Berkshire Gas Hosts Annual Safety Day, Enhancing Workplace Safety Culture with Education and Hands-on Training
Over 100 frontline workers participated in safety trainings to enhance awareness, prevent accidents, and improve employee health and performance
PITTSFIELD, MA — December 3, 2024 — Berkshire Gas Company (BGC), a subsidiary of Avangrid, Inc. (NYSE: AGR), in collaboration with United Steel Workers (USW) Local 12325-1, hosted its annual Safety Day, bringing together union and non-union field professionals for a day of comprehensive safety training and hands-on demonstrations aimed at improving workplace safety and employee well-being.
“We are committed to maintaining a safety-first culture at Berkshire Gas Company,” said Sue Kristjansson, President of BGC. “This event allows us to reinforce safe protocols, best practices, and hazard mitigation strategies, ensuring our frontline workers are equipped to perform their jobs safely and efficiently, and return home to their families at the end of each shift.”
The Safety Day featured a variety of training sessions focused on enhancing safety awareness and preventing workplace injuries. Topics included customer de-escalation techniques, natural gas hazard identification, emergency response protocols, and safe lifting and digging practices. Additionally, Avangrid’s Environmental, Health, and Safety (EH&S) team presented key programs focused on employee health and wellness, such as the Early Intervention Program and Human Operational Performance (HOP) principles.
“The Safety Day is a critical refresher for our team, emphasizing essential skills like safe lifting, trench digging, and fire safety, which may not be encountered daily on the job,” said Joseph Huff, Manager of Gas Operations at BGC. “By reinforcing these techniques, we help ensure our crews are confident and capable in the field, maintaining the high standards of service our customers have relied on for over 165 years.”
“We value the opportunity to engage directly with our frontline workforce, providing resources to enhance their health and safety,” said Evan Lagess, Environmental, Health and Safety (EH&S) at BGC. “By continuously refining our training programs and prioritizing wellness initiatives, we not only enhance employee safety but also foster improved performance, both in the field and in their personal lives.”
In addition to the training sessions, twelve industry vendors participated in the event, showcasing cutting-edge safety technologies and equipment. These demonstrations provided workers with the opportunity to explore tolls designed to improve both safety and performance on the job.
Media Contact:
Marina Bach
203.859.0883