Kentucky Labor Cabinet Secretary Derrick Ramsey announced today that the 100 employees of Big Rivers Electric–Wilson Station have earned a Governor’s Safety and Health Award for their 1.7 million hours of work without a lost time injury.  Deputy Secretary Mike Nemes visited the facility today to congratulate employees on behalf of Sec. Ramsey.

“The hardworking men and women of the Wilson Station have gone nearly nine years without a serious injury on the job,” Sec. Ramsey said of the Wilson Station’s 14th award of this kind.  “This coal-fired facility has generated over 29 million megawatt-hours during this same time period and it is only fitting that they are recognized for their efforts.  On behalf of Governor Bevin and the Kentucky Labor Cabinet, I’m proud to help them celebrate not only their hard work and dedication toward a safe workplace, but for all that they do to power the homes and businesses of Kentucky.”

Sen. Dorsey Ridley (D-Henderson) also offered his praise.

“I want to offer my heartfelt congratulations to the employees at the Wilson Station,” Sen. Ridley said. “Their hard work, dedication and commitment to safety allowed the company to achieve this milestone, and they should all take pride in receiving this award.”

Based in Henderson, Ky., Big Rivers Electric Corporation is comprised of three cooperatives: Jackson Purchase Energy, Kenergy Corporation, and Meade County RECC.  Together, they serve 114,000 members over 22 counties, including: Carlisle, Ballard, McCracken, Graves, Marshall, Livingston, Lyon, Crittenden, Caldwell, Union, Webster, Hopkins, Henderson, McLean, Muhlenberg, Daviess, Ohio, Hancock, Breckinridge, Grayson, Meade, and Hardin counties.

“The safety and health of our employees is the top priority in everything we do at Big Rivers,” said Bob Berry, President of Big Rivers Electric Corporation.  “This distinguished award reflects the hard work and dedication of the Wilson Station employees and I applaud the leadership of IBEW Local 1701, as well as the employees and management who contributed to this remarkable achievement.”

“Working over 1.7 million man hours without a lost time incident is an incredible achievement for the Wilson Station employees,” Wilson Station plant manager Keith Scott said. “This celebration marks a milestone accomplishment that is part of a journey that dates back to 2007.  This journey is not over today, as there will be more important safety milestones to come.  I am very proud of this accomplishment and I am equally as proud of the employees who achieved it.”

The Kentucky Labor Cabinet presents the Governor’s Safety and Health Award to highlight outstanding safety and health performance in Kentucky’s workplaces.  A business may qualify for the award if its employees achieve a required number of hours worked without experiencing a lost time injury or illness. The required number of hours is dependent upon the number of employees.  The Wilson Station employees have worked 3,207 days injury free.  Overall, this is the Big Rivers Electric Corporation’s 40th Governor’s Safety and Health Award.

from the Kentucky Labor Cabinet