Sturgeon Electric Reaches Diamond Status with Safety Accreditation Group Jul 22, 2025

Companies must have more than 100 certified individuals to reach the milestone

Sturgeon Electric Company (Sturgeon Electric) achieved another safety milestone this year.

They reached the highest tier of safety certification from the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP), a global non-profit with more than 50 years certifying technical competence in safety.

Boasting more than 100 BCSP-certified employees, Sturgeon Electric attained Diamond status with BCSP again in May 2025. The ranks of certified individuals include foreman and general foreman who provide field supervision, as well as safety personnel.

BCSP defines Diamond status organizations as those that "champion employee or member credentials, an investment that encourages training, promotes safety awareness, and gives them a competitive edge."

Josh Barber, Sturgeon Electric's Vice President of C&I, said, "Sturgeon Electric takes pride in its reputation and history of leading the industry in safety. Sturgeon invests in making sure that we continually provide the best possible training and development for our employees to ensure the safety and health of everyone within our sphere of influence."

Most of the certified Sturgeon Electric employees hold the Safety Trained Supervisor Construction (STSC) credential. Eligibility requirements include a minimum of 30 hours of safety, health and environment training, and multiple years of construction experience to qualify to take the two-hour exam which covers many safety issues including hazard identification and controls, safety program implementation, emergency preparedness and more. Applicants typically prepare for the exam over several months.

Once the certification has been obtained, a person can recertify every five years if they maintain eligibility by leading or taking 30 hours of safety training.

When asked why the company prioritizes and encourages employees getting those certifications Barber added, "We have recognized the value of the STSC certification as a method of validating that our various levels of supervisors have the necessary amount of knowledge and understanding around safety and health practices, standards, regulations, and hazard identification in the construction industry."

A Long-Term Commitment to Safety

Sturgeon Electric has encouraged BCSP certifications for its personnel for more than two decades. Regional Safety Manager Zach Valdez recalled earning his STSC more than 20 years ago when he was a foreman with the company and before he ever worked in the safety department.

He explained that the company understood the importance of frontline supervisors having safety training and knowledge back then and anticipated how it could have a positive impact on safety in the field.

The number of certified employees grew over time, as has support for the program. Valdez and Administrative Assistant Monica Baez currently serve as Group Account Managers (GAMs) to help manage the large number of employees already certified, and those working toward certification, or in need of recertification. They support candidates through the certification process, manage renewal fees and hold periodic test prep training for them.

This latest milestone is just one of many safety achievements in recent years which are the fruit of the company's long-held commitments to safety education and training across its ranks. This year, the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) recognized five Sturgeon Electric districts for Safety Excellence recognition and four districts for Zero Injury.