Illinois American Water in Streator celebrates 13 years of safety

Illinois American Water is celebrating a safety milestone in the Streator district. The Streator District celebrated 13 years without a lost-time accident.

Illinois American Water employees are provided critical personal protective equipment, work zone protective equipment, chemical handling requirements and training, and more to support safe work practices. Employees also attend safety training on a regular basis. Safety training at Illinois American Water includes both online classes and hands-on training.

“Safety is everyone’s responsibility,” said Bernie Sebold, senior manager of Illinois American Water’s Safety and Health Program. “The Streator employees have developed a positive safety culture in the workplace. Their personal effort to prevent incidents is the greatest contributor to this safety achievement.”

Illinois American Water employees are encouraged to use the company’s Near Miss program to help identify possible hazards without fear of reprisal. The Near Miss reports are investigated, and corrective actions are applied and shared across the company to benefit the safety of all employees.

Illinois American Water’s workforce is trained in chemical handling, work zone safety, confined spaces, among other items. The teams also participate in job site and facility audits to support a safe working environment. Employees may need to work in confined spaces, among motorists and in extreme weather. They are provided the skills and equipment to perform these tasks safely. Company contractors are also held to the same safety standards as employees.