Safety Leadership: The ESSH Excellence Award
April 29, 2026
Quiet Ownership on Every Shift
Tyler Springer is one of those operators who never seeks recognition, but whose impact is felt across his site every single day. It's this impact that makes him most deserving of the Commitment to Zero ESSH Excellence Award.
As D Shift Team Leader in Decatur, Tyler has built a reputation for doing things the right way, no matter the task or the hour. Working nights full time, he’s a consistent safety leader who shows up for his team when it matters most and sets a standard others follow.
“Tyler displays ownership in every single task he does as an operator – he always takes the extra step,” says Continuous Improvement Engineer Grace Dansby. “He's simply willing to do whatever it takes to help his team work safely and succeed in every way.”
Building trust
Tyler says his early experience as a contractor helps him understand the trust placed in operators every day.
“If others trust me enough to break open a line, I believe it should be depressurized, cleaned up, and blown dry with no water in it,” Tyler said.
That same safety mindset carries into how he maintains his unit, where he's known for his excellent housekeeping.
“Things just look better when they’re kept up,” he says. “Keeping hoses stowed away, cleaning up steam leaks or other water leaks, and getting your work orders turned in – I believe housekeeping is a safety issue.”
It’s a simple philosophy, but one that drives real results. “Tyler exemplifies what effective leadership should look like,” says Larry McDermott, Decatur’s Senior ESSH Manager. “He is continually focused on improving his unit, whether through safety initiatives, process improvements or housekeeping. His efforts are a big reason the 161 Unit has such strong safety focus, with no recordable injuries since 2012.”
Tyler's leadership was especially evident during a winter power disruption, when he worked through the night alongside his team, moving professionally and carefully across six floors in freezing conditions to bring the unit back online safely. Moments like this clearly show his commitment to safety and reliability.
Taking it home
Off the job, Tyler carries that same commitment home. He’s currently building a house on 40 acres near Tennessee for his growing family, balancing long nights at work with hands-on work at home. It’s a reflection of a strong work ethic learned at a young age.
“My father taught me to take pride in what I do. We always say ‘If you don’t do it right, don’t do it at all,’ and that has kind of become my motto.”
Whether he’s leading his team on night shift or building a future for his family, Tyler’s approach is the same: take ownership, do it right, and work safely to support the people who depend on you.
Very honorable mention
The runners up for this year's award included employees from Chocolate Bayou and Suzhou who were nominated for safety contributions that also made significant impacts on our operations and their teams.
Buddy Brown & Luke Stewart (Chocolate Bayou)
Buddy and Luke demonstrated a strong, performance-driven approach by identifying an opportunity to apply new SIS calculation software within the NTA unit in alignment with IEC 61511 standards. Their work improved the accuracy of safety integrity level (SIL) calculations, showing both technical expertise and strategic thinking.
Their efforts created meaningful operational benefits, including the potential to safely downgrade certain safety instrumented functions, extend testing intervals, and reduce unnecessary downtime. By integrating safety improvements with efficiency gains, they delivered measurable value to both safety performance and overall plant operations.
Su Qi (Suzhou)
Su Qi stood out for his consistent and proactive commitment to safety, reporting 90 hazards and suggestions over the year and earning multiple monthly safety star awards. His recognition with the ESSH Excellence Award further highlights his role in supporting a major milestone—five years recordable incident-free at the site.
Beyond individual contributions, Su Qi actively fosters a strong safety culture by sharing learnings in meetings and looking out for the broader plant, not just his own area. His behavior reflects a model safety mindset, demonstrating leadership through everyday actions and a commitment to protecting others across departments.
"Each one of these nominees are outstanding examples of safety leadership at our sites," said Paul Cartlidge, Senior VP of ESSH. "We're grateful for their example and inspired by their excellence. Thank you for leading the way in our Commitment to Zero."