On September 16th, APM Gas Power traveled to Maryland for an Outage. The crew was assigned a task that the division had never executed before in the U.S. – a Rotor In Major Inspection on a 7EA Unit. With new obstacles ahead, the team was prepared for the challenge.

          According to APM Operations Division Leader, Thomas O’Donnell, planning for this outage began in June. Early preparation was critical for leadership to source the right personnel for the job. Thomas had this to say on sourcing, “It was a very intensive process to find manpower. This is a TWIC site. In addition to TWIC’s protocol, background checks were needed for all craftspeople.” Nevertheless, a U.S. crew was assembled accordingly. Cristian Mafud, a Canada Superintendent with experience in the task at hand, was also sourced for pre-outage planning and on-site supervision. Lastly, a special Tool Kit was sourced from Canada to provide the right equipment for the job.

          During the outage, recurring emphasis on safety led the charge to success. “Both day shift and night shift had Stop Moments discussing incidents that occurred on other jobs. This outage took place during the busiest time of the fall. Both teams reviewed the (9) Life Saving Rules, What How What How, and held extensive Toolbox Talk discussions on Scaffolding Safety”, stated Thomas.

          We are inordinately proud of the crew for their success in Maryland. Despite this being Gas Power’s first 7EA Rotor In Major Inspection in the U.S., the 31-person crew adhered to APM Safety and Quality Standards to persevere in their schedule. We would also like to provide a shout out to Craig Mosier of the Canada division and Sarah Baker in Compliance for their collective efforts in this outage. HUGE kudos to Jeramy Smith, Danny McMillion, Cristian Mafud, Millwrights of Local Union 219, and the rest of the crew for your success!