Reflections ... APM Pillar Showcase - SWAT Card Development
Est Read Time: 4 minutes
This month we are highlighting the SWAT Card to showcase our APM Pillars —Accountability, Candor, Collaboration, and Transparency. As you will read, the SWAT Card development and use engages all 4 APM Pillars. We asked Bryan Williams, our EHS Director, to share his insights on the new SWAT Card.
Bryan shares:
The newly implemented SWAT Card (Start Work Assessment Tool), formerly known as the STA Card (or Green Card), combines the best elements of legacy tools—APM’s STA Card and FieldCore’s POWRA form – along with best practices in the industry. Developed through a Lean Kaizen workout, the SWAT Card aligns task assessments across all One Field Service (OFS) groups, with participation from APM, FieldCore, OSS, and Safety Operations—including global input and international support.
At its core, the SWAT Card reinforces APM’s Cultural Pillars, with a primary focus on Accountability. A properly completed card demonstrates accountability by ensuring that work only starts when it is safe to do so. It also supports:
Candor, through honest hazard assessments.
Collaboration, by engaging teams in development.
Transparency, by giving workers access to task details and necessary information.
Rollout began in early 2025 following a successful pilot. Cards were printed, padded, and shipped to all sites in March. With their ease of use and simplified format, the SWAT Cards were quickly adopted across OFS field teams.
Challenges during development—such as aligning the tool to diverse business needs—were overcome by focusing on a user-friendly task assessment format that supports all lines of GE Vernova’s Power portfolio, from nuclear and renewables to gas and generator services. The team even leveraged Artificial Intelligence (AI) to improve the final product, and language barriers were resolved through volunteer translators, resulting in availability in over 17 languages. What an outstanding demonstration of Collaboration!
Thanks to strong teamwork, innovative problem solving, and persistence, the Kaizen team transformed challenges into a valuable safety tool. The SWAT Card now stands as a key success in promoting safe, focused work across all OFS teams. We appreciate your engagement with the tool so far and value your feedback for continuous improvement!
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I am excited to see SWAT momentum, especially the field engagement. This effort is specifically called out on our 2025 APM Blueprint under Safety: Socialize the Start Work Assessment Tool (SWAT) and recognize good SWAT. My hope is that SWAT & the Life Saving Rules become not just APM standards, not just GEV standards, but industry standards. A common safety culture will more quickly rise the competency of our craft, enabling us to match the future power gen growth with craft that work safe and go home safe. Thank you to Bryan Williams, Chris Handley, Martin Laverdiere, Mike Kehl, Kirk May, Rafael Alcala, Abigail Garza, Teri Carlson, Katie Maldonado, and Collin Warren for working on the SWAT Kaizen Team, plus the many sites that piloted the SWAT Card. We will be better at delivering safety excellence because of your Accountability & Collaboration.