Driving improvements in our safety, customer and operational performance
We aim for operational excellence by performing to the highest standards of safety and by improving customer service.
Safety
Safety is paramount. Our most important goals are: to ensure that members of the public are not injured as a direct result of our operations; to deliver a working environment where there are zero work-related injuries and illnesses; to reduce gas leaks on our distribution networks; and to improve the health of our employees so they are fit for work every day.
We use a range of indicators to monitor our performance including: members of the public injured as a direct result of our operations; employee lost time injury frequency rate; kilometres of gas distribution mains replaced in the UK; and employee sickness absence rate. Our key performance indicator is our employee lost time injury frequency rate.
Operating major hazard sites and pipelines means we remain vigilant to process safety risks as well as personal safety risks. During the year, there was one serious explosion in the UK and three explosions in the US as a result of escapes from our gas distribution networks. In the UK, we continue to replace our metallic gas mains in line with a programme agreed with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to reduce the risks of this type of incident. In the US, we continue to implement targeted replacement programmes to reduce the risk of incidents. In the last year, we have implemented revised processes to manage gas escapes in the UK satisfying the requirements of an enforcement notice served by the HSE.
We have continued to embed our trusted to work responsibly approach that builds on our well established safety framework and gives greater ownership for safety to our employees. We received external plaudits for this approach with the Safety and Health Practitioner/Institution of Occupational Safety and Health award for the best campaign of 2008, and the Confederation of British Industry publishing a case study on ‘trusted’.
Employee safety
We report our lost time injury frequency rate, expressed as lost time injuries per 100,000 hours worked, as a key measure that can be compared with other companies. This rate takes into account the number of employees and the hours worked. As well as reporting our lost time injury frequency rate, we also report the number of lost time injuries.
This is the first year we have included parts of the business that were acquired with KeySpan. This increase in the size of the organisation is the reason for an increase in the number of lost time injuries to 140 in 2008/09 compared with 88 in 2007/08 and 97 in 2006/07. KeySpan had a lower level of safety performance than the existing business and this has contributed to the lost time injury frequency rate rising slightly to 0.25 in 2008/09 compared with 0.24 in 2007/08 and 0.24 in 2006/07. If KeySpan had been included in the 2007/08 performance indicators, there would have been 157 lost time injuries with a rate of 0.30. Therefore, on a comparable basis performance has improved. The results prior to 2007/08 did not include KeySpan and so are not directly comparable. Definitions for lost time injury and lost time injury frequency rate are included in the glossary.
The principal causes of lost time injuries to our employees are road traffic collisions, musculoskeletal injuries, impact injuries, and slips, trips and falls. Behavioural change initiatives have been targeted in these areas to improve performance.
Employee lost time injury frequency rate
Per 100,000 hours worked Target: zero
- 2007/08 data restated as if KeySpan acquisition had occurred at beginning of year.
Previously published figure, excluding KeySpan, was 0.24.
In our 2009 employee engagement survey, 74% (2008: 71%) of respondents felt confident that safety concerns or issues raised would be addressed. In 2009, 76% (2008: 73%) of respondents also considered that National Grid never compromises safety in order to meet other goals.
Employee health
Employee sickness absence rate
% Target: zero
- Data prior to 2008/09 excludes KeySpan.
Improving the health and well-being of our employees continues to be a major focus for National Grid. For several years we have had a comprehensive occupational health service to deal with work related health issues. We are now extending our approach to look at the health and well-being of our employees in a more holistic way. As well as the obvious benefits to individuals, there are significant business and societal benefits to having a fit and healthy workforce. In January we launched a new health and well-being strategy to provide a series of innovative initiatives that engage staff and encourage the restoration and maintenance of an individual’s health, function and fitness. An early focus has been cardiovascular risk with screening being offered to UK employees over 45. Over the year, our sickness absence rate increased to 3.06% compared with 2.46% in 2007/08 and 2.48% in 2006/07. Data prior to 2008/09 does not include KeySpan, so is not directly comparable.
Contractor safety
We are committed to the safety of all our workforce, not only direct employees. In 2008/09, there were 108 contractor lost time injuries compared with 105 in 2007/08 and 131 in 2006/07. Data prior to 2008/09 does not include KeySpan, so is not directly comparable. We are very sad to report there have been 3 contractor fatalities in the US: 2 contractors died following an incident while using a drilling rig and 1 died after coming into contact with an energised electricity line.
Public safety
Injuries to members of the public
Number Target: zero
- Data prior to 2008/09 excludes KeySpan.
Includes fatalities, injuries requiring the person to attend hospital and,
in the UK, any other injuries reportable under the Reporting of Injuries,
Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR).
The safety of the public in the communities we serve is of prime importance to us. In 2008/09, 52 members of the public were injured as a result of our activities compared with 36 in 2007/08 and 28 in 2006/07, predominantly as a result of road traffic collisions and trips and falls around our street works. Sadly, 1 member of the public died in the US resulting from a road traffic accident.
Gas safety
We discuss our performance relating to consumer gas safety in the Gas Distribution section.