Gerry Campbell Safety Excellence Awards Presentation Dinner

The 2006 Gerry Campbell Safety Excellence Awards took place on Saturday 17th February in the Bettystown Court Hotel, Bettystown, Co. Meath.

The event was organised by a function committee representative of the staff in Network Projects East 2 North based in Dundalk and staff in Network Services Dundalk, Drogheda, Navan and Ardee

The presentation of the awards was opened by the MC for the evening, Shay Costello, who welcomed the guests and thanked the committee for the great work they had done in organising the event, particularly Deirdre McKenna and PJ Reamsbottom. He thanked the many others who helped put the event together, Ger Buckley, Liam Ring, Gus Connolly and Michael Hughes for all their work behind the scenes and last years organisers for their advise. Thanks to Denise Byrne for putting the very successful photo gallery together.

Ger Buckley, ESB Networks Safety Manager, congratulated all the winners
Ger congratulated all teams who entered the competition for their courage in putting themselves and their location under such scrutiny, he declared that their safety would be enhanced from the experience. Ger congratulated all winners in particular the winners of the Young Worker award.

He reminded the attendees that our main goal is that no one should get injured whilst working in ESB Networks and we have not yet realised this goal. The winners were set the challenge of maintaining and improving the safety standards they have achieved and to lead the way in achieving zero injuries in ESB Networks. Ger stated that in doing so this would be the best tribute we could pay to the memory of Gerry Campbell.

John Shine, Executive Director Networks, also congratulated everyone involved in the competition
John welcomed all to the event with a very special welcome to Sadie Campbell and her two daughters Louise and Fiona who have given tremendous support and encouragement to this competition by their presence every year since the competition began. John also acknowledged the presence of Tony Merriman and John Coleman representing the Health, Safety and Environment Committee of the Board and Pat Smith who served on that Committee for many years

It was particularly pleasing to have so many staff from ESB Networks present to celebrate the huge efforts by so many in improving our safety performance. John thanked Davy Naughton and John Ryder for their attendance on behalf of the Unions in ESB. John finished by thanking people for the great progress over the last number of years but asked that all of us would re-double our efforts to ensure that whether at work, driving or at home with our families no one gets hurt.

The following awards were then presented by John Shine:

Young Worker Safety Excellence Merit Awards (Noting European Safety Week 'Safe Start-Young Workers'

• John Daly Mullingar, working in Inchicore at time of audit
• Rachel Murphy Network Projects East 2 Portlaoise
• Shane Reddy Network Projects East 2 Enniscorthy

Stores Safety Merit Award

• Ballycoolin received by Tony Mulvany and Kurt Scott

Garage Safety Merit Award

• Overall Category Winner-Fleet&Equipment, Limerick received by Tom Cronin

John Kingston-Contractor Management Merit Award

• Network Services Dublin North/Dundalk

Sean Murphy- Timber Contractor Management Merit Award

• Network Projects West New Entrant -Design Function Network Projects West received by Chris Fitzgerald

Public Safety Merit Award

• Network Projects East 2 Central) received by Matt Davis

'ElectriSafe'-Electrical Safety Merit Award

• Allan Dolan Network Projects East Transmission Justin Connolly received the award on Allan's behalf.

Safety Excellence Young Worker

• Safety Induction and Management of Apprentices Network Projects West received on behalf of Michael Barrett by Chris Fitzgerald.

Overall Runner Up Award

• Network Projects East 2 South - received by Rachael Murphy and Shane Reddy. This is the second year running that NP East 2 South, under Andy Redmond, have finished runner up. The Award will be presented at their own celebration function to be held in Kilkenny later in the month.

Sadie Campbell then presented the main award, the Gerry Campbell Trophy, to the joint winners, Network Services Dundalk/Drogheda/Navan and Network Projects East 2 North.

John Mulvaney, Team Leader, addressed the audience on behalf of Network Projects and Barry McNally, Area Manager Dundalk/Drogheda on behalf of Network Services. They both thanked their respective staff for the fantastic efforts they have put into safety over recent years and in particular in 2006.

John and Barry thanked the organising committee and mentioned the contribution of PJ, Shay and Deirdre McKenna. The presentations were then followed by a very successful meal and a night of dancing. It was agreed by everyone that this was a memorable night. EM