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August 30, 2006
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Midwest Energy Is The First Kansas Utility To Earn SHARP Award
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Midwest Energy, Inc., a customer-owned electric and natural gas utility serving 88,000 customers in 41 counties of central and western Kansas, is the first utility in Kansas to earn the SHARP award from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) recognizes companies with less than 500 employees who operate an exemplary safety and health management system. Acceptance into SHARP identifies Midwest Energy as a model for worksite safety and health. Charles Adkins, Region 7 Administrator for the Occupational Health and Safety Administration, (OSHA), Jim Garner, the Kansas Secretary of Labor, as well as Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius and other state officials were on hand August 30, 2006 at 1:30 p.m. at the Midwest Energy office in Hays to present the Award.
Two years ago, Midwest Energy began the voluntary SHARP process with comprehensive site audits conducted by Kansas Department of Labor, Industrial Safety and Health consultants at each of 31 employee reporting locations. Any hazards found were corrected or eliminated. A comprehensive safety and health program has been written and put into action.
"Our employees have embraced the need to promote a culture of safety companywide." said Earnie Lehman, President and General Manager of Midwest Energy. "Our Safety Manager, Gary Miller, pursued this objective vigorously and his efforts, combined with the dedication of our employees, have resulted in this Award."
Gary Miller, Safety Manager said, "We worked long and hard to instill this culture of safety throughout our workforce and now, our employees take care of each other. This culture has generated an immense awareness for everyone and we take pride in setting new safety standards every year."
Click here to view a photo of the ceremony.
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