St. Lawrence Operations Celebrates Another Year Without Lost Time Due To Accidents

Potsdam, NY - Brookfield Power reported that its St. Lawrence operations, in upstate New York, have marked a safety milestone: six consecutive years without lost work time due to an accident.

"Safety remains paramount for Brookfield Power, and we're delighted to be able to start 2006 with the celebration of another significant safety milestone," said Tom Smith, general manager of Brookfield Power's St. Lawrence operations, based in Potsdam, New York. "Our proactive safety committee -- formed in 1993 – helps keep safety in the forefront of all employees' minds."

The committee includes eight employees from maintenance and operation crews, relay technicians and clerical staff. The committee is in addition to Brookfield Power's mandatory safety training required for each employee.

One objective of the St. Lawrence safety committee is to perform onsite observations twice a month, rotating supervisory and managerial personnel to give each inspection fresh perspective. In 2005, employees in the St. Lawrence operations completed 25 of the safety requests submitted to the committee.

The committee also conducts monthly group meetings for all staff members of the St. Lawrence operations, focusing on topics of interest both on and off the job. Subjects include winter hazard driving, hunting and boating safety, carbon monoxide hazards, blood-related diseases, and health and wellness issues. Each meeting features a different safety theme, presentation of the safety inspections and videos, as well as healthy snacks for attendees.

Plans for 2006 call for staff and committee members to receive training on cardiopulmonary resuscitation methods, the use of automated external defibrillators, defensive driving techniques, and issues relating to Occupational Health and Safety Administration regulations.

Safety Commitment

As further commitment to a safe working environment, Brookfield Power has doubled the size of its health and safety department housed in Liverpool, New York. Two additional safety specialists have been added to Brookfield Power's New York team. Both individuals bring more than 20 years experience in executing training programs and implementing safety management systems. "Congratulations to the employees of Brookfield Power's St. Lawrence operations for making safety a daily priority and taking a leadership role in health and safety. This outstanding achievement demonstrates the commitment that each employee has for creating a safe work environment," said Pat Salvador, senior safety specialist of Brookfield Power's New York operations. "All Brookfield Power employees in New York will look to the St. Lawrence operations to share experiences, best practices and lessons learned as we continue to strive for safety excellence."

Brookfield Power owns and operates 30 hydropower plants in the St. Lawrence region, featuring 55 hydropower turbines, with a generating capacity of 223 megawatts. The St. Lawrence hydroelectric generating plants are located on five rivers throughout central New York, as far south as the Browns Falls hydropower plant in Oswegatchie, east to the Franklin plant in Bloomingdale, north to the Hogansburg hydro facility in Hogansburg, and west to Eel Weir hydropower plant in Ogdensburg.

SOURCE: Brookfield Power