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NEWS
June/July 2012 www.esb.ie/em
Chief Executive chairs Senior Safety Committee
Chief Executive, Pat O’Doherty has assumed the role of Chairperson of the Chief Executive Health and Safety Committee. Speaking at the committee’s recent meeting at the Electric Ireland Headquarters in Swift Square, he thanked the outgoing Chairperson, John Campion, for his dedicated service to safety and sustainability.
REFERRING TO JOHN as “a beacon for people and change who energised the whole organisation,” Pat wished him well on his imminent retirement.
Reiterating the effects of economic downturn are having on ESB’s competitiveness Pat reminded all present of the importance of maintaining safety as a core value of ESB. The new organisational structure would have a strong focus on safety and sustainability through people engagement and capability. He praised the many successes in ESB including the cross company risk assessment project and the 4you cultural change programme. Given the extent of change now happening he asked Tony Merriman, Worker Board Member and Chairman of the Board Health, Safety and Environment Committee and John Campion to undertake a review of the future function and role of the Committee.
Ronan Collier, Corporate Safety, Health and Wellbeing Coordinator, gave an insight into where safety and health objectives originated. Both leading and lagging safety and health indicators are used to inform future plans and programmes. A discussion ensued on why there is an apparent low take up of health screening. Less than 50% of staff avail of ESB facilitated screening whereas anecdotally it is thought up to 70% of staff avail of health screening. The committee will research this further.
Owen Wilson, Manager Group Health, Safety and Environment provided an update on safety and health performance. Current trends in Lost Time Injuries and unscheduled absenteeism indicate a level of performance similar to last year and additional effort will be required if the significant improvements targeted for this year are to be realised.
Jim Murphy Safety Manager, Services and Electric Ireland presented on the recently launched Risk Assessment training programme. The training provides a consistent approach to risk assessment across all ESB businesses. The training is aimed primarily at front line managers who are responsible for the safety of their staff.
Energy International Organisational Psychologists Fiona Kennedy and James Matthews introduced the Culture Survey Workshop by explaining how it fitted into the 4you safety culture programme currently being introduced into the generation businesses of Energy International. The committee reflected on statements relating to communications, commitment, safety engagement and audits and categorised the safety culture in ESB as being between ‘Calculative’ and ‘Proactive’, indicating room for further improvement in all areas. Under AOB the issue of management of change was discussed. A management of change safety validation process is being undertaken in each business presently. This ensures that the safety and health risks associated with any significant changes are assessed and managed effectively.
To find out more from the CEHSC meeting visit the Safety Committees pages on ESBnet.
Advanced Safety Auditing
ESB HAS BEEN using coaching style observation auditing for over a decade to assist in the quest for zero injuries. The process is relatively simple and the following Advanced Safety Auditing guide should help remind us of what is involved.
PURPOSE
It is recognised that most injuries are caused by the unsafe acts or omissions of people. Advanced Safety Auditing aims to reinforce behaviours that are critical to maintaining the required safety performance.
PLAN
- Advise staff or contractors of the forthcoming audit.
- Allow sufficient time to carry out the audit.
- Establish the following for the audit site:
- Current safety focus
- Any local issues
- Local safety contacts whom you might meet. i.e. staff safety representative, first aiders, fire marshals, health and wellbeing coordinators
- PPE Requirements
- Try to conduct the audit with a local supervisor or line manger so you can discuss and feed back your findings first hand.
REVIEW
Conduct review of all audits completed to establish if improvements or other trends are noted. Use this information to inform future audit campaigns.
OBSERVE
- Introduce yourself to the auditee(s)
- Explain why you are there—To carry out a safety audit.
- Where possible observe people at work—Reactions of people, Positions of people, Personal Protective equipment, Tools & Equipment, Procedures and housekeeping
- Where behaviours cannot be observed directly they can sometimes be checked by reviewing JSSPs (Job Site Safety Plans), Risk Assessments, Training records, Actions from previous audits, local policies, job aids and safety rules.
- In this step behaviours that people need to perform to achieve the desired safety performance e.g. zero injuries, are identified.
DISCUSS
- Compliment and Reinforce positive behaviours
- For the Advanced Safety Auditing process to give the best results the emphasis must be on recognising/rewarding people when they perform the behaviours safely.
- Comment favourably about the good things e.g. JSSP/Risk Assessment/Method statement completed for job completed, good housekeeping, appropriate PPE for the job, good awareness of safe actions and emergency procedures etc.
- Question perceived risks—Focus on personal consequences—not the acts
- H ow could you get hurt doing this task?
- What would your injuries be?
- What would that be like for you/
- What can you do to prevent that from happening?
- What can I do?
- What can the organisation do?
- How else could you get hurt doing this job? (revert to question 1 for more)
- Seek and agree on best practice
- Discuss any suggestions for safety improvement
- Encourage total staff involvement.
- Discuss the importance of working safely to the individual, his/her family, work colleagues and to ESB.
- Thank them for participating and for bringing safety concerns or suggestions to your notice and commit to following up where necessary.
REVIEW
Summarise:
- Positive behaviours noticed
- Agreed new/revised safe behaviours
- Suggestions noted for improvements
- Give a commitment to follow up where necessary.
Record the audit using the Intranet Corporate Safety Audits Application. http://esbnet/apps/esbsafetyaudit/logon/
Update audit record with up to date information.
Close audit when all outstanding issues have been seen to.
Copies of this Auditing Guide are available by sending an email to Ronan Collier.
