Get the Buzz… Lansing Smith Outage Delivers Safe, Quality Results in Panama City

At the Lansing Smith jobsite in Panama City, Florida, the APM Gas team delivered a successful outage defined by strong planning, disciplined execution, and a clear commitment to safety and quality. Over the course of the project, 27 craftspeople and crew members completed 6,653 manhours with zero recordables and no major quality issues.

The scope was complex and wide-ranging, including roof modifications, borescope inspections, gas valve work, and T4 bearing replacement. From start to finish, the team focused on executing work safely, efficiently, and to the required standards.

Planning began well before mobilization on 2/18/2026. Operations, maintenance, and supervision teams worked together to build the outage plan, review procedures, secure materials, and prepare detailed Job Safety Analyses for each major task. Regular coordination between Units 3A and 3B helped align manpower, shift coverage, and workflow sequencing before the first wrench was turned.

Safety remained the top priority throughout the outage. The crew used daily SWATs, maintained strict adherence to established protocols, and kept communication strong across shifts and work groups. Life Saving Rules were applied every day, especially Fire & Explosion prevention during extensive welding, cutting, and grinding work. Mechanical lifting, energy isolation, working from heights, work authorization, confined space, and driving safety were also reinforced throughout the project.

A key STOP work moment showed the team’s commitment to doing the job right. During a borescope inspection, damage to the combustion liner in Chamber 4 was identified. Work was paused, conditions were reassessed, and the scope was expanded to remove Chambers 1, 2, and 3 to properly access and correct the issue. That decision protected the equipment, supported a better outcome, and reinforced a culture where safety and quality come first.

The crew’s quality execution was just as strong. All work scopes were completed in accordance with specifications and industry standards, with inspections and verification steps consistently followed to minimize rework and support reliable equipment performance.

Special recognition goes to Juan Mejia and Chris Baptista, who set the tone with safety-focused leadership and quality-driven execution. Their clear communication and disciplined planning helped drive the outage forward. Additional kudos go to Samuel Villar, Liam Lincicome, Jose Monserrate, Cristian Medina, Eric McCowin, Sebastian Gassoway, Austin Hosea, John Roland, and Yuba Rodriguez, whose effort, attention to detail, and teamwork made a real difference in the success of the job.

One of the biggest lessons from the outage was the value of strong communication between supervision and engineering. Sharing tooling, equipment, and ideas — and putting people in roles where they could perform at their strongest — helped the team deliver the outage safely, with quality, and on time.

This outage is a strong example of what happens when planning, teamwork, and accountability come together. The Lansing Smith crew delivered for the customer and upheld APM’s standard for safe, quality work.