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ESB NETWORKS LTD
August/September 2012 www.esb.ie/em
ESB NETWORKS ACHIEVES INDEPENDENT OHSAS ACCREDITATION
In December 2011, Jerry O’Sullivan, MD ESB Networks Ltd. committed to achieving OHSAS Accreditation for the whole of ESB Networks by June 2012.
IN JUNE, independent auditors from the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) carried out OHSAS audits on our activities for all voltage levels and for every part of the ESB Networks business. We were successful in achieving the standard required for OHSAS certification.
ESB Networks is proud to have received this independent certification. This outstanding achievement is the result of tremendous co-operation and committed effort by everyone in ESB Networks, and indeed from colleagues in other parts of ESB on whom we depend for services.
Congratulations and well done to everyone.
Achieving a single OHSAS Accreditation across multiple sites – A Unique Achievement:
The ESB Networks approach to OHSAS is to have a single OHSAS Accreditation for the entire business, based on a set of common, shared standards, but with each division individually responsible within the overall OHSAS framework. Using this integrated approach, ESB Networks will achieve consistency, adopt best practices and avoid duplication of effort.
A standard “Policy Manual”, developed as part of the earlier OHSAS pilot, is the core document in describing how safety and health is managed.
Achieving OHSAS for an organisation with over 3,000 staff, spread countrywide, with a complex scope of work, in six months was a major task. Everyone in ESB Networks took up the challenge, with some divisions really ‘blazing a trail’ with innovative approaches to making OHSAS as ‘user-friendly’ as possible. Communicating the benefits of OHSAS and involving as many as possible was hugely important.
OHSAS ‘Must Haves’
As part of the preparation for OHSAS each team worked through a list of “OHSAS Must Haves” making sure that all our safety procedures and processes were fit-for-purpose, consistently implemented and continuously improving.
Having now achieved a certain standard, we need to keep up the good work and continue to concentrate on these routine tasks:
- Recording of Monthly Team Briefings
- Local Team Improvement Plans and Depot Codes of Practice
- Using Local Safety Plan and Meeting Minutes to track important issues and actions
- Job Site Safety Plans 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 and Equipment
- Up-to-date Documentation, e.g. Safety Statement, Site & Workplace Safety Folders, Local Safety Plans, Fire Register, Emergency Preparedness.
Internal Audits – “A line in the sand”
In late March/early April, over 80 trained OHSAS ‘internal’ auditors carried out audits, which identified how well prepared each division was and the gaps that needed attention.
Completing these audits was a critical milestone in testing how close we were to being ready for the external audits.
External Audits – The big Test
The external audits by NSAI were planned and co-ordinated to ensure that each division was audited. Given the scale of ESB Networks, it was not feasible to audit everywhere in year one, but all activities and locations will be audited over the next ten years.
Over the course of seven days, the three NSAI auditors visited 12 ESB locations and interacted with over 200 staff and contractors on 25 different work sites. Auditors witnessed safe systems of work and well organised work activities, carried out to a high standard.
"Achieving the OHSAS Standard is a hugely significant milestone for ESB Networks and continues the steady progress we are making on our journey to zero injuries.
Everyone in ESB Networks has contributed enthusiastically and energetically and I want to thank you for all your effort and the sense of purpose that has brought us to this point. We can be very proud of this achievement and what it tells us about our approach to safety.
Of course, we equally realise that there is scope for more improvements. We only have to reflect on the level of injuries and safety incidents that continue to happen, despite everyone’s best efforts.
The OHSAS approach recognises that achieving the standard for the first time is important, but more important is working even harder to prove that we deserve to keep it. OHSAS will help us to focus on what we must do better to be safer and look out for our own safety and for our colleagues."
Jerry O’Sullivan,
MD ESB Networks Ltd.
PROJECT MANAGER VIEW: RAISING THE BAR
Arthur Byrne Project Manager co-ordinated the project, working with the OHSAS Managers in each Division.
"The challenge of achieving OHSAS for the whole of ESB Networks was made possible by the support of individuals and teams, who embraced what OHSAS meant and applied their considerable talents to achieving what ever needed to be done. I want to thank everyone for their support and willingness to commit to OHSAS.
We must hold on to the momentum and energy that is now so visible and make a real success of this. Our aim is for the independent auditors to be impressed with the progress made when they revisit us next year, even though the bar will have been raised that bit higher.."
Maria McKeown, Lead Auditor, NSAI.
THE NSAI View:
Congratulating ESB Networks on achieving OHSAS, Maria McKeown described the audit as the most intense and complex that she had ever undertaken, given the scale and diversity of the ESB Networks business.
Maria and her colleagues (Denis Ryan and Paddy Breen) praised the thoroughness of the preparations for the audits, and were highly complimentary of the openness and enthusiasm with which they were received in all locations.
Maria also reminded us that this was the first certification and that our systems and processes will need to develop and improve. She encouraged us to go about this by recognising and building on our many strengths.
