POWERGRAMS

SAFETY Stop the Presses! Photos by Bill Snow Printing and Document Services surpasses 62 years of safe work Shane Self operates the printing press. Myles Burroughs said safety is like a religion at Printing and Document Services. "Our highest emphasis around here has always been safety," said Burroughs, a printing operator at Alabama Power for 35 years. "Safety is never far from our consciousness. It's important to us to go home to our families the same way we left that morning." Because of this commitment to safety, Printing and Document Services employees are celebrating 62 years of Target Zero. That's an outstanding record, said Tony Byrd, who attributes this success to the family atmosphere that pervades the organization. "We have very experienced personnel, and that experience helps our new employees," said Byrd, Printing and Document Services supervisor. "If you're on the floor without your safety glasses or other personal protection equipment, you can bet somebody will say something to you about it." To reinforce this concept, the organization has adopted a safety partner program. New employees are paired for six months with a more experienced coworker who shows them how to operate equipment safely and provides guidance on safety regulations and expectations. David Reid, who has worked at the Print Shop for eight months, said he 6 learned a lot about Alabama Power's Target Zero culture from his safety partner, Printing Operator Jake Underwood. "Jake showed me how things are done around here and stressed the importance of making safety your first priority," said Reid, printing operator. "I've worked at print shops my whole life," Reid said. "We always knew the cutters were dangerous, and you could mash a finger or get hurt. But they just told us to be careful at other companies. What struck me about Alabama Power Print Shop employees Printing Operator Reid is they talk trims notepads. about safety and think about getting ear protection and safety glasses before they ever start a job." Improved technology has also led to a safer work environment, Byrd said. In the old days in the printing industry, it was not uncommon for workers to lose a fingertip or catch a rag in a printing press or grommet machine. But that's not often the case nowadays, thanks to the addition of many safety features. The noise level of equipment has also been greatly reduced. "When we look at buying new equipment, the first thing we look at is how safe it is," Burroughs said. Employees take part in monthly safety meetings where they discuss issues that pertain to printing. "Since I've been working here and attending these meetings, I've become more safety-conscious at home than ever before," Reid said. "And I credit Alabama Power for that." This organization, which creates everything from engineering drawings, posters and banners to letterheads, business cards and brochures, has proven it takes safety seriously. "I am extremely proud of this group's long-standing safety record," said Corporate Services Vice President Bob Weaver. "While there are significant opportunities for an accident to occur in a printing production environment, their team operates under a one team-one goal philosophy that embraces safety as a priority in their daily way of life. These employees don't just believe in Target Zero – they live it in everything they do." By Carla Davis

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