2021 Safety Benchmarking: National Association of Water Companies Releases Report

The National Association of Water Companies (“NAWC”) released in April a document titled:

2021 Safety Benchmarking Report (“Report”)

The Report is described as being focused on the activities being undertaken by regulated water systems addressing worker safety and water security.

A survey was circulated to NAWC members addressing topics such as:

• Health
• Safety
• Security Programs
• 2020 Accident Incident Rates

The survey was conducted from February to March of 2021 utilizing 2020 data.

A snapshot of results provided in the Executive Summary indicated the following results:

• 90.9% of respondents stated they have a specific health and safety policy already in place (95.7% noted that they have a health and safety program)
• 91.3% of respondents have a policy defining employees’ accountability for workplace safety
• Approximately two-thirds of respondents have an internal health and safety audit inspection program (a similar percentage are stated to conduct external safety audits)
• The majority of respondents communicate safety messages through routinely scheduled safety meetings
  • Three-quarters of respondents use tailgate-type talks
  • Three-quarters of respondents use email messaging
• 91.3% of respondents have a cybersecurity program/plan in place
• 81.8% of respondents have implemented elements of the NIST cybersecurity framework
• The DART Incidence Rate average for operations reported in 2020 was 1.4 (lower than the government rate of 1.6)
• The Recordable Incidence Rate average was 2.2 for all operations (lower than the government rate of 3.0 for 2020)
• The Lost Time Incidence Rate average reported by respondents was 0.6 (lower than the government rate of 0.9)

NAWC describes its members as including ownership of state-regulated drinking water and wastewater utilities and many forms of public-private partnerships.

A copy of the Report can be downloaded here.