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9
NEWS
April/May 2013 www.esb.ie/em
SAFETY CONSEQUENCES AND A JUST CULTURE
» Why is it that when we slip or fall in a public place we hope nobody notices, so we gather ourselves up as if nothing happened, refusing help for passers-by and pretending we haven't been hurt? -Embarrassment. So too often at work when something goes wrong we hope nobody notices and if undetected, we continue on. In some cases this might be due to embarrassment or even fear of reprisal.
IN THE PAST we introduced the concept of a No-Blame culture in ESB. This aimed to encourage people to report their safety incidents and near misses so others could learn from them. It also provided immunity from any blame to the reporter.
The downside of this is that there are no consequences for the individual who experienced the unsafe act and they may do the same again given the opportunity. The same applies to most of us when it comes to driving over the speed limit. We don't expect to have a collision but the potential of getting caught for speeding guides our behaviour to slow down.
A more effective approach might be to hold everyone responsible and accountable for their own behaviours. Surely this approach would prevent voluntary reporting of safety incidents I hear you say. Yes it would if the consequences of a lapse in concentration or error led to incident and immediate discipline for the perpetrator. However if a Just Culture was adopted in ESB this would seldom be the outcome. The Just Culture uses a series of questions to determine the culpability of someone whose actions or inactions result in negative outcomes. The Just Culture was developed by James Reason and the decision tree is reproduced in the figure that accompanies this article. Start the sequence of questions from left to right. If the behaviour was deliberate with malevolent intentions then the individual is completely culpable and subject to the disciplinary process. More often however the individual's actions were deliberate but the actual outcome was neither expected nor desired. Other questions used in the process test for incapacity, foresight and substitution. These final questions help determine that the individual is less accountable for their actions owing to system induced errors. These when applied consistently will highlight weaknesses in all layers of safety defences but will encourage continued reporting of incidents. The benefits to the individual are in most cases diminished culpability and the ESB gains better insights into its safety risk controls. This will help us continue to address the causes of unsafe incidents and improve safety at ESB.
If you have any comments on this please forward them to ronan.collier@esb.
ESB GAA
VENUE: ST. COLUMB’S COLLEGE, DERRY CITY
Saturday, April 20th 2013
MENS COMPETITION
2012 Winners – EirGrid
Runners Up – NIE Operations Also
LADIES FOOTBALL COMPETITION
2012 Winners – Electric Ireland
Runners up – ESBI
ENTRY FEE €400 per PanelTeam Entries (Panel of 10 players + 2 mentors max.) to be e-mailed or posted to:
Hugh Connaughton – Room 519 Clanwilliam, Tel 27146
Trish McElvaney – DGC HO - Tel 25484
Deirdre Feeney – D2C HO, Tel 26862
Colum Grogan – Room 301, 40 Merrion Square, Tel 27486
John O’Riordan – ICT Group Head Office, Tel 27557 Closing date for Panel Entries is Friday 24th August
2012 Competition commences at 12.00 noon and Final fixed for 5.30pm approx.
Presentation Dinner takes place in the Tower Hotel, Derry City at 8pm approx.
In recognition of the City of Derry being selected as the UK's City of Culture, ESB GAA will host its Annual Football 7's in Derry on the 20th April next.
SAFETY CHAMPIONS LEAGUE WINNERS
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE Corporate Centre Safety Champions League Winners 2012.
Fourteen teams took part in the competition, which consisted of weekly safety audits, over four weeks. During audits of the team's offices, points were deducted for untidiness, the presence of safety hazards, poor awareness of safety information, etc.
The winner was Group Treasurer Paul Stapleton's team, who scored an absolutely faultless four weeks of safety, scoring a maximum of 100 points every week, plus maximum bonus points,
The winning team's members were presented with first-aid kids. Well done to all the teams who took part. As a result of the exercise, the Corporate Centre offices should now be a safer and tidier place of work.
4 MOUNTAINS, 12,000 FEET, 3 DAYS! Homeless in Ireland 2013
Over one weekend we will climb four mountains:
Carrauntoohil (Kerry) 3,414 feet
Mweelrea (Mayo) 2,688 feet
Slieve Donard (Down) 2,796 feet
Lugnaquilla (Wicklow) 3,039 feet
- a total climb of almost 12,000 feet.
The number of people in Ireland that do not have a safe, secure place to call home, is growing each day. Since 1985, Focus Ireland has been providing a range of services to support people vulnerable to homelessness, to those who have already lost their homes and to people who are making the journey from homelessness to home. It offers services in Dublin, Cork, Waterford, Limerick, Sligo and Kilkenny, focusing not just on providing practical support to those who need it, but also on helping to resolve the issues that lead to people becoming homeless
Availing of the services of Focus Ireland has helped so many people turn their lives around, including John:
In June, a group of staff from across ESB are completing the Four Peaks Challenge to raise a minimum of €7,600 for Focus Ireland.
JOHN’S STORY: “When I was homeless I took part in Focus Ireland’s Education Services. I found it was a great chance to make a real change in my life. I didn’t choose to be where I was at that time but I made some bad choices in my life in the past which I am trying to resolve. I found taking part in the Focus Ireland course gave me something to get up for in the morning. It gave me a sense of achievement and helped me to deal with other problems in my life.”
The ESB hikers say, “While we are walking the peaks by choice, we are all too aware that those who avail of the services of Focus Ireland may spend days and nights outdoors all year round, not by choice but due to circumstances.”
The team would like to thank their colleagues, who have supported them with their training and with their fundraising for Focus Ireland. They are also asking for EM readers’ support. Please donate what you can to this very worthy cause.
Donations can be made at any of the events organised by the Energy Post 1 & 2 team, to any team member (below) or online at:
TEAM MEMBERS: Margaret Keating, Corporate Centre. Una Kernan, ESB Networks. Nuala Scanlon, ESB Networks. Dave Shepherd, ESB International. Sean Ramsay, Innovation & BSC. John Kernan, Generation & Wholesale Markets Jag Basi, Generation & Wholesale Markets.
