Two Kentucky contractors for the Office of Environmental Management's Portsmouth/Paducah Project Office were recently awarded the Governor's Safety and Health Award.
According to a U.S. Department of Energy June 21 news release, Mid-America Conversion Services, headquartered in Lexington, and Swift & Staley Inc., a Paducah-site infrastructure support services contractor, received the award during the Governor's Safety and Health Conference and Exhibition in Bowling Green, Ky.
"Protecting our folks on the job — it's a part of our faith, it's part of our values, it's a part of looking out for everyone and living that very simple lesson that everybody counts," Gov. Andy Beshear said. "When we commit to safety, I think we live out that faith and those values."
"A culture of safety is a journey, not a destination," Mid-America President and Project Manager Dutch Conrad said in the release. "It requires our continuing diligence, great leadership and the support of our United Steel Workers partners to accomplish milestones such as this."
"These numbers are a result of true dedication to safety by every employee that comes to work each day at MCS," Mid-America Environment, Safety and Health manager Joe Johnson said, according to the release. "Our employees want to be safe and they are safe."
A company mindful of its workers' health and safety encourages employees to keep their minds on their jobs, John Hobbs, Swift & Staley Inc. environment, safety and health manager at North Wind Group, the release reported.
"Our employees work hard every day to provide exceptional service without injury and on schedule," Hobbs said in the release. "Receiving this award is a reflection of those efforts and validates our priorities."
Keeping employees safe also is responsible, Joel B. Bradburne, manager of DOE's Portsmouth/Paducah Project Office, said in the news release.
“Those responsible for ensuring our workers’ health and safety should be recognized for the important role they play,” Bradburne said, according to the release. "PPPO appreciates Gov. Beshear’s personal acknowledgement of the importance of DOE worker safety."
