The Electric Department was awarded the American Public Power Association (APPA) Safety Award of Excellence – Diamond Level this year. Last year, the Electric Department achieved the Gold Level.
To earn this award, the APPA considers the total number of hours worked by Electric Department employees for an entire year and how many days were lost or restricted from work due to injury. APPA’s Safety Awards have been held annually for more than 65 years.
Of the total 275,830 hours worked by 145 employees, our Electric Department only reported two recordable injuries and only one of those resulted in restricted work with five days lost.
The Department’s safety program improved over the year, which accounts for earning the Diamond Level from APPA.
“In our industry, safety has to be top of mind all day every day,” said Scott McKenzie, Chair of APPA’s Engineering and Operations Conference safety track and Senior Director of Member Training & Safety at AMP Inc. “These honored utilities have demonstrated a commitment to safety that runs through every aspect of their organizations.”
GUC initiated the use of the Situational Leadership Model in 2022 to train all leaders and team members. After seeing proven success with this model, it was integrated into the documented Safety Contact and Coaching conversations during site visits. Using this strategy and techniques allowed the Department to create tailored approaches to enhance individual and team safety. Data that was collected by departmental leaders is reviewed monthly, which includes detailed documentation of safety contacts and discussions. Using this data, leaders identified trends, discovered opportunities for improvement, and recognized exceptional efforts by employees.
In the Electric Department’s entry information, they wrote, “True safety leadership extends beyond technical knowledge; it demands the ability to foster a culture where safety is a core value, not just a priority.”
Help us congratulate Electric on this outstanding recognition!
