Job safety is Ken Fortner's passion. Fortner, Safety Management officer for Green Country Submersible Pumps of Hominy, made a second career for himself of assisting businesses and industry with on-the-job and in-plant safety after retiring from Chevron Oil Company's safety division. New federal safety regulations are now making Ken's consulting services, in the realm of safety, indispensable to many business firms.
Green Country Submersible Pumps, and its sister firm Green Country Chemical, located in Pawhuska, employs nearly 70 in Hominy and another 24 at the chemical plant. Additionally, facilities in Wayne, Oklahoma and Gillette, Wyoming, employ ten technicians, and the firm operates a warehouse in Woodward and Electra, Texas. Worker safety is a top priority at all of the submersible pump's operations, says Fortner and the state's CareerTech system is an important link in addressing that priority.
"State and federal agencies are getting more and more involved in business and industry and the safety issues are significant issues. With fines that can reach $100,000 for non-compliance of regulations, a lot of money is obviously at stake if a business is fined for violations, therefore, the motivation is there for businesses to pay special attention to safety issues and invest in safety training," said Fortner.
Green Country SP has partnered with Central Technology Center 's Business Assistance Center staff in Drumright to assist Fortner in providing the appropriate safety training on-site at the Hominy pump maker's facility.
"We feel that the Central Tech staff has a wide array of expertise that we can benefit from and the Tech Center is offering us a service at a great price.too good to pass up," says Fortner. Currently, Central Tech is conducting forklift safety training and GCSP and Central Tech are looking to provide needed education and training in First Aid, CPR and handling of hazardous materials to meet new state and federal regulations.
"Since the 9/11 disaster, there are numerous safety and security issues for the manufacture and transportation of chemicals. I think the Technology Center will be instrumental in helping us meet those needs and remain compliant with government regulations. Of course, our foremost concern is our employee's safety, but a business cannot afford to ignore the regulatory environment in which we must do business," said Fortner.
Fortner's relationship with the CareerTech system's Technology Centers began at Mid-America Technology Center in Wayne and has continued to grow at Central Tech in Drumright. The safety consultant says: "The Tech Centers offer professional training to the business world at a tremendous cost savings, as well as providing relevant job skills training to our citizens. I really don't understand why any high school student would think of not taking advantage of the opportunities available at their CareerTech Center ." |
