Contributed article
SAFFORD — The City of Safford Electric Division has earned the American Public Power Association’s Safety Award of Excellence for safe operating practices in 2024. The City was awarded Gold designation in the category for utilities with 15,000 to 29,999 worker-hours of annual worker exposure.
“We are incredibly proud of our team and the safety-first culture we’ve worked hard to foster,” said Michael Cook, Electric Division supervisor for the City of Safford. “This recognition reflects the dedication of our team to follow best practices, look out for one another, and ensure a safe work environment for both employees and the community we serve.”
More than 200 utilities entered the annual Safety Awards for 2024. Entrants are grouped based on the number of worker-hours and ranked by the most incident-free records and overall strength of their safety programs and culture during the year. The incidence rate is determined by OSHA standards, considering the number of work-related reportable injuries or illnesses against total worker-hours.
“Harnessing electricity to keep our communities powered is vital work that can be dangerous, even deadly, if the proper attention isn’t paid to tried-and-true safety practices,” said Jon Beasley, chair of APPA’s Safety Committee and vice president of Electric Cities of GA. “This award honors utilities that hold fast to these practices and — in doing so — put the safety of their personnel and their customers above all else.”
The American Public Power Association has conducted the safety awards annually for more than 66 years. APPA represents not-for-profit, community-owned utilities that power more than 2,000 towns and cities across the country.
