The gas emergency and pipeline service keeps the gas flowing to homes and businesses across Wales and the south west of England and received the 100 per cent score as part of its annual Achilles accreditation – something that has not been matched by any other utility, to date.
The score confirms that the company is working to the highest standards in the health and safety arena, after Achilles carried out an independent audit of the company’s management systems and the delivery of them in the field. After a two-day audit, they deemed procedures at such a high standard that they awarded the 100 per cent score.
Achilles Group is an independent body that provides a service for professional procurement. It assesses suppliers for standards of capability, reliability, quality, safety and social responsibility. The Achilles score is valued throughout industry; particularly within utilities, and the two-day assessment by the reputed organisation checked that all procedures were in place and robust enough to deal with any incident.
Rob Long, Wales & West Utilities Director of Operations, said:
“We are absolutely delighted to be leading the utility sector in health and safety. At Wales & West Utilities safety is a top priority, and receiving this 100 per score for the fifth-year running is testament to the hard work our engineers do.
“We’re committed to raising the bar on safety standards for customers and colleagues alike, and are proud that Achilles endorses our efforts.”
Wales & West Utilities, the gas emergency and pipeline service, brings energy to 7.5m people across the south west of England and Wales. If anyone smells gas, thinks they have a gas leak, or suspects carbon monoxide poisoning, they should call us on 0800 111 999 and our engineers will be there to help, day or night.
The company also has a multi-million pound, 30-year gas pipe investment programme which began in 2002. Old metal pipes within 30 metres of buildings are being upgraded with new long-lasting plastic pipes with a lifespan of more than 80 years, to make sure homes and businesses continue to receive a safe and reliable gas supply now and in the future.