Green Mountain Power's Western Division Applauded for Workplace Safet

Green Mountain Power's Western Division Applauded for Workplace Safety and Health Efforts

    Business Editors/Energy Editors

    MONTPELIER, Vt.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 11, 2005--

Power Utility Becomes First Vermont Utility to Receive Federal SHARP Recognition
    Project WorkSAFE- Vermont's Occupational Safety and Health Consultation Program- is pleased to announce that Green Mountain Power (Western Division) of Colchester, Vermont, has successfully completed and met the requirements of the Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP).
    Green Mountain Power and The Vermont Department of Labor and Industries Project WorkSAFE Program began working on the certification process over 15 months ago.
    "We applaud the employees and management of Green Mountain Power in this accomplishment. We must realize that their staff works in all types of weather in a variety of harsh environments and at fixed locations in an inherently dangerous occupation," says Scott Meyer, Director of Project WorkSAFE. "To be conducting this type of work while maintaining a safe workplace speaks very well to the caliber and commitment of staff at Green Mountain Power. They have a lot to be proud of and we hope that other Vermont employers will follow in their lead."
    "Our employees work very hard to make our facilities safe," said Green Mountain Power president and chief executive officer Chris Dutton. "We have made a company-wide commitment to raising our standards of safety and we anticipate that our two other districts will achieve the SHARP standard by the end of this year."
    The SHARP program is a nationally recognized program implemented by states under Federal OSHA. The SHARP program recognizes small, high-hazard businesses with exemplary safety and health programs. Upon receiving SHARP certification, the workplace will be exempt from programmed inspections during the period that the SHARP certification is valid. Currently there are about 745 firms in the United States and 34 in New England with the SHARP certification. Green Mountain Power will be Vermont's third company to receive this award. The first SHARP was awarded to Ryegate Associates, an electric wood generating facility, and the second was awarded to DEW construction.
    The award will be presented at Green Mountain Power's main office in Colchester at 10:00 am on Friday, February 11, 2005.
    For further information about the SHARP program or Project WorkSAFE, please visit the Department of Labor and Industry website: www.state.vt.us/labind.

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CONTACT: Project WorkSAFE Scott Meyer, 802-888-0620 or Green Mountain Power Dorothy Schnure, 802-655-8418.

KEYWORD: VERMONT INDUSTRY KEYWORD: OIL/GAS ENERGY UTILITIES SOURCE: Green Mountain Power

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