Generating a safe working environment

In an industry where employees face potential hazards regularly, it’s important for utility companies to provide the right safety equipment. However, it’s possible to do this while still working to an efficient MRO strategy

According to recent statistics from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), 1.8 million working people are suffering from a work-related illness. There were also 135 workers killed in work-related accidents over the course of a year and another 561,000 people injured at work.

These incidents exact a human toll. They also have an economic impact. The HSE goes on to report that 35.2 million working days are lost each due to work-related illness and workplace injury, the cost of which amounts to £20.7 billion.

Today, protecting workers remains absolutely vital for every industry. It’s particularly pertinent in the utilities sector as there are few industries with as many potentially hazardous working environments – workers at the UK’s major utilities companies deal with high voltage electricity, hazardous gases, large machinery, and confined spaces, as well as often working at height.

The impact of serious injury or death is hugely damaging for the individuals and business involved, as the recent RS water and wastewater industry sector report demonstrates. There can be major consequences in terms of reputation and finances, with one water company and a contractor fined almost £400,000 after a worker nearly lost his leg during an incident at a reservoir.

Despite the level of risk, and the consequences, the RS Health and Safety Industry Report found that fewer respondents in the utilities sector confirmed having strategies in place for different aspects of environment, health and safety. In terms of physical incident strategy, for instance, the average for the utilities sector was 58 percent compared to an overall average of 70 percent.

Given this context, what can those in these industries do to create safer working environments?

Training and equipment
When it comes to protecting staff, there are two main areas to concentrate on, says Chris Cruise, industry sector manager for utilities at RS. “Firstly, it’s essential to offer employees appropriate training, which all companies should be providing and constantly reviewing to make sure it’s fit for purpose,” he says. “And secondly, you need to look at the equipment people are using on a daily basis.”

Quality safety equipment can range from personal protection equipment (PPE), such as harnesses and boots, to specialised electrical equipment that can be used in the presence of flammable gases – all of which needs to be fully compliant with safety regulations and approved for the work users will be doing.

Efficient MRO processes
In addition to quality, however, it is still important that utilities companies achieve good value for money and look at running an efficient MRO procurement process, which is something that RS explored in its most recent Indirect Procurement Report, co-authored with the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS).

“Most people involved with procurement are aware that it’s more cost-effective to consolidate suppliers to just a few trusted companies,” says Cruise. “However, when it comes to safety equipment there is often a misconception that you need to go to specialist suppliers outside your normal agreed list, or individual safety purchases are devolved to individuals who purchase from non-approved suppliers.

“This is understandable to an extent, because when it comes to equipment, the first priority is quality – you want to make sure that the products you buy are from reputable brands and meet the specifications and needs set out by the company’s Health and Safety managers,” Cruise adds. “But once you know the product you want, the next areas you should consider are price and delivery – and this is where smaller, more specialist suppliers often fall down.”

This is an area where larger suppliers such as RS can offer a valuable service that meets safety criteria, while also fitting in with a company’s overall MRO strategy. “We have the breadth of stock (which includes the majority of safety equipment, such as ATEX-approved devices) while being able to offer a competitive price and next-day delivery,” says Cruise. “If an engineer has broken a key piece of safety equipment, then they won’t be able to do their job until that has been replaced, so delivery time and stockholding can be crucial.”

For the individuals actually purchasing safety equipment, clarity around the products and a streamlined ordering system are also very important. “Another advantage of a larger supplier such as RS is the depth and breadth of our range, technical support and solutions, says Cruise. “Our website contains all the safety information and documentation for the customer to view before making a purchase, while the purchase itself is as straightforward as making a consumer purchase on a website such as Amazon.”

For more information about RS Safety Solutions, click here