USA fleet member Talen Energy’s Susquehanna Nuclear has been challenged for years with Industrial Safety issues. In 2010 alone, Susquehanna experienced an average of one OSHA Recordable PER MONTH. Susquehanna leadership was frustrated to see personnel getting injured, and its station delivering some of the lowest performance in industrial safety in the U.S.
“Injuries were occurring with relative frequency and got to the point where it was not a surprise or that it felt it was that big of a deal when they occurred,” said Plant Manager Bob Franssen. “During our recovery period, a focus group comprised of Team Susquehanna members developed the statement, ‘Our PEOPLE, Our PLANT, Our FUTURE’, but we were not keeping Our PEOPLE safe.” “Some viewed getting hurt as just one of the risks that came along with working at a large power plant. We finally realized we had to make a change. It took individuals and leaders from across the organization to help turn the corner.”
Constant attention to the use of Human Performance Tools at the jobsite and leadership stepping-up within the Susquehanna Employee Safety Team (SEST) began to stem the tide of work-related injuries at one of the largest Boiling Water Reactor sites in the country. Catching issues at the department level (increased Department Clock Resets) helped to keep larger issues (Station Clock Resets) and injuries from cropping up.
No balloons. No marching bands. No celebratory meals. On May 3, Susquehanna Station celebrated its 365th day of OSHA Recordable-Free performance through a simple act. Senior Leadership Team (SLT) members arrived at 5 a.m. that day and personally thanked each member of Team Susquehanna with a handshake and genuine thanks and appreciation for the exceptional work performance they delivered at Susquehanna Station over the previous year. And it was very well-received.
The SLT believes Team Susquehanna’s recent safety performance has everything to do with a renewed focus on clear working standards, work performance and changes in behavior that has improved the Station’s industrial safety outlook.
“Not only are we looking out for one another through the Station’s peer-to-peer observation program – called CLAWS – more Supervisors are getting into the field more frequently to observe work being done more safely by their people,” said Bob. “We’ve really begun to religiously use our Human Performance Tools to Keep Each Other Safe.”
The morning of Day 365 – 365 days since the last OSHA-Recordable incident at the Station – several Senior Leadership Team members gathered to thank employees at the South Gatehouse (main entrance to the Protected Area), the Susquehanna Learning Center and at the Plaza Building in Allentown.