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NEWS
February/March 2012 www.esb.ie/em
Safety and Health in ESB during 2011
LAST YEAR WAS a significant year in relation to safety and health performance in Ireland and in ESB. The Health and Safety Authority recorded an increase in work-related fatalities in Ireland for the second year in succession, despite the reduction in activity in the high-risk construction sector. In ESB, the 37 lost time injuries (LTI) represent an increase on the previous year (Fig 1). This was the first time since 1997 that an annual reduction in staff injuries was not achieved. Regrettably, our staff colleague Manohar Singh was fatally injured in a road traffic collision in Bahrain in November. This was the first staff fatality since 2003.
Despite these negative outcomes, many parts of ESB maintained another injury-free year. The severity of injuries to staff in LTIs was generally lower than previous years with an average of 9.8 days lost per injury compared to 13.5 in 2010 (Fig.2).
Our contractor safety performance continues to improve with no fatalities during 2011. Eight contractor LTIs occurred, almost half that for 2010 (Fig.3). This can partly be explained by a reduction in contractor activity but also by consistent safety management of all contractors. While the number of staff injuries has increased, we remain resolute that our goal is zero injuries.
All business areas with certified safety management systems retained their certification throughout 2011. The remaining businesses plan to achieve certification during 2012.
There were no public fatalities as a result of road traffic collisions involving ESB fleet vehicles or that of our contracting partners or from contact with ESB’s network assets. Regrettably two members of the public were fatally injured from contact with electricity on the customers’ side of the meter.
Driving and road use remains a significant hazard for ESB. We have completed a Safe Driving Programme that has provided more than 1,500 Advanced Driver qualifications to ESB staff and which achieved a reduction in road traffic collisions of one third in comparison to the 2008 statistics.
During 2012 we will strive to continue our health improvement programme, maintain the excellent safety performance of our contractors and arrest the negative trend in staff injuries.
January / February Winner of the Bi-Monthly Sustainability Award
THE JANUARY / FEBRUARY winner of the bi-monthly Sustainability Award is Adrienne Behan, ESB Networks. Adirenne was selected by the cross-company Sustainability Managers Group for her commitment to promoting sustainability in ESB Networks and throughout the company. Adrienne has been a Sustainability Champion since 2008 and has worked on many initiatives, including providing information on how staff can work sustainably, helping to co-ordinate the annual ESB Networks Sustainability Week programme, and, most recently, presenting the ESB Sustainability DVD to in schools.
Congratulating Adrienne on her award, John Campion, ESB Sustainability and HR Director said, “Adrienne’s commitment and enthusiasm energise everyone around her. I know that her work in ESB Networks and with the other Sustainability Champion’s has brought our programme to life for many people, both inside ESB and more recently for pupils and teachers in the schools she has visited as part of the Schools Programme. Like all of our Champions, Adrienne takes on these challenges in addition to her full time role, and I would like to thank her and the other Champions for their continuing commitment to ensuring that we all work in more sustainable, efficient and resource conscious ways.”
WORLD’S FIRST PORTABLE CHARGING STATION FOR ELECTRIC CARS
THE WORLD’S FIRST portable charging station for electric cars has been developed by an Irish company.
The EVCharge 4kW, a portable charging station for Electric Vehicles (EV), has been developed by JTM Power, a company based in Rathnew, Co Wicklow.
The stand alone portable electric vehicle charger, which charges an electric car independent of the electric supply network, will be sold in Ireland and in other EV developed countries. It is powered by lithium ion battery technology so that charging with the EVCharge 4kW can provide up to 20km of range in half an hour. JTM Power see the device being used to enable the driver to get to their nearest public charge point or to the motorist’s own home charge point when they would otherwise be out of range.
Speaking at the launch of the EVCharge, ESB ecars Managing Director Paul Mulvaney said, “We are delighted that Irish companies, such as JTM, are capitalising on this new and innovative market. The availability of a mobile charge point means that drivers will always have access to a charge point wherever they are located. We expect that more and more Irish firms will take the lead in this growing and dynamic market.”
AA Ireland took delivery of an EVCharge 4kW and began to pilot the use of the product in December 2011 as part of an electric vehicle recovery procedure that it is developing.
Ten Head Office sites now have WasteWatchers
Q: What’s green and, in 2012, goes green, brown or red?
A: WasteWatchers (coming to a bin near you soon!)
The Head Office Green Committee has been transformed and renamed as WasteWatchers. Our focus is Waste Management in the Head Office Estate.
We are all about ‘the 3 R’s’ - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, so we have also been renamed, reinvented and now need to rebrand! We need you to develop our logo.
LOGO COMPETITION
Enter a suitable logo for Waste-Watchers and you could win one of the following fantastic prizes:
- An iPad
- Irish Times subscription for a year
- A Kindle
- Voucher for the ESB On-Line Store
You can be as creative as you wish, funny, rubbish or even serious. Go on! - don’t be a waster! – send us a logo!
Competition is open to all EM readers and everyone who takes part will be entered into the prize draw (one entry to draw per entrant)
Send your logo to Linda.danielchristie@esb.ie or Linda Daniel Christie, 27 Lr Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin 2 before 29th February – Leap to it now.
WasteWatchers monitor the Head Office Estate, which consists of: Head Office, Matthews Building, Merrion Square, Clanwilliam House, Osprey Houses, Stephen’s Court, 16 Stephens Green, Fleet Street, St Patrick’s Credit Union and the Multi-storey car park.
So while we sleuth – you could be a winner, not just of a prize but of an improved environment!
