Safe, not sorry

We are midway through Powering Improvement, the electricity industry's ambitious bid to get the workforce at every level engaged in health and safety advancement. Tim Field reports

The electricity industry has a vision to be a world leader in health and safety by 2015. To this end, the Energy Networks Association (ENA) and Energy UK, in partnership with unions GMB, Prospect, Unison and Unite, launched a five-year campaign in 2010, Powering Improvement. We are now half way through the programme – a good time to recap its intentions and take stock of achievements to date.

The initiative is a passionate attempt to improve the industry’s safety record. Peter McCormick, Powering Improvement co-ordinator at the ENA, explains: “Every safety, health and environment manager wants to avoid the dreaded knock on the door where they have to explain that someone’s family member won’t be coming home that night. The commitment to Powering Improvement comes from the heart.”

The initiative is taking a comprehensive approach to addressing the issue. Unlike many previous health and safety campaigns, it is not just about prescribing how companies should work. It is about engaging the workforce and sharing experience and knowledge to build on successes and identify opportunities to improve.

It has three key themes: leadership, improving competence and worker involvement. Powering Improvement also has specific focus areas each year. The 2010 objective concerned leadership buy-in and delivered a strong commitment from chief executives of the networks, generation companies and unions.

In 2011 the focus shifted to partnership and best practice sharing, with a view to getting companies to prepare for potential problems before they arise rather than simply firefighting them once they surface. Jane Willis, a Health & Safety Executive (HSE) director and champion for the 2011 focus area, says: “We know it is better to prevent ill-health occurring in the first place and recognise that this is a shared responsibility.”

One example of a truly engaging project that took this approach is Eon’s Keep the Beat initiative, focused on workers’ cardiovascular health. Many other companies have also used Powering Improvement to ensure wellbeing features in health surveillance and fitness to work programmes.

The focus for 2012 is asset management and maintenance. Competency guidelines will help inform the workforce, supported by workshops, toolbox talks and case studies of best practice. This year the industry is also engaging directly with contractors to build a coalition of support around key principles and drawing on the expertise of the Institute of Asset Management.

Achieving the aims of Powering Improvement means continually engaging in two-way communication on all issues of health and safety at every level of the industry. This demands innovation. For example, a network of “advocates” is providing a strong, active and dedicated group of champions within the workforce and new and improved lines of engagement with senior management.

There have been promising and real improvements so far, but the fatality of a linesman in June serves as a reminder of why this is so important. The industry knows it can never allow itself to be complacent and that there is still work to be done.

The focus for 2013 will be behavioural safety. It is hoped that with input and support from HSE, and commitment to the principles of leadership, improving competence and worker involvement from everyone, the energy industry can really improve the way it manages and supports better health and safety.

Tim Field is head of press and public affairs at the Energy Networks Association

www.poweringimprovement.org has information, tools and case studies available to download for the industry and practitioners.

This article first appeared in Utility Week’s print edition of 7th September 2012.

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