Case Study
Safety Culture Evaluation for the Energy Networks Association
The Client
The Energy Networks Association (ENA)
is the industry body for UK energy transmission and distribution
organisations. It acts in the interest of the energy 'wires and
pipes' sectors to achieve excellence in both its internal services
and relationships with stakeholders. One of ENA's overriding goals
is to enable its members' networks to be the safest, most reliable,
most efficient and sustainable in the world.
The Problem
A number of incidents over recent years
suggested that experienced, highly trained workers were allowing
themselves to be exposed to unnecessary levels of risk whilst
working with live electricity. In light of this, ENA's Safety,
Health and Environment (SHE) Committee took the decision to
commission independent research to gain a greater understanding of
the underlying behavioural and safety culture within the
electricity networks sector. HSL was selected to perform this
work.
What We Did
In partnership with HSL, ENA selected 2 member organisations to
act as 
representatives
for the networks industry. Experts from HSL's Work Psychology team
worked directly with these companies to conduct both focus groups
and structured one-to-one interviews. These encompassed a range of
individuals from across the member organisation's workforce, and
focused on specific areas which had been identified as particularly
relevant:
- Understanding the hazards
- Competence and training
- Roles and responsibilities
- Procedures
-
Supervision
- Resources
- Management Commitment
- Supervision
- Resources
Outcome/Benefits
A comprehensive report of the findings
was produced for the benefit of both the ENA SHE committee and the
ENA member. The results of the research reported on the
perceptions, opinions, and understandings of the individuals and
groups who were interviewed. This information has directly informed
the new 5 year health and safety strategy for the electricity
industry 'Powering Improvement'. Furthermore, building on the
findings, the SHE Committee has agreed to develop a suite of
guidance documents defining the key issues that need to be
addressed to secure compliance and ensure that risks are adequately
managed.
Downloadable pdf of case study
"The project carried out by HSL has provided ENA with a useful indication of the prevalent safety climate within the networks
industry in the UK. In a number of areas the work helped to confirm what we previously believed, and gave us an evidence
base which has directly fed into our new 5-year strategy"
Peter Coyle, Operations Director at ENA
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