February 28, 2022 - Beaches Energy was among 17 Florida Public Power utilities to receive a Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) Safety Award, which recognizes utilities’ commitment to safety. The award was presented at the Florida Lineman Competition awards banquet in Fort Pierce.
Linework is listed as one of the top 10 most dangerous jobs. To provide reliable power, Florida lineworkers and power crews are frequently engaged in dangerous work that can place them at risk of serious or fatal injuries, which is why public power utilities place a significant emphasis on safety culture and training.
FMEA recognizes and rewards safe operations through its annual Safety Awards. Utilities are placed into categories based on their total worker hours and rewarded for the most incident-free records. The incidence rate used to judge utilities was based on the number of work-related reportable injuries or illnesses compared to the total number of worker hours during 2021, as defined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Beaches Energy received 3rd place in the category with other similar-sized utilities.
“Instilling a culture of safety and ensuring that safety is a priority in day-to-day practices are critical for an industry that includes such a high-risk profession. We commend this year’s recipients for their dedication to the safety of their employees,” said Amy Zubaly, FMEA Executive Director.
Florida’s Public Power utilities are locally owned, locally controlled and locally operated, enabling them to quickly respond to the needs of their communities. They are also among some of the most affordable and reliable power providers in the state.