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City Water, Light and Power (CWLP) employees achieved a major safety milestone in 2025, recording the lowest accident rate in the utility’s history and sending more employees home safely at the end of each workday.
CWLP’s Safety Leadership Council (SLC) set an ambitious goal for its Incident Rate (IR), which was met with a record-low rate of 1.32 incidents, as defined by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards.
Mayor Misty Buscher praised CWLP employees for their commitment to safety and accountability across the organization. “This achievement reflects an organization-wide commitment to looking out for one another and holding safety as a shared responsibility,” Mayor Buscher said. “Creating an injury-free workplace protects our employees and their families, and it strengthens the essential services our community relies on every day.”
The Safety Leadership Council is composed of CWLP representatives from all five utility divisions. The group was formed in 2007 to address rising accident rates and workers’ compensation claims and has since focused on building a strong, proactive safety culture. The SLC meets regularly to review and enhance safety policies and procedures, expand training and education efforts, and develop programs such as incident investigation reviews, job hazard analyses, and regular “toolbox talks.”
CWLP Chief Utility Engineer Doug Brown emphasized the broader impact of a strong safety culture. “Safety is fundamental to reliable utility operations,” Brown said. “When our employees work safely and go home without injury, it improves efficiency, controls costs, and ultimately benefits the entire Springfield community.”
The SLC remains committed to continuous improvement and exceeding industry standards, with the long-term goal of achieving zero on-the-job accidents.
