GENTRY, Ark.—In 1996 employees at one of the company’s power plants redoubled their commitment to safety. Day in and day out for the past 27 years they’ve honored that pledge and honed their focus. When they arrive at Flint Creek and Mattison Power Plants in Northwest Arkansas to start their work shift, they share one core priority: get everyone home safely every single day.

“It means everyday we're going home to our families, but at the same time we can't lose sight of what got us here,” Flint Creek and Mattison Power Plant Manager Sara Vestfals said. “Every day counts. Every day going forward counts.”

In a remarkable demonstration of commitment to safety, the SWEPCO Flint Creek Power Plant in Gentry and the Mattison Power Plant in Tontitown have collectively surpassed an impressive milestone—4 million man-hours without a reportable lost time incident. This achievement, spanning an exceptional 27-year timeframe, underscores the plants' dedication to creating a safe work environment. A lost time incident refers to an accident which results in injuries leading to time off work or productivity loss.

What’s the secret to Flint Creek and Mattison’s safety success? Vestfals says it isn’t a secret at all. Every employee knows their part in fostering a safety-first culture. It starts with empowering employees with the confidence to speak up.

“Making people feel comfortable to approach you, period. And building a trust that they know if they speak up their concerns are taken seriously,” Vestfals said. “When things are brought up, we bring the right people together to correct it or build in extra layers of defense to prevent harm.”

To Vestfals and the entire Flint Creek and Mattison teams, safety isn’t a checklist. Creating and maintaining a culture of safety is something personal. 

“It's not the last four million that keeps me up all night, it's the next four million that do. Staying committed to that process is what we are trying to preach,” she said.

The Mattison Power Plant, fueled exclusively by natural gas, and the Flint Creek Power Plant, powered by coal, are integral parts of AEP's diverse energy portfolio. The Flint Creek Power Plant has been operational since 1978. Mattison Power Plant, with its four simple cycle gas units, has been online since 2007 and was named after SWEPCO’s current COO and President’s father, Harry D. Mattison who worked a three-decade-long career with the company and served as SWEPCO’s President from 1988 to 1990.

In honor of this monumental accomplishment, a plant-wide celebration was held that included a catered lunch where leaders spotlighted the crews and their unending commitment to safety. Distinguished guests, including SWEPCO Chief Operating Officer and President Brett Mattison, Monte McMahon, VP Generating Assets and Paul Pratt, Director of Customer Services & Marketing, joined to congratulate plant employees and recognize their achievement.  Other leaders from across AEP and SWEPCO sent video remarks to share their appreciation to the team for the continued focus on working safely.

"I am incredibly proud of this accomplishment and grateful for the dedication of each and every team member,” Brett Mattison, SWEPCO President and COO said. “This is a testament to the commitment of every employee at Flint Creek and Mattison. Safety is one of our core values and reaching 4 million man-hours without a lost time incident is truly exceptional."

"The dedication of the teams at Flint Creek and Mattison to maintaining a safe working environment is commendable. Our employees have shown an exemplary commitment to safety, and their hard work and dedication have made this possible. I commend them for their ongoing efforts to ensure the well-being of our people," Monte McMahon, VP Generating Assets explained. “I look forward to future celebrations as I am confident this team will continue to prioritize their safety and well-being as we power a brighter future.”

Safety Committee Front and Center

The plant’s safety committee, which meets monthly to discuss potential problem areas at the plant is foundational to the accomplishment achieved by teams.

In essence, a safety committee has existed along with the plant, but decades ago plant employee Dianna Tomlinson, who now serves as Safety & Health Manager Generation, took it to the next level.

When Sara Vestfals was named plant manager, she and her team formalized the protocol and believe employee input is central to their effort.  

“When they're brought up to the team, the issues are put on a list that resides with the safety committee. The list stays forever. There is an assigned leader for each of those tasks. They are looking into what it would take to correct it, what are the options, what are the costs associated with it,” explained Vestfals.

“Reaching 4 million man-hours without a lost time incident is an incredibly rare and monumental achievement This demonstrates the commitment of SWEPCO and AEP employees to prioritize safety in their day-to-day operations. It is a testament to our continuous efforts to create a safe and secure work environment, where our employees can thrive and excel,” said AEP Director of Safety & Health, Dwayne Apple.

Congratulations to the Flint Creek and Mattison teams on this important achievement.