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GENESEE, AB, July 11, 2003 -- Contractors, union tradespeople and project managers at the Genesee Phase 3 (GP3) power project have achieved more than one million hours of construction activity without a lost-time injury.
The $695-million GP3 under construction west of Edmonton is one of Alberta's largest capital projects. Over 800 tradespeople and contractors, represented by 16 unions, currently work at GP3, a joint venture between EPCOR and TransAlta.
"This no lost-time milestone is a significant achievement given the size of this project and the complexity of the work involved," said Mark McCullough, Executive Director of the Alberta Building Trades Council. "We achieved this record because of a high degree of communication, cooperation and coordination. This ensures everybody knows how to work safely in a changing and challenging environment. By working together we've achieved a tremendous safety record, and have kept the project on-time and on-budget."
Clint Dunford, Alberta Human Resources and Employment Minister called the GP3 safety achievement an outstanding example of cooperation: "The Alberta government is promoting greater workplace safety awareness through its Work Safe Alberta initiative. Safety is everyone's responsibility: from the individual managers and tradespeople working on the site, to corporate leaders and unions. GP3 reaching this milestone proves that everyone wins when you choose safe not sorry."
EPCOR President and CEO Don Lowry thanked the contractors, tradespeople and project managers for their outstanding work on GP3: "EPCOR puts the highest priority on safety. Working closely with union tradespeople and contractors, we've developed a culture where safety is a vital element to the workplace. Congratulations to the many people who are a part of this milestone."
TransAlta CEO Steve Snyder said the people at GP3 "work with a tremendous level of skill and professionalism. That's very clear with the one million- hour safety achievement. On behalf of TransAlta, I want to thank the unions, contractors and managers for making this project an example for others to follow."
The Alberta Energy and Utilities Board approved GP3 in December 2001, noting that it will be the "most advanced coal-fired plant ever built in Canada." Currently, the 450-MW generation facility is 50 per cent complete overall, including all of the steel structure. The facility, which will provide enough electricity for 600,000 households, is scheduled for completion in the winter of 2004-05.
EPCOR Utilities Inc. is one of Canada's top providers of energy and energy-related services and products. As Canada's first strategic linking of power, water, and natural gas, we serve an expanding customer base in Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario and the U.S. Pacific Northwest. With $4.7 billion in assets and 1.9 million customers, EPCOR is headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta. EPCOR's Web site is www.epcor.ca
TransAlta Corporation is Canada's largest non-regulated power generation and wholesale marketing company. It has close to $9 billion in coal-fired, gas- fired, hydro and renewable generation assets in Canada, the U.S., Mexico and Australia. With approximately 10,000 megawatts of capacity either in operation, under construction or in development, TransAlta's focus is to efficiently operate its assets in order to provide its wholesale customers with a reliable, low-cost source of power. TransAlta's Web site is www.transalta.com.
The Alberta Building Trades Council coordinates and harmonizes the activities, functions and interests of the Affiliated International Unions in the Building and Construction Industry. Currently, the Alberta Building Trades Council represents 40,000 members working with 19 different unions across Alberta. The Alberta Building Trades Council Web site is http://www.albertabuildingtrades.com/
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