The Arizona Public Service Company (APS) said late last week that its Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station has been awarded a STAR designation from the Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health (ADOSH).
The designation was awarded through ADOSH’s Voluntary Protection Program (VPP), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s highest level of recognition, indicating a strong commitment to health and safety management that includes injury and illness rates that are below 50 percent of national averages.
“It is clear that our core values and behaviors result from a commitment by all Palo Verde employees and contractors to emphasize safety over competing goals,” Bob Bement, Palo Verde’s senior vice president of operations, said. “And when we say ‘safety,’ we are collectively referring to nuclear, industrial, radiological and safety culture. Every nuclear professional is involved in activities and decisions that impact their safety and the safety of their teammates. We’re proud to accomplish VPP STAR status and remain committed to sustaining this high level of safety performance.”
The plant also was awarded this designation in 2013 and was considered to be one of the state’s safest industrial workplaces, APS said.
“The employees and management at APS and Palo Verde have continually demonstrated that they take safety seriously at all levels of their organization and worksite,” ADOSH Assistant Director Jessie Atencio said.
