Port Washington Generating Station
Achieves Two Million Safe Work Hours
We Energies' Port Washington Generating Station (PWGS), a project constructed by Wisconsin Power Constructors, LLC (WPC) and Southeastern Wisconsin union trades, recently surpassed the notable marker of two million work hours without a lost time injury.
Since 2003, WPC, a Washington Group International subsidiary, has overseen all aspects of the two-phased Port Washington construction project, which transitions the plant from coal electric generation to a gas-fired combined cycle power plant. Phase one, generating 545 megawatts, was placed into commercial operation in August 2005. Phase two, also 545 megawatts, will be completed in May of 2008.
Recently, WPC was awarded the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Star Status.
The prestigious VPP Star Status is the highest OSHA safety ranking. Port Washington is one of the first heavy construction projects to achieve this level, which recognizes exemplary worksites that have implemented a comprehensive safety and health management system.
Mike Renfroe, construction manager and President of WPC, believes that the achievement belongs to the union workers at the Port Washington job site. “We just can't say enough about the union workers,” says Renfroe. “They're significant contributors to the safety culture at Port Washington. I have been on projects all over the country, but this is the best and safest work effort I've ever seen.”
Mark Stone, vice-president and director of the PWGS project, attributes the continuing safety on the job site to a close relationship between management and workers. “We operate on an open door policy here. We can focus on providing leadership because we have a fully integrated, knowledgeable staff that is capable of making smart decisions in the field.”
Union trades in Milwaukee have been working hard in recent years to prove the quality of their training and workmanship. “Our goal is to set a higher standard of excellence for the building trades, and projects like Port Washington prove that we represent the best in the industry,” said John Topp, executive director of Building Advantage.
Renfroe noted that the DuPont Corporation recently performed an independent audit of the WPC Safety Program and gave it a “world-class” rating for its high standards and best practices in safety, health and environmental work.
On a typical day at Port Washington, there are around 325 direct-hire employees from the Milwaukee union trades, 75 subcontractors, and 60-75 supervising professionals at the site, all of whom are required to attend 10 hours of OSHA safety training programs. All leadership is required to go through Safety Trained Supervisor Qualification (STS), while all employees participate in weekly safety meetings and daily stretch and flex sessions prior to starting work each day.
In addition, apprentices working at Port Washington are placed in a mentoring program with a foreman. “We get many apprentices in their first and second year, and I tell them to take the opportunity to learn about safety and learn how to do things the right way,” says Renfroe.
When the PWGS is finished, it will consist of 1,100 megawatts of gas-fired generation that will provide power for close to a million households in Wisconsin. By completion in May 2008, approximately three million man-hours will have been performed on this project and 100 percent of the building will have been done by union trades workers.
Nearly every local union group has been involved in the construction of the generating station, including the boilermakers, plumbers, electricians, carpenters, painters, millwrights, masons, roofers, sprinkler fitters, glaziers, insulators, sheet metal workers, plasterers, ironworkers, teamsters and laborers.
Topp believes that projects like Port Washington are a step in the right direction for union trades. “Through our apprenticeship training and excellent continuing education programs we are able to teach union trades workers how to safely and properly do their jobs – and the result is on-time, on-budget, high-quality work.”
The Operating Engineers Union, Local 139, present an award to Mike Renfroe for the PWGS management's commitment to safety. Left to right: Dennis Luciana, President Local 139; Terry McGowan, Business Manager Local 139; Mike Renfroe, President, Wisconsin Power Constructors (A subsidiary of Washington Group International); Randy Heule, Operating Engineers General Foreman, PWGS; and Bob McKeag, Steward, Operating Engineers, PWGS
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