HENDERSON, Ky. (Dec. 19, 2017) – Labor Cabinet Secretary Derrick Ramsey visited Big Rivers Electric Corporation in Henderson today to present the headquarters office a Governor’s Safety and Health Award for the 500,000 production hours worked without a lost-time incident by employees.
Labor Cabinet Secretary Derrick Ramsey congratulated the headquarters of Big Rivers Electric Corporation in Henderson on its second award of this kind. All told, this is the 46th Governor’s Safety and Health Award presented to a Big River Electric Corporation facility.
“On behalf of Gov. Bevin and the Labor Cabinet, I would like to congratulate the Big River Electric Corporation headquarters on earning its second Governor’s Safety and Health Award and the company for its 46th overall award,” said Secretary Ramsey. “Creating a safe, healthy environment for employees is making Kentucky the best place to live and work in America, and achievements like Big Rivers Electric’s are helping that vision become reality every day.”
Headquartered in Henderson, Big Rivers is an electric generation and transmission cooperative and is owned by three distribution cooperative members, Jackson Purchase Energy Corporation, headquartered in Paducah; Kenergy Corporation, headquartered in Henderson; and Meade County RECC, headquartered in Brandenburg. These member cooperatives deliver retail electric power and energy to more than 116,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers in portions of 22 western Kentucky counties. Big Rivers Electric Corporation employs 500 employees statewide, with the headquarters employing over 30 employees.
“The most rewarding benefit of workplace safety is protecting our most important asset, our employees,” said Bob Berry, president and chief executive officer of Big Rivers Electric Corporation. “We are honored to be recognized by Secretary Ramsey with our 46th Governor’s Safety Award.”
State Rep. Robert Mills (Henderson) also offered praise.
“Big Rivers Electric Corporation has been a beneficial element in the development of Henderson, Kentucky for some time,” said Rep. Mills. “This is apparent with the inconceivable statistic of 500,000 consecutive hours without a lost time injury or illness. Achievements such as this will not go unnoticed and I am grateful, but not surprised that they are the recipients of this Governor’s Safety and Health Award. A company that leaves a footprint this large and does so with the detail and precision that Big Rivers Electric Corporation uses could not be more deserving of the honor.”
The Kentucky Labor Cabinet presents the Governor’s Safety and Health Award to highlight outstanding safety and health performance in Kentucky’s workplaces. A business may qualify for the award if its employees achieve a required number of hours worked without experiencing a lost-time injury or illness. The required number of hours is dependent upon the number of employees.
According to a recent report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Kentucky employers reported the lowest incident rate for nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses in the state’s history.
Based on a mathematical calculation that describes the number of recordable incidents per 100 full-time employees, Kentucky’s rate improved from 3.8 in 2014 to 3.7 in 2015. This rate has steadily declined since it was first calculated in 1996, when a rate of 8.4 was reported.
For more information on the Governor’s Safety and Health Award, click here.
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