EM - April/May 2012 - (Page 20)

ESB Networks Ltd April/May 2012 www.esb.ie/em 20 Water Conservation Project ESB Networks page 21 ESB Networks on track to achieve OHSAS health & safety accreditation each division adds to this standard framework, especially in relation to local records, such as Local Safety Statements, Local Safety plans, Site Inspection Records, Safety Approvals & training Records, Fire Register Records, etc. Implementing OHSAS – ‘Must Haves’ • Recording of Monthly team Briefings • Local team Improvement plans & depot Codes of practice • Using Local Safety plan and Meeting Minutes to track important issues and actions • JSSp’s and Risk Assessments • Closing out of Follow-up Actions from Auditing and near Misses • Implementing Contractor Safety Management procedures • Up-to-date Safety Approvals and training Records • Up-to-date Inspection of all Lifting tools & equipment • Up-to-date documentation such as Safety Statement, Site & Workplace Safety Folders, Local Safety plans, Fire Register, emergency preparedness Upcoming Milestones: each division nominated auditors who received “pre-OHSAS” audit training in March. the next important activity is the scheduling, completion and recording of pre-OHSAS internal audits during April, followed by final preparations in May and then the visit of the OHSAS external Auditors in June. eSB networks is preparing diligently for OHSAS Accreditation and plans to achieve this international standard for Safety and Health in June. With everyones involvement and commitment, the discipline and challenge of keeping OHSAS Accreditation each year will drive us on to achieve a safer workplace. n ESB Networks launches innovative app that will greatly enhance Customer Service 8 ‘PowerCheck ‘- Access to real-time service interruption information at your fingertips eSB netWORkS IS delighted to announce the launch of ‘powerCheck’ - a new progressive and innovative service that will inform customers, in real time, of electricity interruptions including estimated restoration times. A web-based version of powerCheck is now live and can be checked out on your home pC by clicking on this link http://www.esb.ie/esb-networks/ powercheck powerCheck Apps, for both iphone and Android Smartphone users, are also available to download from App Stores from 17th April. powerCheck will greatly enhance eSB networks’ customer service by providing real time information to the public on the status of supply in their local areas. It is clear that the greatest ‘moment of truth’ for any electricity customer is how the network operator responds when an outage occurs. provision of accurate and timely outage information and its restoration time is vital. that is why eSB networks is excited about ‘powerCheck’ which takes advantage of the most efficient communication technologies to make information available to all electricity customers. It solutions such as web applications and smartphone applications have developed to such an extent that they provide an ideal channel for customer contact. Many customers now expect their information to be available via these new media. evidence of this is that 43% of the population now use smart phones. A number of other communication methods are already in place; including issuing postcards to provide advance warning of all planned outages and providing regularly updated IVR messages about supply interruptions when customers phone our eSB networks Customer Care Centre. Local and national media are also updated in certain instances. powerCheck is a supplementary solution to these existing communication methods and will improve our overall service to customers as well as enhancing the eSB networks’ brand. How does the PowerCheck app work? the customer downloads the app from the app store onto an iphone or android. He or she can then select the geographical area of interest on the Google type map provided on the app in order to get the latest service interruption information which will include the estimated power restoration time. How is the information presented to us on the smartphone app or on the web? As stated, powerCheck provides information to the public via: • A web site with mapping solution, and • A mobile smartphone application with mapping solution ( iphone and android versions) Supply interruption data is sourced from the networks’ Outage Management System (part of OMS). details of the extent of the outage are built up as customers phone into the eSB networks’ Customer Care Centre and from information from SCAdA, dispatch and Area Offices. Staff in dispatch can update the information on OMS (e.g.estimated restoration time, numbers of customers affected) as the status of the supply interruption changes, thereby ensuring that information is kept up to date at all times. powerCheck then reads and presents this latest outage information to customers. powerCheck offers greater choice to our customers in relation to how they receive information from eSB networks. It will be of immense support to our existing communication channels and will greatly benefit customers by giving quick, up to date, self service information on supply interruptions. n Feedback: We would really welcome your comments and feedback before we formally launch the new service to the public. All comments and feedback should be emailed to Nora Kelleher (email: nora.kelleher@esb.ie) or Anne Allen (email: anne.allen@esb.ie). Independent auditors from the national Standards Authority of Ireland will carry out OHSAS audits in June to assess the quality of Safety and Health in eSB networks depots, office locations and other sites. All eSB networks activities on low, medium and high voltage electricity networks, involving: • Specification & design • Construction • Maintenance and Operations • Customer Service will be subject to an OHSAS Assessment. Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series (OHSAS) certification will make an important contribution to meeting our goal of zero injuries everywhere in eSB networks by providing independent evidence of how we meet our own exacting safety requirements and how we demonstrate progress and continuous improvement. What is OHSAS: OHSAS 18001 is the international standard that sets the benchmark for best practice in Health & Safety. It looks for evidence of: • How we are meeting legal and eSB requirements; • How we are managing and carrying out work to specified standards, procedures, etc • How we demonstrate that we constantly look for ways to improve and avoid injuries. OHSAS Framework: Progress to-date: OHSAS 18001 accreditation has already been successfully achieved for Safety Services, Supply Chain, Fleet & equipment, eSB training and many other parts of eSB. part of the preparation for extending OHSAS accreditation across all of eSB networks was the OHSAS pilot, carried out in dundalk, drogheda and navan areas, and involving Customer Services, HV delivery & Contracting, staff and contractors. OHSAS Accreditation was successfully achieved in April 2011. ESB Networks Approach: eSB networks is proceeding with a single, collective OHSAS accreditation for eSB networks, based on a set of common, shared standards, but with each division individually responsible within the overall OHSAS framework. A standard policy manual, developed as part of the OHSAS pilot, is the core document that describes how safety and health is managed across eSB networks. the document also references important standards, policy documents and It applications. Having identified a list of “OHSAS Must Haves”, the OHSAS Implementation team in each division has put in place the arrangements to address any gaps and ensure standards are maintained. One of the benefits of this approach has been the sharing of ideas and best practices across the divisions. Jimmy ByrNE rEtirES Senior Meter Reader Jimmy Byrne retired recently after 48 years service. Jimmy held his retirement function in the Templeogue Inn where his family and work colleagues gathered to celebrate the event. Pictured are: Stephen Conway, Meter and Data Services Manager and Breda Sheehan, Team Leader Meter Reading with Jimmy and his wife Lorna. We wish Jimmy, Lorna and family, much happiness and health in the future. http://www.esb.ie/em http://www.esb.ie/esb-networks/powercheck http://www.esb.ie/esb-networks/powercheck

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of EM - April/May 2012

EM - April/May 2012
Contents
News
Services & Electric Ireland
ESB Networks Ltd
ESB Energy International
Health & Habitat
Life

EM - April/May 2012