MANDAN­­ — The North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives has recognized three individuals, 10 North Dakota electric cooperatives and one contractor for safety achievements in 2021.

On Jan. 13, NDAREC held an awards ceremony and presented the following:

— The Life Saver Award, recognizing heroic actions that contribute to life-saving efforts of another person, to Randy McLean and Talon Thompson, North Central Electric Cooperative, based in Bottineau.

— The Stepping Up for Safety Award, recognizing an outstanding safety advocate who inspires all employees to commit to safe job performance and who has greatly influenced their cooperative’s safety culture, to Bill Hansen, McKenzie Electric Cooperative, based in Watford City.

— Burke-Divide Electric, based in Columbus, was among six cooperatives receiving the Certificate of Safety Achievement certificate, which recognizes successful participants of the Rural Electric Safety Achievement Program, a national safety program that encourages electric cooperatives to achieve and maintain high safety standards for the protection of employees and the community.

— Verendrye Electric, based in Velva, and McLean Electric, based in Garrison, were among five cooperatives receiving the Safety Performance Award, presented to cooperatives with zero recordable injuries for one year. 3 C Construction in Mandan also received the award.