Lycoming County Water and Sewer Authority awarded for safety excellence

The leadership and staff of the Lycoming County Water and Sewer Authority have "actively put safety at the forefront" of the authority's operations, according to the authority's Marie Haas.

That's why the state Department of Labor and Industry recently presented the authority with a 2022 Governor's Award for Safety Excellence.

"We strive to set a high standard," Haas said.

Scott Weiant, deputy secretary for the state Department of Labor and Industry, said only about 200 such awards have been presented in the past 25 years.

"It's a pretty prestigious award," Weiant said.

"It's an honor that should be celebrated," Paul Wentzler, chairman of the authority, said after reflecting on the history of the Lycoming County Water and Sewer Authority. "We've grown – little steps and big steps. Positive steps."

Weiant said a committee of people within the Bureau of Workers Compensation, all with experience in workplace safety, reviews the 60 or so applicants, narrows down the candidates and then conducts interviews and visits sites to make its final determination.

"They are all based on their own merits," Weiant said. "We looked at a lot of things."

He specifically noted the authority opening up opportunities for safety training to other employers as well.

"You're also looking out for other employers' safety," he said. "A lot of other employers could learn from that."

Haas noted there is no shortage of potential danger in the authority's line of work, including the challenge of remote sites, and said she enjoyed reflecting on the authority's history of rising to those challenges as she worked on the application.

"You'll see our employees out every day," Wentzler said, in all conditions and weather, completing work that can't be postponed or rescheduled.

"This award is for all of you," Wentzler said to the authority's staff.