Dominion Recognized for Exemplary Safety Record

01.12.2023
HR & Safety
Member News

The U.S. Department of Labor is recognizing a Connecticut power generation facility for workplace health and safety achievements. 

The agency renewed Dominion’s Millstone Power Station “Star” site status—the highest level of recognition OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Program offers—in early 2023,. 

Millstone employs more than 1,000 people, including 300 contractors, in Waterford.

The company first attained Star status in 2004, and went through the program review again this summer. 

On top of strategic programs, the company did not have any reports of serious injuries or illnesses in the last five years.

Employee Engagement 

Dominion’s leadership said the recognition does not come as a surprise, adding that the company’s primary core value is employee safety.

“Before any other business is conducted at a quarterly earnings call, we report on our safety record for that quarter,” Dominion Millstone Power Station senior vice president Michael O’Connor said.  

O’Connor said Dominion actively engages employees and understands that the employees are best suited to maintain worker safety. 

Ultimately the company’s safety recognition ties back to an employee, who originally suggested that Dominion pursue the VPP program. 

“Before any other business is conducted at a quarterly earnings call, we report on our safety record for that quarter.”

Dominion’s Michael O’Connor

Dominion’s safety committee also plays an instrumental role in safety efforts and sets the company-wide tone, from determining safety expenditures to recognizing individual employees’ safety ideas.

Millstone Power Station also employs a “safety triangle” practice with any incident that may occur, by putting them into three categories. 

The first level of incidents are labeled as near misses, and treated as learning opportunities. The second and third are non-serious injuries and OSHA reportable injuries. 

O’Connor said Dominion places a special emphasis on analyzing and learning from the first group, so they do not rise to more harmful categories.

Federal Program

OSHA Regional 1 Administrator Galen Blanton credits the practice with some of the company’s success. 

“Millstone Power Station continues to maintain a high level of workplace safety and health,” Blanton said.

“Management uses data and metrics to show employees and contractors how unsafe acts lead to more serious injuries.” 

OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Program recognizes employers who have implemented effective safety and health management systems and maintain injury and illness rates below national Bureau of Labor Statistic averages for their respective industries. 

“Millstone Power Station continues to maintain a high level of workplace safety and health.”

OSHA’s Galen Blanton

Once an employer submits an application, a team of safety and health professionals perform a rigorous on-site evaluation.

Companies with applicants represented by a bargaining unit must have support from the union. 

VPP participants are re-evaluated every three to five years to remain in the programs. 

While a company maintains its status, they are exempt from OSHA programmed inspections.

Tags:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Stay Connected with CBIA News Digests

The latest news and information delivered directly to your inbox.

CBIA IS FIGHTING TO MAKE CONNECTICUT A TOP STATE FOR BUSINESS, JOBS, AND ECONOMIC GROWTH. A BETTER BUSINESS CLIMATE MEANS A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR EVERYONE.