Utilities, Frontline Employees Recognized for Excellence in Health and Safety

November 20, 2016

The Canadian Electricity Association (CEA) announced the winners of the 2016 Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Awards and Lifesaving Awards at its recent 125th anniversary celebration in Toronto, Ontario.

For more than 30 years, the CEA has tracked and monitored the safety record of its member utilities. The Canadian electric utility industry is one of the safest maintenance, operation and construction related industries in the country owing in large measure to the high level of training, the establishment of safe work methods, and the sharing of industry best practices established through the occupational health and safety program.

The annual awards recognize top safety performing companies and publicly underlines their commitment to safety and their contribution to the declining trend of health and safety-related workplace incidents each year. Electric utilities recognized with OHS awards included:

• AltaLink

• Capital Power Corporation

• City of Medicine Hat Electric Utility

• ENMAX Corporation

• Hydro Ottawa

• NB Power

• Newfoundland Power

• Ontario Power Generation

• Toronto Hydro Corporation

• TransCanada

In addition, Lifesaving Awards were presented to CEA utility member employees who saved or attempted to save a life or those who acted to prevent further harm to someone who was injured or in need of immediate help. Lifesaving Award winners included:

• Steve Doucette, Robert Kelsey, Ben Robicheau, Scott Eisenger (Nova Scotia Power Inc.), for rescuing two elderly customers from carbon monoxide poisoning

• Jim Short and Wayne Baggs (Newfoundland Power), for providing assistance in rescuing a driver who was trapped in a water-filled ditch east of Deer Lake

• Tara Lynn Arbeau (Capital Power), for her quick actions in assisting her husband during a life-threatening situation

• Shawn Hutzel (FortisAlberta), for providing assistance in rescuing two trapped passengers of a rolled over car that was on fire.

See a complete list of winners: http://www.electricity.ca/industry-issues/occupational-health-and-safety-program/occupational-health-and-safety-awards/2016.php.