Chesapeake Utilities Corporation Earns Three National Safety Awards

DOVER, Del., July 7, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Chesapeake Utilities Corporation (NYSE: CPK) ("Chesapeake") announced today that it has earned three Safety Achievement Awards from the American Gas Association ("AGA").  The 2013 Awards were presented at the AGA's Operations Conference in Pittsburgh, PA.

"The safety of our customers, communities and employees is our highest priority at Chesapeake," said Michael P. McMasters, President and CEO of Chesapeake Utilities Corporation. "I'm extremely proud of our team's continued commitment to maintaining the very highest standards of safety."

Chesapeake Utilities, a natural gas distribution company that serves approximately 56,000 residential and commercial customers in Delaware and Maryland, earned the 2013 AGA Safety Achievement Award for excellence in fleet safety performance. Eastern Shore Natural Gas Company, a natural gas transmission subsidiary that owns and operates a 437-mile interstate pipeline originating from various locations in Pennsylvania to service customers in Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania, earned a 2013 AGA Safety Achievement Award for excellence in employee safety. Florida Public Utilities Company, a subsidiary which distributes natural gas to approximately 71,000 residential and commercial customers and propane to 16,000 customers across Florida, also earned a 2013 AGA Safety Achievement Award for excellence in employee safety.

"Safety remains the primary consideration in the work we do at Chesapeake Utilities Corporation, which is demonstrated by this remarkable achievement," said Bill Gradie, Director of Corporate Safety and Compliance. "I congratulate each employee for their excellence and teamwork in continually working towards getting the job done safely, each and every time."

The AGA's Safety Achievement Award for excellence in employee safety is given to member companies that experienced the lowest DART (Days Away, Restricted and Transferred) incident rate — a mathematical calculation that describes the number of recordable injuries and illnesses per 100 full-time employees that resulted in days away from work or restricted work activity.  Measured against the most recent industry data, Eastern Shore Natural Gas and Florida Public Utilities each performed in the top quartile of their peer group in 2013.

The AGA's Safety Achievement Award for excellence in fleet safety performance is given to member companies that experienced the fewest preventable motor vehicle incidents.  Chesapeake Utilities performed in the top quartile of AGA membership in 2013 when compared to the most recent industry data.

The American Gas Association, founded in 1918, represents more than 200 energy companies that deliver clean natural gas locally throughout the United States. There are more than 71 million residential, commercial and industrial natural gas customers in the U.S., of which 94 percent — over 68 million customers — receive their gas from AGA members. Today, natural gas meets almost one-fourth of the United States' energy needs.

Chesapeake Utilities Corporation is a diversified energy company engaged in natural gas distribution, transmission and marketing; electricity distribution; propane gas distribution and wholesale marketing; advanced information services; and other related services. Information about Chesapeake Utilities Corporation and the Chesapeake family of businesses is available at www.chpk.com.

For more information, contact:          
Bill Gradie
Director of Corporate Safety and Compliance
Chesapeake Utilities Corporation
302.734.6799
[email protected]

SOURCE Chesapeake Utilities Corporation