Sacramento Suburban Water District holds a safe working environment in the highest regard. To demonstrate our commitment to safety our employees are encouraged to recognize situations that may present a hazardous working environment, report these situations, and work with our Safety Team to create solutions. 

Through the H.R. Labounty Safety Awards, the Association of California Water Agencies/Joint Powers Insurance Authority recognizes employees who "implement significant safety improvements to prevent occupational injury/illness." 

Below are SSWD's winners from the 2023 (Spring and Fall) ACWA/JPIA, H.R. Labounty Safety Awards.

Ergonomic Fire Hydrant Repair Station
By:  Joe Crockett

Performing repairs and maintenance on fire hydrants in the field creates consistent, unsafe exposure to traffic. In addition, the location and positioning of hydrants in the field result in the Operator working on hydrants in positions and settings that are at increased risk of ergonomic injury.

At the Corporation yard, Joe configured a hydrant repair station by attaching a 24” hydrant bury extension to a check valve in the ground. The hydrant requiring repair is attached to the extension, raising the hydrant to the operator’s working power zone. This provides better leverage when wrenching and less stooping and bending.  Additionally, the District needed a process to verify that the repairs made were successful. A hydrant pattern blind flange was installed between the check and the extension. Also installed was a ¾” saddle with a hose bib on the 24” extension. Once the hydrant repairs have been made, the Operator can pressurize the hydrant through the hose bib. The Operator checks for leaks, and also ensures each port operates correctly.

The repaired hydrants are then ready to be put back into service.

Safety Calendar Coloring Contest
By:  Ben Harris

Building a deep safety culture requires a commitment to safety by employees and this must carry beyond the workplace for employees.  The Safety Calendar Drawing Contest engages children, grandchildren, and nieces/nephews of District employees in understanding and supporting safety of their District-employed relatives.

District children are offered the opportunity to draw a picture of their District relative “working safely”.  The drawing must be done by hand on paper. Drawings are collected and sorted by age or school grade groups.

A judging committee of four District employees is selected and these judges review the drawings selecting a winner or winners in each category.  Winning drawings are featured on different months of a District annual calendar.  In cases with larger quantity submissions, all drawings not selected for posting to a month are arranged into collages to be used on calendar inner and outer covers.  Regardless of the number of submissions, all drawings will appear in the calendar.

An amazing outcome of this contest is seeing how children are tuned in to what safety efforts parents engage in at work and how they express it.  It connects children and parents to the importance of working safely at work and at home.

Well Pump Turbine Motor Oiling Process
By:  Allen Furr

Allen performs well site maintenance including changing/adding oil for bearings on the District’s 81 vertical turbine pump motors. This process was performed by lifting an oil container up to the top of the motor where the fill port is located.  That location is typically above the operator’s head. The oil container being used holds about 3 gallons of oil.  Allen realized this was a significant repetitive ergonomic risk and proposed to secure a battery-operated fluid pump and hose to perform the oil change/fill process with the oil container stationary on the ground.

Allen found an appropriate pump and had his supervisor purchase it.  He reorganized the process to include pumping the oil into the vertical turbine well pump motors while doing preventive maintenance (PM).  This improvement has dramatically reduced his (and others performing PM) ergonomic exposure for this process.

Meter Box Replacement Job Hazard Analysis (JHA)
By:  Abel Ramirez

Abel developed a JHA for the replacement of meter boxes.  This is a very common process performed by the District and has many elements and hazards that require focus to properly complete.  In the past, there have been injuries incurred during this process; the goal was to document and review the JHA with staff to identify risks and avoid future injuries.

The District Safety/Risk Officer worked with Abel to fully document the JHA of the meter box replacement process.  Each step was documented and photographed through the process with tasks, risks, and controls.  This detailed process review brought to light several steps that were not being regularly performed and clarified potential hazards while performing the process.  These were further improved during the review of the JHA with staff.  Their input and engagement during Abel’s presentation led to four valuable additions to the final JHA.

To-Go Trauma Kits
By:  Joe Crockett

At the District, we have fixed first aid kits located in the three main facilitates.  The problem with fixed locations is if there is a need for emergency first aid at a more remote portion of a facility, how can you effectively respond to provide care?  Joe identified this problem and recommended the District purchase three to-go trauma kits with medical response items targeting needs such as blood clotting and cut pressure pads.  This would supplement the regular fixed first aid kits with expanded care materials as well as being able to go directly to the injured person.

Joe worked with the District Safety/Risk Officer (SRO) to identify a kit that would have the best mix of emergency medical response items, and the optimum locations at the 3 facilities.  The SRO added this new information to the emergency response plan training so all employees understand the application and locations of these kits.

Staff’s efforts to promote safe workplace behavior and improve existing operational practices is greatly appreciated.