MERRILLVILLE, Ind., March 14, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- NiSource
Inc. (NYSE: NI) today announced that former Secretary of Transportation and Congressman Ray LaHood
will serve as chair of the company's Quality Review Board, a new independent body formed to provide oversight and governance over
the company's implementation of Safety Management Systems (SMS) across its seven-state footprint.
Joe Hamrock, president and CEO of NiSource, said "I am honored that Secretary LaHood has
agreed to chair our Quality Review Board and guide our SMS implementation. His experience and oversight will be invaluable. This
is a critical step for our organization as we proactively identify and mitigate risk and take tangible safety actions to protect
our customers and communities from harm."
Secretary LaHood said: "Safety must be the top priority of any natural gas company and implementing SMS is the right thing
to do. I look forward to providing rigorous oversight throughout this process, with a clear objective: promote the safety of the
public."
SMS is an advanced, comprehensive approach to managing safety, emphasizing continuous improvement and identifying and
mitigating potential risks. NiSource is joining other industries, from the airline industry to the nuclear energy industry, in
adopting this forward-looking approach to safety.
Through SMS, NiSource will identify and mitigate risk from human error, mechanical systems, and equipment and then put in
place barriers—through processes, redundancies, and enhanced training and operational practices—to significantly reduce risk to
its customers, communities, and the general public.
On SMS, Hamrock said: "At NiSource, safety is not just a commitment we talk about—it is our top priority. It is the
foundation of our business and guides all our actions. At its core, SMS is about identifying and mitigating potential risks
before they happen. It's also about strengthening our culture. We are working to continuously improve our safety practices, and
SMS is a key part of that. SMS is the most important priority for me and for NiSource and it will transform our company for the
better."
Quality Review Board
The Quality Review Board will provide independent review and oversight over SMS workstream products, results,
priorities and actions. In addition to Secretary LaHood, the Quality Review Board is comprised of experts with diverse
backgrounds spanning the nuclear, aviation, and energy industries. The five members are:
- Secretary Ray LaHood, Former United States Secretary of Transportation (Chair):
Secretary LaHood currently serves as a Senior Policy Advisor at DLA Piper. With a 36-year career in public service, Secretary
LaHood has extensive experience on major national policy issues, among them transportation and infrastructure. He served as the
16th Department of Transportation Secretary from 2009 to 2013. His tenure was marked by landmark efforts to improve safety in
every mode of transportation, from aviation and rail to pipelines and automobiles. Before heading the US Department of
Transportation, Secretary LaHood served from 1995 to 2009 in the US House of Representatives on behalf of the 18th District of
Illinois and also served on various House committees, among them the House Appropriations
Committee and the House Intelligence Committee. He also served as chief of staff to US House Minority Leader Robert Michel from 1982 to 1994.
- John Durham, Retired Director, Enercon Services, Inc.: Durham has more than 40
years' experience in the management of power plant and engineering service organizations, performance assessments and review
boards, strategic recovery planning, and senior management consulting. His experience includes working at an electric utility,
the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations, and several engineering and consulting services firms.
- Gary Harland, President, Work Management Inc.: Harland is a co-founder and
President of Work Management Inc., an organization focused on providing best-in-class work control and outage management
services to the commercial nuclear industry. Providing management and implementation infrastructure, WMI provides extensive
services relating to project management, cost estimating, planning, and scheduling.
- John Cox, President & CEO, Safety Operating Systems: After an
extensive career as a major airline, corporate, and general aviation pilot, Cox is now the President and CEO of Safety
Operating Systems, a full-service consulting firm providing services related to all aspects of a large airline safety
department. Throughout his career Cox has been involved in numerous airline crash investigations as an NTSB group member,
specializing in crisis management plans, media relations, legal expert research and testimony, accident/incident
investigations, and technical aviation support.
- Jeff Wiese, Vice President for Pipeline Integrity, TRC Companies: Wiese brings
more than 25 years' experience in pipeline safety and resource management. Beginning with roles at the US Department of the
Interior and the US Department of Transportation, Wiese has managed a wide range of programs relating to pipeline safety and
risk management, personnel and budget oversight, implementation of new technology, and customer and client service.
Internal Governance
NiSource is also setting up new aspects of internal governance, at both the state and enterprise level, to ensure it is
delivering on its commitment. The company has appointed a senior executive to oversee the implementation of SMS and has stood up
a significant operation. The company has created a new state role focused on safety, compliance and risk. Additionally, each
state will establish cross-functional teams, responsible for evaluating and prioritizing state-level risks and elevating them to
the enterprise level.
SMS
NiSource's SMS program will be aligned with a framework developed for the pipeline industry by the American Petroleum
Institute, in the form of Recommended Practice 1173 (RP 1173). RP
1173 provides pipeline operators with an approach for rigorously identifying and managing risk, communicating with
stakeholders, ensuring the effective operation of key processes, and promoting a learning environment.
As part of SMS implementation, NiSource is focused on the following, among other areas: conducting a comprehensive asset
assessment; integrating a probable risk assessment; assessing leadership capabilities and culture; and enhancing emergency
preparedness capabilities.
About NiSource
NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI) is one of the largest fully-regulated utility companies in the
United States, serving approximately 3.5 million natural gas customers and 500,000 electric customers across seven states
through its local Columbia Gas and NIPSCO brands. Based in Merrillville, Indiana, NiSource's
approximately 8,000 employees are focused on safely delivering reliable and affordable energy to our customers and communities we
serve. NiSource has been designated a World's Most Ethical Company by the Ethisphere Institute since 2012, is a member of the Dow
Jones Sustainability - North America Index and was named by Forbes magazine as the top-rated utility among America's Best
Large Employers in 2017. Additional information about NiSource, its investments in modern infrastructure and systems, its
commitments and its local brands can be found at www.nisource.com. Follow us at www.facebook.com/nisource, www.linkedin.com/company/nisource or www.twitter.com/nisourceinc. NI-F
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