Ocala Electric Utility was among 13 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 that was held on Saturday, March 4 in Orlando.
FMEA hosts its annual Safety Awards to recognize and reward safe operations. 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 is based on the number of work-related reportable injuries or illnesses compared to the total number of worker hours during 2022, as defined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
OEU received first place, in Category B for 60,000 to 199,999 worker hours, among other similar-sized utilities.
Linework is listed as one of the top 10 most dangerous jobs. In order to provide reliable power, Florida’s lineworkers and power crews are frequently engaged in dangerous tasks that can place them at risk of serious or fatal injuries, which is why public power utilities place a significant emphasis on safety and training.
“Lineworkers face a myriad of occupational hazards so a commitment to safety protocols is of critical importance to our industry,” stated Amy Zubaly, FMEA Executive Director. “We are pleased to recognize our member utilities that have minimized employee injuries through their dedication to safety and safety training.”
“We are honored to be recognized for our commitment to safety,” said Doug Peebles, Ocala Electric Utility Director. “We recognize the importance of safety practices in the workplace, and consistently evaluate how we can improve safety measures in our daily routines.”
Florida’s Public Power utilities are locally owned, controlled, and operated, which enables their workers to quickly respond to the needs of their communities.
For more information, visit Ocala Electric Utility’s website or Facebook page.