Utility Week

UTILITY WEEK | 13TH - 19TH JULY 2018 | 15 Awards Health and Safety Champion – Initiative Scottish & Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) Safety Licence SSEN's "If it's not safe, we don't do it" safety licence and its behav- iour programme have made a real impact on its workforce, driving a greater understanding of human factors in the workplace and the importance of looking aer each other. Its work is wide-ranging and requires the workforce to operate consciously and competently in challenging environments. Whether large infrastructure construction projects, inspection and maintenance activi- ties, storm response or infrastructure fault repairs, SSEN's workers are oen exposed to potentially high-risk hazards, including live electricity, working at height, with heavy materials and equipment, in deep excava- tions and installing subsea cables. The introduction of the licence has been well received across the workforce, testament to the consistency and rigour of the engage- ment activity. Licence wording is used prominently in all safety communications. Health and Safety Champion – Individual Lee Perkins, Engineering Trainees Team Leader, South East Region, UK Power Networks Lee's focus on ensuring apprentices appreci- ate that safety is paramount as soon as they join the company impressed our judges, along with his hard work to ensure their specific needs and ability levels are factored into their training. He ensures the next generation of engineers stay safe at work, learning lessons that will last them a lifetime. As an appren- tice fitter working on electricity substations, he became committed to health and safety education aer experiencing first-hand the effects of a switchgear fault in 2004. Criti- cally injured, he suffered 28 per cent burns, but even during a long recovery period he was determined to return to work and has since become a vocal envoy for safety. His attitude is described as his "greatest attrib- ute and explains why he is able to make such a special connection with trainees". Special mention: In this highly competitive category, judges gave Lucy Innes, safety, health, environment and quality lead at UK Power Networks Services, a special mention. Big Bang Award for Innovation – Customer- facing Electric Avenue Team, UK Power Networks Born out of a customer- focused brainstorm- ing session, 'Electric Avenue' is a utility industry first from the UK Power Networks' customer services change team. Supported by Sting Media, the team produces monthly animated episodes starring real employees. Each soap opera-style cartoon inspires col- leagues to respond quickly, take respon- sibility, get it right first time and celebrate success. They bring to life how company employees can help customers with every- day challenges to deliver first-class service, first time and every time. Complete with a catchy retro theme tune and featuring endearing regular characters, this is described as "a customer service training tool with a smile". Big Bang Award for Innovation – Infrastructure Mayflower Street Pile Cutting & CIPP Patch Repair, South West Water Delivery Alliance HSO This innovative no-dig solution to remove a redundant steel and concrete foundation pile from a 6m-deep, 225mm clay sewer through high-pressure water cutting was a collabo- rative effort overseen principally by Glan- ville Environmental, but with specialist input from Exjet Services. Both contractors worked alongside RGL Services. It proved a huge time-saver – reducing the impact on residents, local businesses and the travel- ling public from seven weeks to five days. The project could have required the removal of some 900 tons of spoil, the import of backfill material and the use of a 22-ton swing-shovel and 8-ton dumpers. The estimated cost for a diversion using an open cut approach (not including disrup- tion to businesses) was £96,000. The total cost of the actual scheme was just £51,000. Data Demon Award Water Production Planning Team, United Utilities & OSIso United Util- ities' Water Production Planning team worked closely with its IT team to allow OSIso to develop an awareness platform to enable real-time decision-making about operational interventions and a proactive approach to managing its regional system. To do this they use data, held in OSI- so's PI system, from multiple sources such as level and flow from open reservoirs, ground water sources and rivers, as well as monitoring power and chemical costs. Using this data and a forecast modelling tool provided by the Met Office, they create a weekly optimised Water Production Plan to meet customer demands. The platform has transformed how the United Utilities business visualises data, demonstrated an ability to avoid environmental spills and improved customer service. It also enabled first year savings of £1.3 million. The winners (Technology) The winners (Health & Safety)

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