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Power station reaches safety record
Managers say the safety record is particularly impressive considering that it was achieved during a time period that included several major maintenance outages, and the construction of a new stack.
Basin Electric Power Cooperative - May 14, 2010
Originally broadcast by KFYR TV
Reported by Retha Colclasure
Watch the video at this link: Power station reaches safety record
Safety doesn't happen by accident, but a lack of accidents have helped employees at the Leland Olds Station near Stanton reach a safety milestone. The station achieved 1 million man hours without a serious injury.
The power station, like all stations owned by Basin Electric, uses a system called Days Away Restricted or Transferred (DART) to measure safety.
Basically, this safety record means no employee has had to miss work because of a work-related injury since October 2006.
Hard hats, safety glasses, ear protection and steel toed work boots are just the beginning.
"We, as a group, don't just look out for ourselves. We also look out for our coworkers," said Leland Olds Operations Supervisor Al Weisbeck.
Together, these employees have worked for 1 million hours without a DART incident.
Basin Electric News Media Supervisor Daryl Hill said, "That's a record that's really an enviable record among the industry."
Employees at Leland Olds have now done it twice. Antelope Valley has also reached that milestone once. Basin Electric says that record is no accident.
"It's up to the employees every day to have an attitude that says, `I'm going to come to work safe, and I'm going to work safe while I'm here,'" said Hill.
Hill said the key is that employees focus on work one day at a time. That's reinforced by safety briefings at the beginning of every shift.
One safety precaution at Leland Olds is that every piece of high voltage equipment is clearly marked, so that employees know what they're working with.
A precaution that's especially important, considering the high voltage that comes through a power plant. High pressure steam is another risk.
"I'm proud of all our employees," said Weisbeck. "It's not one particular person that's responsible for the safety. We as a group work together."
He hopes this record will keep going for a long time, but recognizes that it has to be accomplished every day.
Employees reached the million hour mark about a month and a half ago, and the streak is still going.
Managers say the safety record is particularly impressive considering that it was achieved during a time period that included several major maintenance outages, and the construction of a new stack.
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