Safety statistics improve in 2011

Basin Electric safety performance improved cooperative-wide in 2011. Statistics remained below industry averages.

Basin Electric Power Cooperative - January 20, 2012

Basin Electric safety performance improved in 2011, according to Kelly Cozby, Basin Electric safety and occupational health administrator. Statistics improved from a cooperative perspective and remained below industry averages, she reported in the Year-End Safety and Health Report to directors in January.

Basin Electric's rate of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recordable incidents dropped to 1.34 incidents per 200,000 work hours in 2011, compared to 2.78 in 2010. The industry average is 3.2. The cooperative’s rate of Days Away, Restricted or Transferred (DART) incidents dropped to 0.37 per 200,000 work hours. The industry average rate is 1.7.

Cozby said over the past year, cooperative safety programs and consistent minimum safety training requirements were established. "Our 'Focus on Safety' campaign included posters, safety meetings and picture frames for employees that remind them 'why I focus on safety 24/7,'" she said.

In 2012, the cooperative-wide safety campaign is, "Think safe, work safe, be safe, at work and at home, 24/7."

"Our 2012 strategic plan includes improved incident investigation, continued attention to cooperative safety programs, a focus on contractor safety, and continuing education for the members of the Corporate Safety Committee," she said.

Cozby said the cooperative will also implement DuPont™ STOP™ (Safety Training Observation Program), a behavior-based safety process, starting in 2012.

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