Gas-Fired Utility Plant Becomes Star Site
OSHA announced the Liberty Electric Power Plant in Eddystone, Pa., had achieved this elite status in its VPP programs.
OSHA announced July 20 that the Liberty Electric Power Plant in Eddystone, Pa., has been designated a "star" site, which is the highest honor in OSHA's Voluntary Protection Programs. It is a natural gas-fired electricity generating facility owned by Liberty Electric Power, LLC, a private, independent power producer incorporated in Delaware.
The company produces and sells wholesale electric power to PJM. Asset management is provided by Competitive Power Ventures of Silver Spring, Md., and operations and maintenance of the plant is provided by NAES of Issaquah, Wash., according to John Kolarick, manager of the Eddystone plant.
"Liberty Electric Power Plant's dedication to ensuring a safe and healthful workplace makes it most deserving of this honor. Liberty's management and employees have kept injury and illness rates below industry averages for the last three years," said Albert D'Imperio, director of OSHA's Philadelphia Area Office, who recognized the company's workers and managers during a ceremony this week at the plant.
VPP, under fire in a recent investigative report that found member sites had recorded more than 80 fatalities in recent years, is recognition program for private-sector and federal work sites with effective safety and health management systems that maintain injury and illness rates below national Bureau of Labor Statistics averages. Participating sites are exempt from OSHA programmed inspections while they maintain their VPP status.
For information, visit http://www.osha.gov/dcsp/vpp/index.html.