Colstrip power plant recertified as one of nation’s safest worksites

About 200 PPL Montana employees — union and management — joined guests in November 2010 to celebrate the Colstrip power plant’s recertification in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Voluntary Protection Program.

Eric Harbin, acting director at OSHA’s Billings office, congratulated PPL Montana and its employees at Colstrip for attaining recertification in VPP, OSHA’s official recognition of the efforts of employers and employees who have enacted exemplary occupational safety and health programs.

Harbin commended PPL Montana employees for their leadership in supporting a range of activities that result in safe work practices and overall wellness.

Pete Simonich, vice president and chief operating officer of PPL Montana, congratulated the PPL Montana employees at the Colstrip plant for their involvement and ownership in the safety management system that led to the VPP recertification.

Simonich also thanked the leadership of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1638 and Teamsters Local 190 for their support and cooperative spirit in achieving the recognition.

“We always remember with pride that Colstrip is the largest private-sector work location in Montana to be recognized by OSHA for safety excellence through the VPP program,” he said. “Through our safety programs at all our facilities across the state, we set high standards to keep our employees and the public safe.”