SAFETY TALK
Culture Transition
Eliminating Risks and Controlling Hazards Is a Key Strategy at Alabama Power
By Seth Skydel
Like many utilities, noted Brian Johnson, fleet services manager, Engineering & Technical Services, Alabama Power Company has adopted a safety-first culture.“ Over the past several years we have worked hard to transition our mindset and safety systems from a reactive approach to one that focuses on transparency, learning and improvement,” he said.“ Previously, the emphasis was on measuring safety success mostly in terms of OSHA( Occupational Safety and Health Administration) recordable injuries.
“ However, this approach damaged our safety culture by creating an environment where employees were not comfortable reporting injuries or events,” Johnson continued.“ This was driven largely by perceived pressure to maintain long streaks of injury-free or event-free days. We feared these unintended consequences could lead to confusion and mistrust between workers
10 l March-April 2025