TABLE OF CONTENTS OUR PEOPLE Retirement Spotlight: Norman “Calla” Wilson
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Human Resources: Employee Engagement
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Human Resources: Training
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Infrastructural Upgrade: The Village
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HR TIPS
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Future Intentions/Plan Ahead
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OUR STORIES: Corporate Social Responsibility COVID-19 Relief
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The Pipeline
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Social Enterprise Initiative
Partnerships for our Environment
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Recycling Initiative
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Gully Catchment Facility with Grace Kennedy Foundation
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Supporting the Old Harbour Bay Fishing Village
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Contributing to the Bustamante Children’s Hospital
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OUR ENERGY Vertical turbines could be the future for wind farms Airports could generate enough solar energy to power a city
OUR SAFETY Protecting Workers from Heat Stress
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April 2021
OUR PEOPLE Retirement Spotlight:
Norman “Calla” Wilson According to Madeleine Kunin, “A skilled worker, regardless of the Job Description, remains a treasure,” and certainly, Mr. Norman “Calla” Wilson, has been one of the treasures of the Doctor Bird Power Station. On April 30, 2021, we were tasked with honouring Mr. Wilson for not only his contributions to Jamaica Energy Partners but also as he marked a milestone month and year, the big “65”, his retirement. Mr. Wilson joined the Doctor Bird Team on September 29, 2008, in the capacity of Machinist/Welder. He has, for numerous years, been a Skilled or Master Machinist at the facility, one who has taught, coached, and guided several junior members of the team in their own mastery of Machining. At work, he could normally be found in the Workshop and often walking alongside his teammate, Loring Howe. In addition, Mr. Wilson is best known for his laid-back personality, his precision and skill when handling jobs, as well as his phenomenal work ethics, which are nothing short of commendable.
“A skilled worker, regardless of the Job Description, remains a treasure” - Madeleine Kunin
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For several years, Norman has been a stalwart employee for punctuality
Mr Wilson, you are a true example!
and attendance and has even received the Company’s Attendance Award
Thank you for your years of service,
for three (3) years consecutively. This means that for the last three years (2018-
contributions, and the enviable work
2020), Mr. Wilson has not utilized one sick day. In addition to that, he boasted a near
ethics you applied in executing your
perfect attendance record for 2020 having gotten to work early every day. Mr Wilson’s
day-to-day duties.
dedication, attitude to work, and the ethical approach he applied to his duties must be commended.
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JEP Group Newsletter - April 2021
April 2021
Human Resources
Employee Engagement Nominations were open for Employees to submit their Quarterly Nominees for the following awards: •
Shining Star Award
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Team Lead / Supervisor Award
Look forward to voting for your respective Nominees.
Human Resources
Training The Group participated in Six (6) Training
The Training activities were:
activities and One (1) Virtual conference
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Managing your Finances & Planning for Your Retirement
which amounted to 2,611 Training
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Wartsila Power Plant Electrification
hours across Jamaica Energy Partners,
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Wartsila Operations and Practical Course
Jamaica Private Power Partners and
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Wartsila Maintenance and Practical Course
West Kingston Power Partners.
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Understanding the Jamaican Labour Law
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Fostering a Respectful Workplace
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Hydrogen Congress for Latin American & Caribbean (Conference) Powering a Brighter Future
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Infrastructural Upgrade
The Village
April saw the completion of the upgrade of “The Village”, located to the back of the WKPP property. The building is occupied primarily by members of the Accounting department and one of our Information Systems Specialist.
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JEP Group Newsletter - April 2021
5 individual offices 2 bathrooms A proposed meeting room A chic kitchenette and lunch area.
April 2021
HR TIPS Did you know? That when you sign into the EPIC HRIS, you can click the calendar in the righthand corner and a calendar (as seen below) will pop up displaying leave?
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Future Intentions/ Plan Ahead One ongoing theme of
A sample of the Employee’s view can be seen below:
the Human Resources Department has been to “Drive Performance.” We have been utilizing various systems at our disposal such as EPIC HRIS to assist with driving performance as best as possible. One aspect of the EPIC HRIS which is currently being implemented is the launch of the Training module. This will allow employees, supervisors and managers to view their individual training activities as well as the training activities completed by the members of their teams. This will begin with the 2020 and current year Training Records. We aim to launch this Module fully by June 2021, while concurrently updating other years historical records throughout the course of 2021.
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JEP Group Newsletter - April 2021
April 2021
A sample of the Supervisor/Manager view can be seen below:
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JEP Group Newsletter - April 2021
April 2021
OUR STORIES Corporate Social Responsibility
COVID-19 RELIEF Due to the shift to online classes and a higher unemployment rate currently being experienced, JEP has continued to support families through consistent supplies of food and sanitizing agents amid the pandemic. The school feeding programme, a staple within the JEP Group, remains constant with the GOJ COVID-19 protocols. It has been transformed into a relief programme that provides meals and personal care/sanitizing items to the families of children enrolled in schools within our social impact areas (SIA). Our staff continues to play an impactful role in assisting with the packaging and distribution each month.
