember looking at John and saying, ‘Give me your pliers.’ So, with my gloves on, I got his pliers, and I put them on the wire. It was still hot.”
The foreman had mistakenly shut off the wrong device, leaving the lines live. Fortunately, McClay and his coworker were wearing protective gear. But for McClay, the scariest part was that minutes before, the other lineman had stepped over those same live wires with a steel bar in his hand.
“He just happened not to touch it,” says McClay, who, because of his shorter stature, had walked farther down the road to go underneath the line.
McClay credits former Director of Operations and Engineering — now CEO — Tom Musick for instilling the importance of questioning everything and supporting the evolution of the safety culture. Even today, McClay frequently uses the ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin saying: DTA, Don’t Trust Anybody.
“From that day forward, we knew that if someone tells you something is a certain way, you test it anyway,” McClay says. “Back then, we didn’t do any testing, any isolation — none of the things we do today to protect ourselves in the field. We just took someone’s word for it and went to work.”
In May 2011, McClay was promoted to manager of safety. As he continued to rise through the ranks, one thing remained constant: his dedication to safety.
He became operations supervisor/assistant safety manager in 2015, then manager of safety and construction in 2018, and finally, director of operations and safety — the position he holds today — in 2021.
“In my current role, I can sit down with different kinds of people, be more efficient, and help improve or maintain the culture we have,” McClay says. “We have a great culture, but there are always ways we can be better.”
Starting at an entry-level position and working his way up has given McClay invaluable real-world experience, benefiting both him and the cooperative.
“I got lucky because several line crew members were ex-electricians, so on trouble calls, they taught me how electricity worked,” McClay says. “I learned troubleshooting from my peers. They taught me everything. If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t be who I am.”
As director of operations and safety, McClay and his two operations supervisors/assistant safety managers are responsible for bringing on new linemen and providing them with opportunities to learn and grow — just as McClay has done throughout his 27-year career.
“I want people who will speak up, ask questions, and be curious, because they’re going to help us get better,” McClay says.
That mindset has fostered a culture of teamwork, open communication, and a shared commitment to doing things the right way.
“I’m incredibly fortunate to be where I am because of what others poured into me, and I can’t say enough about the lineworkers we have,” McClay says. “Without their dedication and teamwork, I couldn’t do what I do. I am so appreciative of each and every one of them.”
