BPA construction crew saves life, receives NWPPA Safety Heroism Award

The courageous actions of one Bonneville Power Administration construction crew saved a life in 2023. Now, the crew is receiving some well-deserved recognition for their extraordinary heroism from the Northwest Public Power Association. The Construction and Maintenance Services crew—consisting of Travis Petty, Steve Parrish, Shawn Dishman, Tim Pitts, Craig Langan, Scott Burns, Rob Ebeling and Leander Pruitt—received NWPPA's Safety Heroism award for their valiant response to a colleague's medical emergency at their worksite in Longview, Washington.

At the end of a long workday on Nov. 20, 2023, the crew was cleaning up in preparation to go home for the night when one employee, Tony Helliwell, collapsed in the field.

According to Ron Payne, the crew's manager, several of Helliwell's co-workers witnessed him fall and rushed to his side, finding him unresponsive and no longer breathing. They immediately began performing CPR and rushed to retrieve the on-site automated external defibrillator, also known as an AED.

“There were a couple of carpenters and an equipment operator that saw Tony go down," Payne said. “They just jumped right in performing CPR. One guy rushed to grab the AED. In the meantime, the rest of the crew just started reacting."

Other crewmembers called 911 and rushed to open the gates to the field site, ensuring that the paramedics had a clear path to the fallen employee. Crew members administered several shocks with the AED and continued CPR until paramedics arrived less than six minutes later.

Taking over lifesaving efforts from the crew, paramedics continued to work on the employee on the way to the hospital. According to the emergency personnel who responded to the scene, Helliwell stood a fighting chance thanks to the crew's prompt reaction to the emergency and valiant efforts to keep him alive.

Helliwell was in critical condition through the following night but managed to pull through. The hospital medical staff echoed the emergency responders' praise of the work crew. Thanks to their safety training, the crew knew exactly how to react and responded perfectly to the incident.

“In safety briefings, crews go over what they are going to do that day, the dangers associated with the job, and what to do in case of an emergency," said Payne. “Everyone did exactly what they were supposed to do, and the training paid off."

The successful outcome of the crew's efforts can largely be attributed to the teamwork they displayed in the field. Each member played a crucial role in keeping Helliwell alive. 

“It crossed crafts," said Payne. “You have equipment operators, electricians, carpenters all doing their part. Everyone just worked as a team."

The annually presented Safety Heroism Award honors individuals and groups who acted voluntarily and selflessly to save a life, prevent serious injury or avoid significant property loss. Lewis County Public Utility District and Energy Northwest also received the award in 2024. Read more about the recipients on the NWPPA website.