PUD Honored with Safety Awards

May 29, 2015 – Columbia River People’s Utility District (PUD) has been honored by the American Public Power Association (APPA) and the Northwest Public Power Association (NWPPA) for safe operating practices. The PUD had no lost-time accidents in 2013 or 2014, and earned first place awards in both the national and regional competitions for their efforts.

“Working day-in and day-out with the power of electricity is not something to take lightly,” said Kenneth Roberts, chair of the APPA Safety Committee and line supervisor for Huntsville Utilities in Alabama. “The recipients of this award understand the essential nature of safety in our line of work. It’s embedded in their work culture.”

More than 290 utilities entered the APPA awards contest, which is the highest number of entrants in the history of the program. Entrants were categorized based on their total hours of worker exposure, and ranked based on their incident rate. The incident rate is defined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and is based on the number of work-related reportable injuries or illnesses and the number of worker-hours.

“We are proud of the service we provide to customers,” said General Manager Rick Lugar. “But above all else, we are proud of our safety record – and happy to say that we do everything we can to ensure our employees go home safely to their families each and every night.”