The safety of Atmos Energy’s employees, customers, and communities has always been our number one priority. Safety is a value reflected in our Vision, it is essential to our culture, and it is evident in our people, processes, procedures, and practices. In alignment with our principles, Construction Safety Week was established in 2014 and is celebrated the week of May 6 with a single aim: inspire everyone in the industry to be leaders in safety. Construction Safety Week is a call to action for workers, employers, and even competitors to drive personal ownership, encourage and welcome new ideas, embrace an environment where every team member feels valued, and further strengthen our safety culture.

There are an increasing number of public infrastructure projects and expanding economic development in our service territory, so the need for construction safety is more important than ever. Atmos Energy field employees receive extensive in-person, virtual, and hands-on training and participate in our Pipeline Safety Management System which provides continuous feedback. Through robust safety and technical training programs and the engagement of experienced “field mentors” in our operating divisions, our employees acquire the necessary skills to perform their work safely and completed over 96,000 hours of safety training in 2023.

“It is a testament to the dedication of every employee that Atmos Energy is intensely focused on safety,” said John McDill, senior vice president of utility operations. “We are united by a shared vision to be the safest provider of natural gas services, and I am inspired by the unwavering commitment of our employees to protecting their coworkers and their communities.”

Pipeline damage resulting from excavation remains the most common cause of outside natural gas leaks. In response, our Kentucky / Mid-States division established a new award dubbed “The Gold Cup of Safe Digging” as an innovative way to recognize construction crews who prioritize safety. Beginning last month and every April going forward, it will be presented to a carefully selected group of local contractors who uphold the highest standards of safe digging. This year, the first-ever Gold Cup of Safe Digging was awarded to D-Port Directional Drilling & Utilities in Paducah, Ky., for their excellent reputation of safe excavation, attributable in part to their practice of conducting regular safety meetings. Additional Gold Cup of Safe Digging awards were presented to Smith Constructors (Columbia, Tenn.), Rice Contracting (Owensboro, Ky.), Rollins Excavation (Murfreesboro, Tenn.), and the Warren County Water District (Bowling Green, Ky.).

To further reinforce our commitment to safety, Atmos Energy actively participates in the American Gas Association’s voluntary Peer Review Program, which aims to support continuous improvement in safety and other important aspects of the natural gas industry. Atmos Energy joined 10 other natural gas companies to pilot the Peer Review Program in 2013, and every year we collaborate with industry peers to discuss best practices and identify key areas and opportunities for improvement. Together we developed the foundation for what has become a nation- and industrywide effort to advance safety practices.

Construction Safety Week may only last a few days, but our dedication and focus are year-round because safety is at the core of what we do. To read more about Atmos Energy’s commitment to be the safest provider of natural gas services, please review our Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Report at atmosenergy.com/sustainability/safety.