Dear Wastewater Professionals,
As wastewater professionals, we often find ourselves focused on regulations, operations, budgets, and deadlines—but nothing is more important than sending our employees home safely at the end of every day.
This month, I want to shine a spotlight on safety—a core value that underpins everything we do. Our workplaces, whether treatment plants or collection systems, are full of potential hazards. That’s why the WPWPCA Safety Committee continues to emphasize the importance of evaluating and improving our safety programs through our annual Safety Awards.
This isn’t just about award plaques. As our Safety Committee said best:
“Filling out the questionnaire each year is a great way to review your safety program and, in the process, if you find a way to improve safety for your workforce, you’re already a winner.”
Participation in the program helps foster a culture of accountability, reflection, and improvement. If your facility has never applied before, I strongly encourage you to take a look. The applications are brief, straightforward and available now on our website at wpwpca.org.
Here’s how it works:
- One (1) award will be presented to a collection system, operated either independently or in conjunction with a treatment plant.
- Two (2) awards will be presented to treatment plant facilities, as follows:
- 8 or fewer employees
- 9 or more employees
If your organization operates both a plant and a collection system—and can clearly designate staff and safety training to each—you may submit both questionnaires. This year’s applications are available in fillable PDF format for your convenience.
We hope that this program encourages friendly competition and ultimately helps each of us strengthen our internal safety programs. Your participation is key. Together, we can raise the bar for workplace safety across our industry.
Warm regards,
Robert Herring, PE, PMP
President (2024–2025), Western Pennsylvania Water Pollution Control Association
Executive Director, Washington-East Washington Joint Authority
