(Hermiston, OR) – PG&E Corporation’s
(NYSE: PCG) affiliate, Hermiston Generating Co., L.P., has been
recognized by the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division
(OR-OSHA) for the plant’s exceptional health and safety record with
the presentation of a SHARP (Safety and Health Achievement Recognition
Program) award. The plant set a new standard for best practices
and safety program management, according to OR-OSHA representatives.
OR-OSHA officials presented the award during an employee celebration
at the plant’s Westland Road site today at 1:00 p.m.
"This honor goes hand in
hand with our goal to heighten safety and health awareness and to
encourage and empower individual leadership throughout the organization,"
said Janet Smith, chief safety officer for PG&E Corporation’s competitive
power generation unit. "This award underscores the complete commitment
that all employees of Hermiston have to making safety the top priority
on the job," Smith said.
OR-OSHA’s Safety and Health
Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) promotes and encourages
effective safety and health management practices and recognizes
employers who establish and implement the programs in partnership
with employees. The award is granted following successful completion
of a comprehensive and rigorous consultation and assessment process
that addresses actual and potential safety and health hazards. It
includes a review of administrative issues, programs and policies
as well as the safety and health program.
"This is an opportunity
to demonstrate our on-going commitment to maintaining a safe and
healthy workplace," said Hermiston Generating Plant General Manager
Peter Rigney. "Each employee plays an integral role in the safety
and health program, and in turn, shares in its success," he added.
The plant completed 1999 without any lost-time or OSHA recordable
accidents.
According to OR-OSHA officials,
the 474-megawatt Hermiston Generating Plant earned several distinctions
during the assessment process. The consulting team noted several
best management practices and procedures used at the plant that
contributed to the achievement, including collaborative employee
participation in accident prevention and hazard elimination, an
active safety committee and the recognition of employee performance.
The award also noted the degree to which each employee takes ownership
of the facility, their responsibilities and the safety and health
program.
"The staff is highly trained,
look out for each other, and is a great group of people to work
with," said Corbet Stengel, Industrial Hygiene Consultant with OR-OSHA’s
Consultation and Services Section. "The culture of the plant is
that safety comes first and the lost workday incident rate reflects
this," Stengel said.
Organizations that receive
SHARP recognition serve as models for other Oregon employers to
team with employees in establishing effective and measurable safety
and health programs. "It’s great to be recognized and to help raise
the awareness of the importance of safe workplaces," said Ben Rogers,
plant operations superintendent. "For all of us, safety is a continuous
improvement process and our goal always remains zero accidents.
Employees are the greatest asset that we as a team have, so safety
is everyone’s business."
The Hermiston Generating
Plant is a combined cycle gas turbine cogeneration facility. It
provides electric power – enough for approximately 474,000 homes
– to PacifiCorp and steam to Lamb-Weston for use in its nearby potato
processing plant.
PG&E Corporation, with revenues
of more than $20 billion and operations in 27 states, markets energy
services and products throughout North America through its National
Energy Group. PG&E Corporation’s businesses also include Pacific
Gas and Electric Company, the Northern and Central California utility
that deliver natural gas and electricity service to one in every
20 Americans.