Utilities Receives Top Safety Awards

The Department of Utilities safety program recently received local and statewide recognition with two awards, one from the City of Norfolk and the other from the Virginia Section of the American Water Works Association (AWWA).

Every year the City Safety and Health Officer, Dan Hurley, conducts a citywide safety audit.  The audit evaluates the safety program of each City department, awarding points for compliance with major portions of OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Agency) regulations.  Areas of inspection include the creation of active safety committees, documentation of equipment and facility inspections, and programs such as training, fire evacuation, and safety incentives.

For the second year in a row, all divisions of the Department of Utilities received Gold ratings, the highest in the city’s safety audit.

In addition to the citywide attention, the Norfolk Utilities was also recognized by the Virginia Section AWWA for its outstanding workplace safety.  At the Section’s annual conference in October, the department received the 2003 Award of Honor in recognition of its safety achievements.

Safety Officer John Tokarz and Utilities Director Kristen Lentz show off the AWWA Award of Honor.

The AWWA award is based on a rating system that compares the safety performances of all water utilities in Virginia. Only seven awards were earned in Virginia, and Norfolk  was the only large water utility to receive one.

“It’s quite an accomplishment for a large utility to win such awards,” said Utilities Safety Officer John Tokarz. “By virtue of its size, a large utility has more exposure to workplace hazards. We work with large, heavy equipment, high-pressure pipes, hazardous chemicals, high voltage electrical equipment in settings that include confined spaces, congested traffic, and occasionally at significant heights or depths.”

Over the years, the department’s safety program has continued to expand and improve. Its strength is a direct result of its being an intrinsic component of the department’s goals and objectives and a frequent topic of discussion at staff meetings, according to Tokarz.

Following are the components of the department’s award-winning safety program:

·         Management/employee roundtable meetings and review boards, which focus on the continuous  improvement of work procedures and equipment;

·         Regular team inspections of facilities;

·         Purchase of premium quality safety gear and routine monitoring of tools and equipment to insure maximum personal protection, durability, and comfort;

·         Safety awards presented to recognize outstanding team and individual accomplishments;

·         Employee safety orientation, which includes site-specific safety training;

·         Regular departmental safety training programs that enhance safety awareness in the home as well as on the job;

·         Safety posters in various work areas to remind employees of proper and safe procedures;

·         Regular safety monitoring of private contractors working on Utilities projects;

·         Annual Safety Fair with safety seminars and safety product displays.

“These awards reflect the accomplishments of the department,” said Kristen Lentz, Director of Utilities. “A good safety program protects our employees, ensures the safety of our citizens, reduces costs, liability, and reinforces a positive image for the City.”◆

Utilities work requires diligent safety training and practices. Proper use of equipment, such as the chainsaw (left), essential steps in confined space entry (middle), and effective techniques in fire suppression (right) are only three of the many areas in which Utilities employees are trained through the department’s award-winning safety program.

The annual Safety Fair (left) and regularly-scheduled training (right) are educational components of the Department of Utilities safety program.