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NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The Utilities Commission of New Smyrna Beach has received a safety award from the Florida Municipal Electric Association for its continued commitment to safe work practices during the past year.
For the past 25 years, FMEA has recognized the efforts of Florida’s municipally-owned utilities to stress worker safety as the No. 1 priority. Utilities are placed into categories according to their total man-hours worked, and rewarded for the most incident-free records.
The incidence rate used to judge utilities is based on the number of work-related reportable injuries or illnesses compared to the total number of worker-hours during 2010, as defined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
The utilities commission was awarded third place in category C, which is comprised of utilities with 180,000- 399,999 man-hours worked.
"This recognition reflects the utility’s commitment to protecting workers’ safety, while also ensuring reliable electric service to the customers," utilities commission spokeswoman Ellen Fisher said. "In an industry where there is a high possibility of serious injuries and fatalities, safety training is the best line of defense in preventing accidents and saving lives."
Awards were presented on April 2 at the FMEA Annual Safety and Florida Lineman Competition Awards banquet in Ocala. The banquet was the culmination of a two-day event that included technical skills training and the eleventh annual Florida Lineman Competition.
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