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The Pipeline Social Enterprise Initiative As part of our thrust to actively engage our communities, the company is seeking new partners to aid in the skills development and training of residents in the community. Members of the CSR committee, Patrice Howell and Sheina Gay Richards met with representatives of the Mona School of Business to compliment our ‘Shark Tank’ concept, which aims to empower small business owners and potential start-up businesses to improve their businesses and increase sales. We want to provide entrepreneurial training to individuals to boost their businesses.
Partnerships for our Environment
Recycling Initiative
Gully Catchment Facility with Grace Kennedy Foundation
Our community stakeholders were invited to a
As we strive to be steward of the environment, there are several
meeting with Recycling Partners of Jamaica (RPJ)
initiatives geared toward keeping life underwater and on land safe and
to discuss a community recycling initiative. The
clean. We saw where there was a need to address garbage disposal
Marketing Manager at RPJ outlined how persons
and items ending up in the wastewater system. We had shared some
can earn while preserving the environment and
ideas with National Solid Waste Management Authority, about a gully
the protection and liability of the recycling cages.
catchment facility and they took the opportunity to inform us that the
It was proposed that individuals register for sacks
Grace Kennedy Foundation has a similar project in their pipeline. We met
to collect their garbage and then claim their
during the month and exchanged ideas to see how best we can partner
reward. At this meeting, the Rockfort community
to achieve our goals. They had already earmarked some areas they wish
completed the registration process, as this was an
to test the system and promised to keep us informed on the process
activity they attempted in the past and is looking
and how we can collaborate. We also took the opportunity to propose
forward to trying again.
that they become one of our major sponsors for our upcoming ocean trash haul, which they agreed. LOOK OUT FOR THIS ONE!
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JEP Group Newsletter - April 2021
April 2021
Supporting the Old Harbour Bay Fishing Village In a meeting with the Old Harbour Bay
were able to ascertain the type of radio
Fishing Council, a concern was raised
needed to support the needs of our
about communication at sea, which
fishing communities and the number of
gave light to the existence of an inactive
vessels that would require access. Our
radio system. This led us to convene
intention is to then source the required
a meeting with the National Fisheries
items through licensing company
Authority (NFA) to explore the possibility
Spectrum Limited and supplier Bell
of getting a reliable system in place. We
Safety Limited.
Contributing to the Bustamante Children’s Hospital We engaged the Administrator of the hospital, Mrs. Taylor-McKenzie to conduct a needs assessment, to determine how our company could contribute to the operations of the hospital. We did an extensive tour of the laundry facility, which is in need of an upgrade to support the hospital, as currently, they outsource majority of their laundry services. Some of the needs identified were: Annually, the company contributes to
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Industrial Equipment
a hospital or health facility that serves
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Expansion of Facility
the community and the nation at large
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Storage Shelves
and this year we chose the Bustamante
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Sewing Room Equipment
Children’s Hospital.
We await a project proposal to make the necessary arrangements. Powering a Brighter Future
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OUR ENERGY Energy Education
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JEP Group Newsletter - April 2021
April 2021
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April 2021
OUR SAFETY
Protecting Workers from Heat Stress Heat Illness Exposure to heat can cause illness and death. The most serious heat illness is heat stroke. Other heat illnesses, such as heat exhaustion, heat cramps and heat rash, should also be avoided.
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There are precautions that can be taken any time temperatures are high, and the job involves physical work.
Risk Factors for Heat Illness •
High temperature and humidity, direct sun exposure, no breeze or wind
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Heavy physical Labour
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No recent exposure to hot workplaces
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Low liquid intake
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Waterproof clothing
Symptoms of Heat Exhaustion •
Headache, dizziness, or fainting
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Weakness and wet skin
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Irritability or confusion
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Thirst, nausea, or vomiting
Symptoms of Heat Stroke •
May be confused, unable to think clearly, pass out, collapse, or have seizures (fits)
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May stop sweating
To Prevent Heat Illness: •
Establish a complete heat illness prevention program.
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Provide training about the hazards leading to heat stress and how to prevent them.
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Provide a lot of cool water to workers close to the work area. At least one pint of water per hour is needed.
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Modify work schedules and arrange frequent rest periods with water breaks in shaded or air-conditioned areas.
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Gradually increase workloads and allow more frequent breaks for workers new to the heat or those that have been away from work to adapt to working in the heat (acclimatization).
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Designate a responsible person to monitor conditions and protect workers who are at risk of heat stress.
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Consider protective clothing that provides cooling.
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JEP Group Newsletter - April 2021
April 2021
How to Protect Workers •
Know signs/symptoms of heat illnesses;
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Monitor yourself; use a buddy system.
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Block out direct sun and other heat sources.
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Drink plenty of fluids. Drink often and BEFORE you are thirsty. Drink water every 15 minutes.
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Avoid beverages containing alcohol or caffeine.
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Wear lightweight, light-coloured, loose-fitting clothes.
What to Do When a Worker is ill from the Heat •
Call a supervisor for help. If the supervisor is not available, call 911.
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Have someone stay with the worker until help arrives.
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Move the worker to a cooler/shaded area.
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Remove outer clothing.
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Fan and mist the worker with water; apply ice (ice bags or ice towels).
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Provide cool drinking water, if able to drink.
IF THE WORKER IS NOT ALERT or seems confused, this may be a heat stroke. CALL 119 IMMEDIATELY and apply ice as soon as possible.
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