JEA has received a 2021 Safety Award from the Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA), recognizing the utility’s commitment to employee safety and safe utility operations.
“Safety is a core value at JEA, both physical and emotional well-being; it allows us to continue to provide safe, reliable service to our customers,” said JEA Managing Director & CEO Jay Stowe.
Electric linework is one of the country’s 10 most dangerous jobs, according to FMEA. In order to provide reliable power to communities, power crews are frequently engaged in dangerous work that can place them at high risk of serious or fatal injuries.
JEA received special recognition in the category with similar-sized utilities at an FMEA awards ceremony in Fort Pierce on Feb. 26. FMEA categorizes utilities based on their total employee hours and rewards organizations with the most incident-free records. The incidence rate used to judge utilities was based on the number of work-related reportable injuries or illnesses compared to the total number of worker hours during 2021, as defined by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
FMEA recognized a total of 17 public utilities with safety awards.
“Instilling a culture of safety and ensuring that safety is a priority in day-to-day practices is critical for an industry that includes such a high-risk profession. We commend this year’s recipients for their dedication to the safety of their employees,” said Amy Zubaly, FMEA Executive Director.
About JEA
JEA is a not-for-profit, community-owned utility located in Jacksonville, Florida, proudly serving an estimated 496,000 electric, 374,000 water, 295,000 sewer and 20,000 reclaimed water customers. JEA is not owned by investors. It was created by the City of Jacksonville to serve those who live in Jacksonville and in the surrounding communities. The sole purpose of JEA’s business is to ensure the electric, water and sewer demands of its customers are met, both today and for generations to come with the goal to provide reliable services at the best value to our customers while ensuring our areas’ precious natural resources are protected.
