Kelly Rae, Public Affairs, 509-372-5376
Tobias Sellier, American Public Power Association, 202-467-2927
RICHLAND, Wash. – Energy Northwest earned the American Public Power Association’s Safety Award of Excellence for safe operating practices in 2020. The agency earned first place in the category for utilities with 1 million to 3.9 million worker-hours.
“We are proud and thankful for this APPA recognition. Energy Northwest values employee safety above all else,” said Brad Sawatzke, Energy Northwest CEO. “We all recognize the importance of going home healthy to our families each day, and this drives our dedication to safety.”
Nearly 330 utilities from across the country entered the annual safety awards. Entrants were placed in categories according to their number of worker-hours and ranked based on the most incident-free records during 2020. The incidence rate, used to judge entries, is based on the number of work-related reportable injuries or illnesses and the number of worker-hours during 2020, as defined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
“Utilities that receive an APPA Safety Award have demonstrated that they have made the health and safety of their employees a core value,” said Brandon Wylie, chair of APPA’s Safety Committee and Director of Training & Safety, during APPA’s annual Engineering & Operations Virtual Conference March 24. “Designing and maintaining a top-notch utility safety program takes a lot of hard work and commitment. These utilities and their communities should be very proud.”
The Safety Awards have been held annually for the last 60 years. APPA is the voice of not-for-profit, community-owned utilities that power 2,000 towns and cities nationwide.
About Energy Northwest
Energy Northwest develops, owns and operates a diverse mix of electricity generating resources, including hydro, solar, battery storage and wind projects – and the Northwest’s only nuclear power facility. These projects provide carbon-free electricity at the cost of generation – enough clean, cost-effective and reliable energy to power more than a million homes each year. As an independent joint operating agency of Washington state, Energy Northwest comprises 27 public power member utilities from across the state serving more than 1.5 million customers. The agency continually explores new generation projects to meet its members’ needs.
