Board Members' visit to NewCastlewest and Tralee on safety mission
On November 8th and
9th, Worker Directors, Tony
Merriman, Bobby Yeates,
John Coleman and John Nugent
along with Company Secretary, John
Redmond, visited Newcastlewest
and Tralee to conduct Safety
Reviews with staff at those ESB
Networks locations. The visits
served as valuable recognition and
profile for the health and safety
endeavours of staff and managers at
both locations. Much healthy debate
and discussion was also generated
on how to further champion the
cause of safety at all levels.
Their first port of call was Newcastlewest, where they were met by a cross section of staff and management. Customer Services Manager, PC Lynch, and Area Manager, Barry O'Donoghue, opened the session with introductions and welcome. Local NT's Sean Kelly, Anthony McMahon, Robert Grimes and Billy Flavin made presentations on the recently launched Team Safety Charter, whereby staff have signed up to the principle of Safety Interdependence and have committed to 'Looking out for Each Other'. This has manifested itself in the vibrancy of the Local Safety Plan, Operational Safety Meetings and the level of Near Miss reporting. Customer Services Supervisor, Mossie Finn, furthermore explained the level of local commitment to look out for the public as part of the Local Safety Plan. Newly appointed Corporate H&S Co-ordinator, Liam Ring, introduced the recently commissioned Safety DVD entitled 'Look Out ... for Each Other' after which much discussion ensued.
The Board members strongly commended staff and managers alike for their commitment and initiative and in particular the strong level of safety teamwork as evidenced by the Team Safety Charter.
On the following day Tralee was the host location. Again teamwork in safety was the primary topic for discussion with Kevin Hanafin, Brendan Hickey and Ger Deenihan introducing some local best practices. Staff Safety Rep. John Higgins introduced the Local Safety Plan, again with many cross functional issues already solved locally by staff. Tom Bradley from ESB Networks Fleet and Equipment, a recent Gerry Campbell Safety Excellence Merit Award Winner, gave a presentation on inspection and testing of lifting equipment at Tralee Depot. Tom also gave a guided tour of his workshop. Once again a very lively discussion ensued with the visiting board members on 'How we can achieve Zero Injuries?'.
This debate was ably contributed to by John Switzer, Jack O'Rourke, John Quirke, Jim O'Donnell, Tommy Lyne, John O Connor, William O'Connor and Tom McKenna. The Board Members then conducted a walk-through of the stares and yard area taking in safety issues on the way. It was agreed by all that these visits were mutually beneficial for the visitors and host locations alike.
