Health, Safety & Environment

Environment continued

Health, Safety & Environment

Safety is one of our core Values: ‘We do everything safely and responsibly or not at all – nothing is more important than the safety of the public, our customers and our people.’

Following the unprecedented challenges presented by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic last year, our activities have again been affected by COVID-19 and Government restrictions. The Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Team, in particular, along with Human Resources (HR), has ensured we not only complied with Government guidance, but went above and beyond what was required to minimise the risks posed by COVID-19 to our employees, contractors, visitors and members of the public.

For example, a significant proportion of the works to install a new 75MVA 90/33 kV transformer at La Collette were carried out by off-Island contractors. In addition to adhering to the restrictions and conditions on entry to the Island, we implemented further stringent working practices, including the establishment of a work team bubble, and separate mess facilities to further protect our people and the public at large while ensuring work proceeded.

Action to mitigate risk

We have always followed a ‘risk-based’ process to HSE. We address new and revised legislation and adapt to operational environments as we have with COVID-19. We ensure all employees are fully competent in the work we ask them to do and, importantly, that they recognise their own limits of competency. We also expect them to proactively identify hazards through regular risk assessments and take action to mitigate the risks associated with those hazards in their day-to-day work.

Technology is also beginning to play a bigger part in HSE as we further utilise Office 365. This year saw the launch of our Site Inspection App which enables a more systematic approach to capturing and monitoring HSE trends, allowing better reporting and identifying of opportunities for improvement. We have also increased the number of site inspections of all areas of JE conducted by all levels of management to continue to promote a positive and open HSE culture throughout the business.

Culture for safe working

We have a vigorous Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSMS), in place which we continue to develop to meet the latest ISO standards. Safety Representatives support our dedicated HSE team throughout the business and do much to create a distinctive and constructive culture for safe working among colleagues, contractors and the public.

We also recognise the importance of good mental as well as physical health. Our HSE Team, working with HR and our team of 11 Mental Health First Aiders have continued to be vigilant and ready to help colleagues suffering anxiety or other signs of mental stress as COVID-19 has continued to affect our lives.

Externally, and as the Island’s respected authority on electricity and energy, we have continued to work closely with the Health and Safety Inspectorate (HSI) and Jersey Construction Council (JeCC) to reinforce key safety messages to the community at large.

We achieved the renewal of the Government of Jersey’s Eco Active Leader status for 2021 and underwent another British Safety Council Five Star Environmental audit at year end. We have also created an Environment and Sustainability Committee consisting of representatives from across the business to develop our sustainability strategy and provide oversight of environmental and sustainability initiatives across JE.

Lost Time Injuries

We have traditionally recorded Lost Time Accidents (LTAs) in this report as anaccidentthat resultsin the injured person being away from work or unable todo their normal workfor more thanthree days – in line with historical industry standards. This year, to align LTA reporting with that of our internal HSE Committees and Board Report, the Executive Leadership Team has agreed to standardise LTA reports as Lost Time Injuries (LTIs) that result in an injured person being away from work or unable todo their normal workfor one or more days, excluding the day of the accident. This year we had two LTIs and ten days lost under this revised definition, and we have restated the number of LTIs, and the number of days lost for the previous four years.

Year

2017

Lost Time Injuries Days Lost

1 1

2018 3 9

2019 1 4

2020

2021 1 7

2 10