On October 29, PSM hosted its annual Safety Day event with a theme that resonated across the shop floor: "Better SAFE Than Scared." Over 200 employees participated in what became our most successful safety event to date, and the turnout reflects something important about where the power generation industry stands today.
Safety isn't merely compliance paperwork, it's the foundation of operational reliability.
When your team works on hot section inspections at 1,200°F, manages combustion dynamics during startups, or troubleshoots control systems under pressure to bring a unit back online, the margin for error is zero. A safety incident doesn't just harm people, it destroys schedules, demolishes budgets, and erodes the trust customers place in your ability to deliver.
The Safety Day numbers tell a compelling story. We achieved record participation across all shifts and departments, from floor technicians to engineering teams to leadership. People attended not because it was mandatory, but because they sought the tools, knowledge, and resources to excel at their jobs.
Here's what resonated:
Hands-on learning surpasses lectures. Our digital fire extinguisher simulator from Palm Beach County Fire Rescue drew constant lines. Employees practiced real emergency response scenarios in a controlled environment. The feedback was immediate: "I've never actually used one of these before, but now I know I can if needed." That confidence matters when seconds count.
Health screenings identified real issues. OnSpot Dermatology provided on-site skin cancer screenings. Walgreens Pharmacy administered flu vaccinations and TDAP boosters. Safety & Boot Center fitted employees for proper footwear and sold steel-toed boots at cost. InFocus Eyecare conducted vision exams and scheduled additional appointments. These aren't perks, they're investments in maintaining a healthy, productive workforce.
Wellness matters as much as PPE. The Magic Bowls food truck served açai bowls and smoothies. Refreshing, certainly, but also symbolic. Physical wellness cannot be separated from workplace safety. Fatigue, poor nutrition, and stress all contribute to incidents. A well-rested, healthy technician makes superior decisions under pressure.
EHS training made an impact. The expanded training on our digital EHS Management System (SAI360) covered incident reporting, near misses, safety suggestions, and observations. System adoption has driven a 200% increase in reporting since launch, not because incidents increased, but because engagement soared. People recognize the value in documenting close calls and sharing lessons learned.
One of Safety Day's most significant developments was the response to our Anonymous Reporting tool. This digital system, integrated into SAI360, allows employees to flag safety concerns without fear of retribution or bureaucracy.
Since its introduction, sustained workforce engagement has translated into actionable intelligence. Near misses get reported. Hazards are identified before they cause problems. Suggestions flow upward from the people doing the work, those who know where the risks actually exist.
In an industry where downtime is measured in megawatts and lost revenue per hour, early issue detection is everything. Anonymous reporting eliminates friction and creates a feedback loop that makes operations safer and more efficient.
When you contract with an aftermarket service provider to handle a major outage, upgrade project, or emergency repair, you're entrusting that provider's team with your most critical assets. You need assurance that those technicians are trained, equipped, and operating within a culture that prioritizes safety at every level.
A robust safety culture isn't an HR initiative, it's a competitive advantage.
Safe crews work faster because they're confident in their procedures. They make fewer mistakes because they don't cut corners. They communicate more effectively because they're trained to speak up when something appears wrong. When issues arise, they handle them professionally instead of panicking or covering them up.
That's the distinction between a vendor that talks about safety and one that embodies it.
The power generation industry operates under strict regulatory oversight. OSHA standards, NFPA codes, NERC reliability requirements, and numerous other compliance frameworks dictate how we work. However, compliance is the floor, not the ceiling.
At PSM, Safety Day isn't about checking a box for annual training requirements. It's about cultivating a culture where every employee, from entry-level technicians to senior leadership, understands that their decisions impact not only their own safety, but the success of every project we undertake.
The spinal evaluations and chiropractic assessments we offered through Spine Design Chiropractic aren't mandated by regulation. Neither are the health insights from Cigna Mercer, the FL Blue Connect services, or the Club Pilates and FL Fit Fusion exercise and meal prep demonstrations. We provided them because we recognize that musculoskeletal injuries, repetitive strain, and ergonomic issues are genuine risks in our industry, and preventing them proactively is smarter than managing the consequences.
Our customers don't just hire us for technical expertise. They hire us because they trust that when our team arrives on-site, we'll execute the work safely, professionally, and without incident.
That trust is earned through events like Safety Day, through investments in training and tools, and through daily commitment to doing things correctly even when no one is watching.
The theme "Better SAFE Than Scared" captures this perfectly. Fear-based safety doesn't work. People become complacent, take shortcuts, or freeze under pressure. But when safety is embedded in the culture, when employees possess the knowledge and confidence to handle hazards, the work gets done right.
In an industry where every megawatt matters and every hour of downtime costs money, executing correctly the first time is the only option.
PSM's commitment to safety drives everything we do. From major outages to precision upgrades, our teams operate with the training, tools, and culture to deliver results without compromising safety. Learn more about how we support your operations.