NYPA Transmission Center in Central New York Achieves Safety Milestone

Contact:
Mike Saltzman
(914) 390-8181
saltzman.m@nypa.gov

MARCY—The New York Power Authority’s (NYPA) Frederick R. Clark Energy Center here reached a milestone last Friday (March 9) for being without a recordable personal-injury accident for a period of two years for its workforce of nearly 100 people.

"This is concrete example of how the Power Authority’s commitment to safety translates to the work place," said NYPA President Gene Zeltmann, noting that nearly every Power Authority site set a new performance record last year for safety. "The achievement at Clark, along with the high standards followed at our other facilities, demonstrates that our employees fully grasp the importance of safe worker practices and know how to implement them."

The Clark Energy Center (CEC) is part of a 277-acre complex that serves as the hub of the Power Authority’s transmission network, which spans much of New York and has links to neighboring states and Canada. Its staff includes transmission linemen, electricians, technicians, mechanics and engineers—all engaged in monitoring and maintaining nearly 500 circuit-miles of power lines and switchyards that deliver lower cost power around the state. (The CEC also houses NYPA’s Energy Control Center, a command center for dispatching power statewide.)

"There are a number of reasons for the Clark Energy Center’s excellent safety record, not the least of which is a health and safety training program that all of the center’s employees must participate in each year," said Jim Ballard, CEC safety administrator. "Besides use of personal protection equipment, it includes instruction by an ergonomics specialist on preventive measures for avoiding injuries, such as stretch exercises."

The CEC’s previous best record without a recordable accident was for a period of approximately one year, achieved more than a decade ago.

A recordable accident, as defined by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, is any kind of incident that requires subsequent medical treatment by a licensed physician.