Wales & West Utilities has once again proven it’s one of the top ranked utilities for health and safety after receiving a 100 per cent score for the second year running in its Achilles accreditation.
The company, which runs the gas distribution network across Wales and the south west of England, received the score confirming it is working to the highest standards in the health and safety arena. Achilles carried out the independent audit of the company’s management systems and the delivery of them in the field and deemed procedures at such a high standard to give a perfect 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, with buyers making decisions based on a supplier’s performance as judged by the Achilles audit. The two-day assessment by the reputed Group checked that all procedures were in place and robust enough to deal with any incident.
The assessor also visited the company’s Newport Stores to confirm the practical use of such policies and procedures.
Steve Hanman, Commercial Manager for Operations at Wales & West Utilities, was one of the team involved in the assessment. He said:
“We are delighted to have, once again, been awarded the top score for the reputed assessment. Safety is our top priority, and working within the utility sector, we are committed to exceeding health and safety standards.
“We use every Achilles assessment as a learning curve as we are always looking for ways to improve standards for our customers and our colleagues. Having this annual endorsement from Achilles is vital to us – without it we couldn’t operate in the commercial area and it’s something we expect from our suppliers.”
Achilles Auditor, Jamie Gibbons, said:
‘‘Wales and West Utilities set a requirement that contractors working on their behalf must achieve the Achilles Verify standard. What better way to demonstrate professionalism and commitment to Health and Safety, Quality, and the Environment, than by achieving perfect scores across all three disciplines.’’
Wales & West Utilities, the gas emergency and pipeline service, brings energy to 7.5m people across Wales and the south west of England. 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 replacement programme which began in 2002. Old metal pipes within 30 metres of buildings are being replaced 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.