Region 6 News Release: 12-939-DAL
May 31, 2012
Contact: Elizabeth Todd Juan Rodriguez
Phone: 972-850-4710 972-850-4709
Email: todd.elizabeth@dol.gov rodriguez.juan@dol.gov

US Department of Labor's OSHA recognizes Nextera Energy Horse
Hollow in Sweetwater, Texas, for excellence in workplace safety and health

SWEETWATER, Texas – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has recognized employees and management of Nextera Energy Horse Hollow III LLC in Sweetwater for achieving three years of excellence in employee health and safety. The facility has been designated as a "star" site, the highest honor in OSHA's Voluntary Protection Programs.

"Nextera Energy's Horse Hollow has demonstrated excellence in effective safety and health management," said John M. Hermanson, OSHA's regional administrator in Dallas. "The company's outstanding effort at this site includes zero injuries and illnesses over the past three years."

Sheila Schulmeyer, the compliance assistance specialist at OSHA's Lubbock District Office, presented a plaque and flag at today's recognition ceremony.

Nextera Energy Horse Hollow, a wind power generation facility with generation capability up to 223.5 megawatts, is comprised of 149 General Electric 1.5 megawatt SLE wing turbine generators. Horse Hollow III commercial operations began generating power in 2006. The site, which is located in Nolan County, south of Sweetwater, covers approximately 18 square miles with an elevation of 2,400 feet. The company has its own generation lines to add the power to the grid.

The Voluntary Protection Programs recognize private and federal work sites with effective safety and health management systems that have maintained injury and illness rates below national Bureau of Labor Statistics averages. Management, labor and OSHA work cooperatively and proactively to prevent fatalities, injuries and illnesses through a system focused on hazard prevention and control, work-site analysis and training. Union support is required for applicant work sites where employees are represented by a bargaining unit. Participating work sites are exempt from OSHA programmed inspections while they maintain their VPP status. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov/dcsp/vpp/index.html or contact William Klingbeil, OSHA's VPP manager in Lubbock, at 806-472-7681.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to ensure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.

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U.S. Department of Labor news materials are accessible at http://www.dol.gov. The information above is available in large print, Braille, audio tape or disc from the COAST office upon request by calling 202-693-7828 or TTY 202-693-7755.