The People Behind the Milestone: Milton Hydro Reaches 1 Million Hours Worked Without a Lost-Time Injury
Electricity distribution is complex work. Every day, Milton Hydro employees operate around energized equipment, respond to emergencies, work in changing weather conditions, and perform critical tasks that help keep power flowing to more than 45,000 customers across our community. In an environment where focus, preparation, and teamwork are essential, safety is more than a requirement. It is a shared responsibility.
That commitment has led to a significant achievement for Milton Hydro Distribution Inc. (Milton Hydro): 1 million hours worked without a lost-time injury.
The milestone was recently recognized by the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association (IHSA), which presented Milton Hydro with its Recognition of Performance Achievement Milestone Award during a staff celebration attended by employees from across the organization.
Presented by IHSA President and CEO Enzo Garritano, the award recognizes the collective efforts of employees who consistently put safety at the centre of their work, whether in the field, on the road, at a job site, or in the office.
"Reaching one million hours worked without a lost-time injury is a remarkable accomplishment and a reflection of the commitment Milton Hydro employees bring to workplace safety every day," said Enzo Garritano, President and CEO of IHSA. "In an industry where employees regularly work around high-risk energized equipment, in challenging environments and under changing conditions, achievements like this do not happen by chance. They are the result of strong leadership, engaged employees, and a culture where safety is embedded in every aspect of the work."
Presentation of the Recognition of Performance Achievement Milestone Award. Featured left to right: Enzo Garritano, President and CEO of IHSA, Troy Hare, President and CEO, Milton Hydro, Hassan Syed, Vice President, Distribution Services, Milton Hydro, Brian Ross, Manager, Health and Safety, Milton Hydro.
A Decade of Progress
The achievement represents years of continuous effort and a steady progression of safety excellence. Milton Hydro previously reached significant milestones of 250,000 hours in 2019, 500,000 hours in 2023, and 750,000 hours in 2025 before achieving the 1-million-hour mark.
While the number itself is impressive, leaders say the true significance lies in what it represents: thousands of daily decisions made by employees to work safely, support one another, and uphold the organization's values.
"One million hours represents far more than a number," said Troy Hare, President and CEO of Milton Hydro. "It represents people looking out for one another. It reflects the choices our employees make every day to put Safety Above All Else, whether they're planning a job, responding to an outage, working in the field, or supporting operations from the office. This achievement belongs to every member of our team, past and present, whose dedication has helped make Safety Above All Else a core part of who we are."
Living Our Values Every Day
At Milton Hydro, safety is reinforced through ongoing training, employee engagement, hazard awareness initiatives, and strong collaboration between leadership, employees, and the Joint Health and Safety Committee. Just as importantly, employees are empowered to raise concerns, ask questions, and take action when something doesn't seem right.
These behaviours reflect Milton Hydro's core values of Safety Above All Else, Empowered to Act, and Better Together.
"What makes this achievement meaningful is the culture behind it," said Hassan Syed, Vice President, Distribution Services. "Whether they're working in the field, driving between jobs, responding to outages, or supporting operations from the office, our employees consistently put safety first. This recognition reflects the professionalism, accountability, and care they bring to work every day and live our core value of being Better Together."
Looking Ahead
While the IHSA award recognizes an important accomplishment, Milton Hydro remains focused on continuing to strengthen its safety culture through training, employee development, and continuous improvement.
For the organization, the milestone is not simply a measure of hours worked. It is a reflection of the people behind those hours and their ongoing commitment to ensuring that safety remains at the heart of everything they do.
"We are honoured to receive this recognition, but our focus remains unchanged," added Hare. "At the end of the day, success isn't measured by milestones alone. It's measured by the culture we build together and by ensuring our people have the support they need to return home safely each day."