Submitted by Chris Kittleson, Director of Loss Control Technical Services - Public Risk Underwriters of Florida, Inc.
The Town of Davie, a Member of Preferred, was the recipient of the Florida Water and Pollution Control Operators Association (FWPCOA) Safety Award for 2018. Each year the Association recognizes those facilities who have an outstanding safety record. The presentation was made for the Town’s Multiple Water Treatment Systems (III & V), and was presented at the Association’s annual award luncheon on 08/14/19. In order to be considered for this award The Town of Davie’s Utility’s Department submitted a 205 page application that focused on critical components of Utility Safety that included the following:
• Safety Training Records
• Avoidable Motor Vehicle Accidents
• Safety Committee Meeting Minutes
• Town Safety Manual/Policy and Utilities Employee Policy
• Spill Plan, Hurricane Plan and Emergency Plan
• Monthly Eyewash Station Alarm Test Checklist
• Fire Inspection Report, Fire Extinguisher Checklists and Emergency Lighting Checklists
• Safety Inspection Checklists
The FWPCOA is an organization of members who are engaged in the production, treatment and distribution of drinking water; the collection, treatment and disposal of wastewater; and/or the collection and treatment of storm water. To help organize and provide better service, the state of Florida is divided into 13 regions. The purpose of the FWPCOA is to protect the health of the citizens & preserve the natural resources. This is accomplished by advancing the professional status of water and wastewater operators, providing a licensing system, and arranging training programs. This is accomplished by advancing the professional status of water and wastewater operators, providing a licensing system, and arranging training programs.
The association works in cooperation with the Florida Section of the American Water Works Association (FS/AWWA), the Florida Water Environment Association (FWEA), the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), the Florida Department of Health and the Florida Educational System.
St. Lucie West Services District’s Safety Committee - An Educational, Fun and Team Building Exercise
Submitted by Chris Kittleson, Director of Loss Control Technical Services - Public Risk Underwriters of Florida, Inc
St. Lucie West Services District (SLWSD), a Preferred Member, has implemented the concept of continuous improvement to their safety programming specifically as it relates to their Safety Committee.
Their most recent innovative idea of improving their Safety Committee, chaired by Gerard Rouse, Assistant Public Works Superintendent, was to develop an educational and team building exercise to enhance the Safety Committee’s awareness of important safety knowledge that all SLWSD employees should understand and have knowledge of.
More specifically, the Safety Committee was divided into two teams. Safety questions were placed in a hat and each team would pick a question out of the hat on an alternating basis. Examples of the questions asked included, where is the location of the AED, what is the recommended best practice for frequency of safety committee meetings, what is the number one cause of workplace accidents?, etc.
The person from either team that answered correctly received some form of safety item such as a high visibility vest, hearing protection, safety glasses and first aid items such as bandages or a packet of Biofreeze.
This fun training exercise engaged the Safety Committee while at the same time educated the Safety Committee on important safety information/knowledge.
KEY STAFF CONTACTS:
Marketing:
Operations:
Loss Control:
Claims:
