Performance Improvement team members Rob Hammons (from left), Mike Bailes, Denise Tilley and Paul Homer.
RICHLAND, Wash. – Energy Northwest was recognized by industry associations this month with multiple safety awards.
The American Public Power Association (APPA) recognized Energy Northwest with a Diamond Status award April 9 during its 2023 Safety Awards of Excellence in Louisiana. APPA’s Safety Awards have been held annually for more than 65 years. APPA is the voice of not-for-profit, community-owned utilities that power 2,000 towns and cities nationwide.
Energy Northwest was also awarded a first-place safety award from Northwest Public Power Association (NWPPA) in Tacoma on April 11. This is the eighth year in a row that the agency has received the first-place honor from NWPPA for its industrial safety performance. Energy Northwest is in the category for utilities with more than 750,001 worker-hours. Safety contest awards are based upon a review of each utility’s recordable injury/illness cases, or incident rate, and lost workdays during the previous year.
In addition to the safety award, NWPPA also recognized three Energy Northwest workers with the Safety Heroism Award. John Hagfeldt, Steve Short and Danee Pisarchuk were recognized for the lifesaving actions they took to assist a teammate during a 2023 refueling outage at Columbia Generating Station. Energy Northwest CEO Bob Schuetz honored the trio in July 2023 with the CEO Lifesaving Award.
Danee Pisarchuk, Occupational Health, poses with a Safety Heroism Award from the Northwest Public Power Association (NWPPA). Pisarchuk was honored along with Reactor & Major Maintenance's John Hagfeldt and Steve Short. With her are (from left) husband Bo Pisarchuk and children Khole, Brock and Peyton. (Courtesy photo)
“Safety First is a core value at Energy Northwest, and these awards highlight that we take that value seriously,” Schuetz said. “We expect every worker at our facilities take safety seriously and to keep an eye out for their co-workers. John, Steve and Danee personify that priority.”
NWPPA is a not-for-profit association founded in 1940 to serve the collective interests of cooperatives, public and people’s utility districts, municipalities, and mutual public power utilities throughout the Northwest, including Alaska, California and British Columbia.
About Energy Northwest
Energy Northwest is a Washington state public power joint operating agency and a premier provider of carbon-free electricity. Energy Northwest comprises 28 public power member utilities, serving more than 1.5 million customers, and provides its members and regional customers with safe, reliable, cost-effective, responsible power generation and innovative energy and business solutions. The agency owns and operates hydroelectric, solar, battery storage, wind and the Northwest’s only nuclear power facility. Energy Northwest also explores transportation electrification and new generation projects to the benefit of public power.
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