CWLP Earns National Safety Award

Springfield City Water, Light and Power (CWLP) has received the American Public Power Association’s (APPA) Safety Award of Excellence for outstanding safety practices in its Electric Division during 2024. The utility earned the Diamond Award—APPA’s highest honor—in its category at the association’s Engineering & Operations Conference held this month.

“It’s fantastic to have our Electric Division recognized for ensuring a safe work environment,” said Mayor Misty Buscher. “It takes employee buy-in to earn such a high achievement so I applaud all of the employees for doing their part, as well as leadership for prioritizing a safe work culture."

More than 200 utilities from across the country entered the 2024 Safety Awards. Participants were grouped by the number of worker-hours and evaluated based on their record of reportable incidents, as well as the overall strength of their safety programs and culture throughout the year. The incidence rate is determined using standards defined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

CWLP’s Electric Division, which logged more than 700,000 worker-hours in 2024, competed in the category of 250,000 worker-hours and above—among 27 other utilities—and achieved the top-tier Diamond designation.

The utility made several improvements to its safety efforts over the past year, including launching a new Job Hazard Analysis program, adding frontline supervisors to monthly safety meetings, and offering CWLP-led, in-person OSHA 10-hour training sessions. It also expanded hands-on training for AED and First Aid, as well as Roping and Rigging safety techniques.

“In our operations, safety has to be top of mind all day, every day,” said Doug Brown, CWLP Chief Utility Engineer. “It’s an honor to have our employees’ commitment to safety and our programs and trainings recognized for high achievement.”

APPA Safety Committee Chair Jon Beasley, who also serves as Vice-President of Electric Cities of Georgia, underscored the importance of safety in the industry.

“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,” Beasley said. “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.”