 |
|
|
April 11, 2008 | AECI honors Jeff Swilley as Safety Person of the Year at New Madrid Power PlantContact : Nancy Southworth Photograph of award recipient available electronically on request. Associated Electric Cooperative Inc. (AECI) has recognized Jeff Swilley, assistant control room operator, as the Safety Person of the Year for 2007 at New Madrid Power Plant. Swilley was honored April 10, 2008, at the cooperative’s annual Excel Employee Recognition event. Swilley was commended for his alertness and swift response to prevent injury and property damage. On his way back to the plant from lunch one day in 2007, Swilley observed smoke coming from the plant’s roof. He immediately investigated and found smoldering insulation. He notified appropriate staff and directed a response team to the site, where the walls and insulation were quickly hosed and sprayed down. According to an employee who nominated Swilley for the award, “Jeff did not ignore the signs of impending trouble. He took the correct action in alerting the control room operator of the fire. Immediately, the alarm was sounded, and people were running to assist. It is amazing to watch the teamwork. If Jeff would not have investigated the smoke, there could have been significant damage.” Jeff said his instinctive response was the result of the hours of safety training he receives every year, ranging from ladder safety to confined-space entry to lockout/tagout training and specialized fire training. Safety is Associated Electric Cooperative’s No. 1 strategic objective, and employees receive regular training on a wide variety of emergency incidents and employees drill regularly on safety practices. In 2007, for the second consecutive year, Associated employees set a record for the low number of workplace injuries that is well below the industry standard. Associated Electric Cooperative Inc. is owned by and provides wholesale power to six regional and 51 local electric cooperative systems in Missouri, southeast Iowa and northeast Oklahoma that serve more than 850,000 customers. AECI’s mission is to provide an economical and reliable power supply and support services to its members. AECI is a Touchstone Energy Cooperative. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V ### Released: 11 April 2008 |
|
|||
 |