GAS TESTING AND U/G WORK

As you will know, the Gas Detector Mk1 (and 2) stores data on the number of gas tests done and this is downloaded at the 6 monthly calibrations.

This data has highlighted the fact that there appear to be much fewer gas tests recorded than the occasions when underground structures are entered.  This is particularly worrying as the implication is that some people are not gas testing.

I attach, for your information, a copy of a joint statement being issued on this subject.  Would Branches please reinforce to members the absolute necessity of gas testing.

Yours sincerely,

IAN CUTHBERT

Assistant Secretary

Encs.

The safety of our people, customers and members of the general public will always be the number one priority of the FS management team, CWU and Connect, and together we will continue to make every effort to provide people with the best equipment, training and information available to enable them to stay safe at all times.

Over the past three years the New Dawn for Safety project, with your help, has helped delivered major improvements to the safety of people in Field Service but we mustn’t become complacent because there is still room for improvement.

One particular area of risk that could seriously threaten not only your safety but that of the general public is the possibility of an accidental gas explosion triggered during access to, or work in, the underground network. Yet despite knowing the risks involved, analysis of data collected from the 6 monthly GDU calibration appointments continues to show that the number of gas tests recorded is much lower than the occasions we know we enter the underground network.

In response to this, and with the support of the CWU and Connect, the Field Service Health & Safety Team have developed a number of process and system enhancements designed to raise awareness and provide LCMs with automatic notification when a GDU is presented for upload with insufficient, or in some cases no gas test data recorded. An action pack will shortly be sent to LCMs designed to compliment existing day to day site visits and formal AMS checks. The pack will require LCMs to complete 121’s with team members, and provide coaching where current eGDU data does not match the work profile of the individual team member. This data will continue to be provided and checked for use at future 121’s.

LCMs will also be required to check that people have a valid NR&SW license to open U/G structures. In cases where no NR&SW license is present the individual will be removed from this type work until a valid certificate number is located or the person has successfully completed a new NR&SW assessment.

Given the potential risks involved in this particular area people should not to wait until the 121 with their manager before taking action. From today please make sure that you record a successful gas test EVERY time you work in the underground network.

In closing, please remember that the GDU (MK1) needs to be running for 2 minutes before it can record a successful test and If you are in doubt about anything safety related, please refer to the H&S Handbook via eAssistant or contact your LCM or local USR (Union Safety Representative) for advice. Never take unnecessary risks.

And finally, we should make it clear that this is not about assigning blame for past performance, it’s about making absolutely sure that from here on we get it right.

This is a joint communication from

John Dunn (Director Field Service)

Ian Cuthbert (CWU) & Mark Panto (Connect)