Back to School
At BGE, safety is more than a priority—it’s a shared value that’s imbued into every decision. To deepen that commitment, the utility launched Safety University, an interactive, quarterly program designed to strengthen leadership’s role in shaping and sustaining a world-class safety culture.
BGE developed the program in response to several impactful organizational shifts in recent years, including the introduction of Energy-Based Safety, a stronger focus on Serious Injury and Fatality (SIF) prevention, and a redefined approach to both safety and human performance. Leaders needed a unified understanding of these changes—and the tools to apply them effectively in the field.
Safety University delivers that alignment.
The Safety University program inspires invited leaders to active learning through engaging activities and small-group discussions. It focuses on two core topics, Energy-Based Safety and Operational Learning, to align leaders with BGE’s safety education and management approach:
- Energy-Based Safety Session: Reinforces and expands knowledge of the Energy-Based Safety strategy, helping leaders understand their specific role in embedding it in the culture.
- Operational Learning Session: Equips leaders to identify the realities of work, engage teams in meaningful dialogue and improve safety outcomes through better communication.
The curriculum blends the experience of BGE and Exelon, the parent of BGE, with industry best practices, construction-sector insights, and peer-reviewed scientific research. This ensures participants gain both a deeper theoretical understanding and practical, real-world strategies.
Since its launch, BGE has guided leaders at all levels, from directors to supervisors, through the program. Graduates leave with a clearer sense of their role in safety, enhanced skills for engaging teams, and a shared language for safety and human performance across the organization.
“As a leader, you influence and represent our safety culture within your organization,” the Safety University team stressed. “It’s important that we are aligned in our safety education efforts and management approach, and that alignment starts with knowledge.”
For utilities looking to strengthen their safety culture, BGE’s model demonstrates the value of:
- Including unifying organizational safety priorities within leadership education
- Creating a learning environment that fosters trust and honest discussion
- Showcasing real-world scenarios and hands-on activities to ensure learning is appliable to leaders’ roles
As BGE’s Safety University continues to evolve, one thing remains constant: the belief that the best safety outcomes begin with knowledgeable, engaged leaders who live and model safety every day.