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NEWBERRY ‒ The City of Newberry has been recognized for its dedication to workplace safety, earning a 2024 Safety Award from the Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA). The award was presented during the Florida Lineman Competition awards banquet held in Ocala.

Newberry was one of 17 public power utilities across the state to receive the honor, which highlights utilities that prioritize employee safety while delivering reliable electric service. The city achieved a perfect safety record in its category, with zero lost work hours due to workplace accidents in 2024.

Linework is consistently ranked among the top 10 most dangerous professions. Florida’s lineworkers and utility crews regularly perform high-risk tasks that are essential to maintaining power for their communities. Due to these hazards, public power utilities focus heavily on safety practices and ongoing training to protect their teams from serious or fatal injuries.

FMEA’s annual Safety Awards evaluate utilities based on total worker hours and incidence rates, as defined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The incidence rate measures work-related injuries and illnesses in relation to the total number of hours worked throughout the year.

“Each of these winners, including Newberry, embodies the safety culture deeply inherent in public power. Their continuous efforts throughout the year to maintain safe workplaces and cultivate a culture of safety ensure employees can work both securely and efficiently,” said Amy Zubaly, FMEA Executive Director. “We applaud these utilities for their commitment to safety.”

Florida’s public power utilities are locally owned and operated, allowing them to provide quick, reliable service and respond directly to the needs of their communities.

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Email cwalker@

alachuatoday.com

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