Network Projects South scoops top safety award
The awards ceremony of the sixth annual ESB Networks Gerry Campbell Safety Excellence Awards took place on 14th January at The Great Southern Hotel, Killarney. On the night, the overall winners, Network Projects South, were honoured as well as special merit award winners from around the ESB Networks organisation. Further local events will be held to celebrate the achievement of the runner-up locations of Network Projects, East 2 South and Network Projects Athlone. All of the awards, as well as the specially commissioned and much coveted Gerry Campbell Trophy were presented by the Executive Director, ESB Networks, John Shine and Sadie Campbell, wife of the late Gerry Campbell.
During his address, John paid tribute to the commitment and determination all of the entrants and thanked the Safety and Technical Services Supervisors group and Safety Manager Team for organising and managing the competition. Special congratulations and gratitude were also given to the hosts, Network Projects South, as both overall winners and function organisers.
By entering for this prestigious safety award, each of the 15 entrant locations was willing to place itself under rigorous scrutiny in the relentless pursuit of Safety Excellence. Detailed and thorough examinations were carried out in each location to verify the safety processes and safety initiatives, as well as compliance with ESB and Statutory procedures and policies. The audit in each location also included several Behavioural Audits of crews at work and Inspections of some critical tools and equipment.
The main assessment criteria
included:
Both the staff and management in each location that entered can be rightly and justifiably proud of their Safety Performance. All locations impressed the auditors in their attitude to, awareness of and commitment to improving the safety performance in their own locations and to share their initiatives with the auditors for dispersal across the wider ESB Networks organisation. As in most safety audits, there are items for attention and in the interest of continuous improvement, these have been communicated to the appropriate management teams on a case-by-case basis.
The commitment of staff, safety representatives, safety champions and managers was very evident in each location. Furthermore, it has been agreed by the entire audit team that this year's standard has reached new heights. During the audit process, several strong examples of safety best practice and individual or team contributions to safety were identified for special merit awards as well as other category winners.
It was widely acknowledged that the Awards Ceremony was most enjoyable and a resounding success. What better way to celebrate safety achievement and honour the memory of our much loved deceased colleague, Gerry Campbell, who himself dedicated a lifetime in the pursuit of safety excellence.EM
| Winners | |
| Overall winner | Network Projects South |
| Category Winners Small: (less than 30 staff ) | Network Projects, Athlone |
| Medium: (30 - 70 staff ) | Network Projects East 2 (South) |
| Large: (more than 70 staff ) | Network Projects South (and overall winner) |
| Merit Awards | |
| Individual Safety Merit Award | Shay Costello, Network Services, Finglas |
| Electrical Safety Excellence Merit Award | Network Services, Bandon |
| Yard Committee Merit Award | Network Services, Newcastlewest |
| Local Safety Plan Merit Award | Network Projects, East 2 North |
| Safety Management Systems Merit Award | Damien Gardiner, Network Projects East 2 |
| Safety Innovation Merit Award | Network Projects, Athlone |
| Safety Innovation Merit Award | Declan ONeill, Shane Martin Network Projects, Waterford |
