WELCOME!

Corey Feltz is a Utility Worker in the Alma Fuels and Solid Waste Department. Corey was

most recently employed by Angry Bass Transport as a Class A CDL Truck Driver.

Mary (Corky) Scherbring is a Senior Accounting Analyst in the Accounting and Finance Department. Corky was most recently employed by Hal Leonard Corp. as a Senior Accountant.

Ally Erickson is a GIS Intern. Ally is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in

geography from UW-La Crosse. She is also employed at TJ’s Cheddarheads.

DAIRYLAND DIRECTIONS

All employees should attend the next Dairyland Directions meeting, to be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 12. The meeting will focus on our 2023 Strategic Plan, with divisional plans and priorities. The meeting in the Board Room for employees available to attend in person. It will also be on Teams live via the link in the Outlook invitation from Deb Mirasola.

Dairyland Directions are held periodically on timely strategic topics. The meeting will provide opportunity for Q&A and will be recorded and posted on the Breaker for those who are unable to attend. 

Please submit your electronic application through Workday Career prior to the deadline:

Licensing Engineer – External/Internal (Internal Posting: 1/4/23-1/13/23)

Ensures ISFSI operations are conducted in accordance with applicable Federal and State regulations, requirements, and licensing bases. Additional duties include corrective action coordinator, fire protection program administrator, industrial safety coordinator and point of contact with NAC International. 

Education & experience: Bachelor’s degree (prefer engineering or physical science) with a minimum of 10 years related to licensing, design, construction, operation and maintenance of power generation facility or minimum of 5 years related to licensing, design, construction, operation and maintenance of a spent nuclear fuel facility or other type of nuclear facility. Equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered. 

OUR SYMPATHY

Sympathy is extended to Senior Markets Analyst Henry Chu and his family following the death of his father, Kim Chu. Visitation will be held on Jan. 9 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Ocean View Funeral Home in Burnaby, BC. The funeral service will be held on Jan. 10 at 10 a.m. at the funeral home.

CIRCUIT BREAKER

Security at every level of an airport is insane until you get to the baggage claim. Then it's like take whatever bag you want.

SAFETY: JOB BRIEFING PILOT PROGRAM

Dairyland Strategic Priority: Safety Culture

As part of continuous improvement commitments to fortify safety at Dairyland, a Job Briefing Pilot Program will launch this month for employees who currently utilize job briefings.

“A job briefing form is a safety tool to provide guidance and planning for work that is to be performed,” said Manager, Safety (Alma Site) Jeff Sedlmayr. “It covers how to safely complete a particular task, detailing the procedures and requirements to help ensure that everyone goes home safe every day.”

A questioning attitude and opportunity for open communication among team members is essential for an effective job briefing process.

Why are we changing the job briefing form? By formalizing the job briefing program at Dairyland, new best practices can be incorporated into the form for use enterprise-wide. Proven safety methods, such as the Wheel of Energy, will heighten hazard recognition and hazard elimination awareness. “These strategies will help keep employees safe, while consolidating the many job briefing versions currently used at Dairyland into one uniform document and procedure,” said Jeff.

All Dairyland employees who currently use job briefings will be included in the pilot.

Timeline: The pilot program will be conducted in Q1 2023, from January through March, with distribution of the final job briefing to work groups in April.

Speak Up (please): A major purpose of the pilot is to provide an opportunity for stakeholder involvement to help shape the final product. Feedback will be gathered from individuals and teams on the proposed job briefing form. Meetings will be scheduled to answer questions and provide an additional forum for open discussion.

Questions? Contact your safety manager with comments or questions at any time.  

RADON MONTH: CHECK YOUR HOME'S LEVEL

Radon exposure is responsible for an estimated 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year

Dairyland's Safety Tailgate Toolkit focused on the hazard of radon this week, with excellent information on testing, mitigation and prevention. The U.S. EPA designated January as Radon Action Month as a reminder to test your home for radon gas levels. Winter is an especially good time to test because windows and doors are closed and families spend more time inside where radon can be trapped. 

What is it? Radon is a naturally occurring, odorless and colorless radioactive gas that can cause lung cancer among other illnesses. Radon gas is becoming a widespread problem in the U.S. The good news is that radon can be controlled in any house. Radon reduction systems work and they are not too costly. Even very high levels can be reduced to acceptable levels.

Check out DPC’s radon monitor

Dairyland’s Environmental Affairs Department has a radon monitor, which is available for employee use. If you would like to check out the radon monitor for testing in your home, please email Manager, Environmental Affairs Erik Hoven or call him at 792-4997. Employees are asked to return the monitor within four to seven days so it is available for others wishing to check it out. 

Other options for access to radon testing kits include:

• Your local county health department
• Home improvement stores (Ace Hardware, Home Depot, etc.)
• Purchase online. Erik recommends kits from Alpha Energy Laboratories

Did you know?

• Radon comes from decayed radium and uranium in soil. Radon invades homes through foundation cracks and even directly through concrete.
• The EPA suggests levels of 4 (pCi/L) picocuries and above of radon be addressed. Levels of 4 pCi/L is equivalent to 8 cigarettes a day or 250 chest x-rays per year. The World Health Organization (WHO) suggests people take action against levels higher than 2.7 pCi/L.
• Up to 10 percent of the homes in Wisconsin have radon levels above the EPA guideline of 4 pCi/L for the year average on the main floor.
• Every region of Wisconsin has some homes with elevated radon levels.

VIDEO: BAGHOUSE SAFELY FELLED

Photo: G-3 circa 2010

As part of decommissioning and dismantlement activities at Dairyland’s retired Genoa Station #3 (G-3) coal-fired power plant, felling of the baghouse was safely conducted by VEIT Co. on Dec. 29.

Instead of using explosives for the baghouse, VEIT “tipped” the building after pulling out the legs. Highway and rail traffic proceeded normally with no need for closures. Visual Communications Coordinator Kelsie Olson captured video of this final milestone of the year.

Up next: Looking ahead to 2023, the two big D&D events at Genoa are planned for next summer: demolition of the main building and stack.

What's a baghouse? In 2007, “baghouses” were installed to remove particulate matter from the exhaust gas stream at Dairyland's John P. Madgett (JPM) power plant and the (now retired) G-3 plant. The environmental equipment installation resulted in major reductions in particulate matter. The baghouses serve in addition to the existing electrostatic precipitators, which capture particulate matter that is recycled as an additive to concrete.

Project background: Dairyland’s 345 MW G-3 power plant was retired on June 1, 2021, following 52 years of providing safe, reliable power to the region. Dismantlement and decommissioning of G-3 has since proceeded safely and in full compliance with regulatory requirements.

UNITED WAY DRAWING: DAIRYLANDER WINS!

Photo: Dairyland Chief Risk Officer John Young (right) received his winnings from Great Rivers United Way Donor Development Specialist Tim Medinger this week.

Two things are true... giving is its own reward AND it pays to give! As part of the United Way workplace giving campaign, which takes place annually in the summer and fall, donors to the Great Rivers United Way receive entries into a fantastic sweepstakes opportunity for their charitable giving. Donors receive one sweepstakes entry for every $52 donated; up to 20 entries per person. 

For this year's campaign, Chief Risk Officer John Young won $250 to each, Drugan's and Fox Hollow, as part of the Great Rivers United Way sweepstakes. Congratulations, John, and thank you to all Dairylanders who support local communities by giving to the United Way.