A safe, healthy and competent workforce is good for individuals and good for business. Building on a track record of successful health and safety initiatives, Powering Improvement is the industry's plan to be a world leader in this vital area by 2015.

The Electricity Industry launched its SAFELEC 2010 programme back in the year 2000 aiming to achieve a marked reduction in the number of days lost due to work-related injury and ill-health in line with Government targets. The final report was issued July 2010 and is available from the ENA website (www.energynetworks.org).

A further important factor that has helped to shape Powering Improvement is the HSE strategy "The Health and Safety of Great Britain: Be part of the solution" which we as an industry fully support. Powering Improvement will contribute to the delivery of the HSE strategy.

ENA and Energy UK Member Companies together with the industry's 4 recognised trade unions, namely GMB, Prospect, Unison and Unite, with the support of HSE, commit to work together to achieve the vision that the UK electricity industry will be a world leader in health and safety performance by 2015.

To achieve this vision:

  • We are committed to sharing best practice regarding the management of health and safety risks. This includes sharing lessons learned when things go wrong.
  • We are fully committed to addressing occupational health issues as well as safety ones.
  • Management will work closely with workers' representatives to ensure that all health and safety risks are adequately addressed.
  • Everyone in our industry from senior management to operational staff has a responsibility to look after their own – and their colleagues' – health and safety.

The following companies and trade unions have formally signed on to the strategy:

ENA Companies:

  • Northern Powergrid
  • UK Power Networks
  • Electricity North West Ltd
  • Inexus
  • National Grid
  • Northern Ireland Electricity
  • Scottish and Southern Energy
  • Scottish Power
  • Western Power Distribution

Energy UK Companies:

  • Centrica
  • Magnox
  • EDF
  • E.ON UK
  • Scottish Power
  • Welsh Power
  • Doosan Power
  • RWE
  • Manx Electricity
  • Drax Power
  • Eggborough Power

Trade Unions:

  • GMB
  • Prospect
  • Unison
  • Unite