HVDC Pole 3 project wins two safety awards
11 August 2011
The project won the Top Depot, Site or Office and Best Safety Innovation awards at a ceremony held 10 August.
The team at Benmore – made up of Siemens, Mainzeal and Transpower staff – took home the award for Top Depot, Site or Office. This award recognises the best depot, site or office that demonstrates a proactive and collective approach to safety improvement, including an exemplary safety record.
The Benmore site won the award on the basis of the overall excellent quality and thoroughness of the health and safety culture on site. A number of initiatives have been installed on site, responding to the specific requirements and conditions at Benmore.
The judges described Benmore as a standout site. “From the moment you enter the site to when you leave, all aspects of safety are anticipated and addressed. The site is beyond excellent, with facilities and practices of exceptionally high standard which clearly demonstrate the importance placed on onsite safety – and an approach to safety that is shared by all staff managers and site workers.”
The Best Safety Innovation award recognises either a team or individual’s safety innovation: the application of an approach, device or process to minimise safety risk in the field.
The HVDC Pole 3 team came up with several innovative and practical solutions to a number of health and safety challenges at both the Benmore and Hayward sites.
The summer heat is a challenge at Benmore, but information on heat stress and how to treat it is provided to workers. A shower block was installed to allow for cool showers and drink bottles and electrolytes are provided. Extra monitoring of workers and breaks was done when temperatures got above 30 degrees. Likewise, the team recognised Benmore’s isolation from a medical centre and established a fully equipped first aid room on site.
The team also recognised the need to establish a hazardous goods storage area at both Benmore and Haywards, and undertake appropriate training. They initiated a ‘yellow card’ system to easily report hazards and near misses around the construction site at Haywards, and established a number of safety stations or ‘dog boxes’ as a one-stop-shop for safety information and equipment.
The achievements of the site team impressed the judges so much they described Benmore as “The Best”: an exemplar of safety leadership, second to none, and quite possibly the best site in the whole industry.
Andrew Gard, Programme Director for the Pole 3 project is very pleased for the team. “I’m very proud of our safety record on this project. The various teams and contractors have worked hard together to come up with creative solutions to the safety challenges faced at our sites. Effective safety processes and a strong safety culture are the result of this collaborative and positive approach.”
“Everyone working on the Pole 3 project is to be congratulated for this win.”