Electrical District No. 3 Clinches Prestigious ‘Diamond Award’ for Safety Excellence

Maricopa’s Electrical District No. 3 (ED3) has clinched the prestigious Diamond Award in the 2024 Safety Awards of Excellence, presented by the American Public Power Association (APPA).

This accolade represents the pinnacle of workplace safety honors for public utility groups. ED3 was recognized in the category for utilities with annual worker-hours ranging from 110,000 to 249,999. The APPA’s evaluation was based on OSHA safety performance data, highlighting their impressive record of incident-free operations.

Brian Yerges, the general manager of ED3, emphasized the importance of safety within the organization. “Safety is a core value for ED3 and part of our everyday culture,” he stated. Yerges noted that this award is a reflection of employees’ commitment to maintaining safe work practices and fostering a safety-oriented culture.

In recent years, ED3 employees adopted a safety motto: “You ARE Safety – First, Last, and Always.” Yerges expressed pride in the safety initiatives implemented within the organization. “I am really proud of the work we have done around safety,” he said.

The 2024 competition attracted over 200 utilities nationwide. Participants were evaluated on the number of working hours and the frequency of work-related injuries and illnesses. Jon Beasley, chair of APPA’s Safety Committee and vice president of Electric Cities of Georgia, commented on the critical nature of safety in the utility sector. “Harnessing electricity to keep our communities powered is vital work that can be dangerous, even deadly,” Beasley remarked.

He concluded by stating that the award celebrates those utilities that prioritize safety for both their workers and the communities they serve.