Jan 7, 2020   SOURCE: BusinessWire

Illinois American Water’s Sterling District Celebrates Four Years of Safety Excellence

Illinois American Water’s Sterling District is celebrating four years without experiencing any lost-time accidents. According to Operations Superintendent Charlotte Dunne, the Sterling District’s excellent safety record is a result of daily focus and commitment.

Illinois American Water employees work around the clock to provide critical water service to homes and businesses. To provide these critical services for public health, fire protection and household uses, employees may need to work in confined spaces, among motorists and in extreme weather. Employees may also handle chemicals, conduct excavation and operate equipment.

Dunne said, “Safety is on our minds every minute of every day. There is nothing more important than ensuring our employees go home in the same condition they arrived at work, if not better. We owe that to our coworkers and their families. There is no room for shortcuts when it comes to safety.”

To ensure safe work practices, Illinois American Water employees regularly attend both classroom and hands-on training. Employees also participate in facility and job site audits to ensure compliance with established workplace safety practices. The skilled workforce is also equipped with proper personal and work zone protection equipment, chemical handling requirements and training, work zone safety training, and more. Company contractors are held to the same safety expectations as employees.

Dunne said, “The work we do is complex. We continuously evaluate and act to remove hazards to prevent injuries. I am proud of our team and their continued years of excellence in safety.”

Illinois American Water’s Sterling District serves approximately 6,500 customer connections.

About Illinois American Water

Illinois American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to approximately 1.3 million people. American Water also operates a customer service center in Alton and a quality control and research laboratory in Belleville. With a history dating back to 1886, American Water is the largest and most geographically diverse U.S. publicly traded water and wastewater utility company. The company employs more than 7,100 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and market-based drinking water, wastewater and other related services to more than 14 million people in 46 states. American Water provides safe, clean, affordable and reliable water services to our customers to make sure we keep their lives flowing. For more information, visit www.amwater.com and follow American Water on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.