June 25, 2010

Workplace safety is top priority

Bryan Municipal Utilities employees work with high voltages and heavy equipment on a daily basis. To help employees manage the health and safety hazards associated with their jobs, the utility has a strong workplace safety program.

“Workplace safety is about preventing injury and illness to our employees,” said Steve Casebere, utility director. “It’s about protecting our most valuable asset -- our employees.”

As part of the ongoing safety-training program, BMU conducts monthly training classes on site. Examples of training classes include cranes, hoists, and slings; compressed gases; trenching and excavations; severe weather and heat stress; ladder safety and fall protection; hearing conservation; hypothermia and frostbite; bloodborne pathogens; work area protection and work zone safety; machine guards and power tools; confined space entry; and electrical safe work practices.

BMU has a safety committee that meets monthly, tailgate safety meetings at the beginning of each job, and participates in Black Swamp Safety Council monthly meetings. In addition, walk around inspections of all city facilities are completed annually.

The results are noticeable. Bryan Municipal Utilities has 22 consecutive months with no accidents that resulted in days away from work. “Our employees are paying more attention to safety, working safer and going home uninjured at the end of the day,” Casebere said.

Fostering a safe work environment has secondary effects. It reduces the amount of money paid out in health insurance benefits, workers’ compensation benefits and wages for temporary help. It also protects co-workers, customers, suppliers, and members of the public who are impacted by the work environment.