Life Saving Commitments
Thames Water is an organisation that learns from incidents so we can prevent reoccurrence and further reduce risk of injury to those working with us. Our Lifesaving Commitments have been created using the lessons learnt from incidents which have occurred in the past. We will always strive to reinforce our Triple Zero vision of Zero Harm, Zero Incidents and Zero Compromise, our Lifesaving Commitments are a reflection of this ethos.
To ensure your teams are aware of the importance of these commitments, we will provide you with a pack of information to help you promote discussion and can be used as posters, an introduction video created by your peers and teams across Capital Delivery with a personal view of why the Life Saving Commitments are so important to them and learning from previous incidents for each topic that can be communicated to your teams over a few days.
The six Lifesaving commitments will be rolled out over the next 12 months and all of the information you need will be available on the H&S Hub for ease of access and future reference.
PPE
We will ALWAYS wear the correct PPE for the task. Wear it properly and maintain or replace it as necessary.
Workplace risks must be mitigated by implementing control measures, but as an extra precaution, companies must also provide employees with appropriate PPE. PPE must be supplied free of charge by the employer to the employee.
Work Regulations 1992 state that PPE must be supplied and used at work wherever there are risks to health and safety that cannot be adequately controlled in other ways.
It also states PPE must be:
• Suitable for task and identified risks
• Compatible with other PPE
• Comfortable for the user
• Must comply with British Standards
Please download the document to the right which contains more information about our PPE life Saving Commitment.
Making the Commitment - PPE
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Stored Energy Hazards
We ALWAYS treat all stored energy systems with great caution particulaly when pressure testing.
Thames Water and its Partner organisations carry out thousands of activities each year that may have hazards from stored energy. These are often present in tasks when we are upgrading, installing, testing or repairing our assets. Hazards associated with these activities can cause harm to our colleagues and customers.
There are many examples of stored energy hazards across our working environments, but not limited to; mechanical systems i.e. rotating blades or springs/ coils of wire under tension, pressurised steam or waste/ water systems, hydraulic hoses used in lifting or excavation activities, pneumatic systems used with airlance’s or breakers, pipework and vessels holding fluids or gases, electrical systems such as capacitors.
• Pressurised Systems
• Confined Spaces
• Electrical and Hydraulic systems
Please download the document to the right which contains more information about Plant Stability and Safety.
Making the Commitment - Stored Energy Hazards
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Learning Bulletin 1 - Stored Energy Fatality Non TW
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Learning Bulletin 2 - Stored Energy HiPo Near Miss
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Learning Bulletin 3 - Stored Energy Isolation Near Miss
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Learning Bulletin 4 - Stored Energy Joint Failure UPVC Pressure Test Non TW
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Poster - Stored Energy
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High Hazard Services
We ONLY work around live high hazard services if we have exhausted all possibilities to remove the risk.
Working around High Hazard Services kills or seriously injures people every year, either from hitting a service or working on site assets. All breaking ground activities and working on any site high risk assets (shallow, deep and over gound etc) must be properly planned, designed, managed and supervised to prevent incidents.
You should:
• Design and plan work to prevent any breaking ground and / or working around live services where possible
• Clearly scope works and ensure the location of any known service is marked up
• State what the requirements are for management and supervision levels of work near to services
• Define / establish communication channels for designerrs and supply chain
• Outline change and ensure you follow the management of change process
• Understand the responsibilities and coordination for management of information for over / underground services
Please download the document to the right which contains more information about High Hazard Services.
Making the Commitment - High Hazard Services
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Learning Bulletin 1 - High Voltage Electrical Strike
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Learning Bulletin 2 - Unsafe working on electrical asset
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Aide Memoire - working near overhead cables
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Learning Bulletin 3 - Burst GRP Main in Excavation
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Poster - Overhead Power Line Safety
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Plant Stability and Safety
We ONLY use plant that is fit for purpose, in good condition, set up safely and operated by competent people.
Thames Water and it’s Partners carry out thousands of activities requiring the use of plant on our sites and assets each year. It is important that the right choice of plant is made for the task in hand and the operator has had the relevant training and experience to operate the plant safely.
Key issues are:
• Correct choice of plant
• Trained and competent operators
• Knowing your machine limits
Please download the document to the right which contains more information about Plant Stability and Safety.
Making the Commitment - Plant Stability and Safety
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Learning Bulletin 1 - Member of Public falling
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Learning Bulletin 2 - Member of Public fatality
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People Plant Interface
We ALWAYS segregate our plant and our people by observing plant safety zones and only approaching plant once the operator has seen us.
Thames Water and its Partners carry out thousands of activities each year; construction, streetworks, tankering and deliveries. Hazards associated with these activities can cause risks to our colleagues and customers.
People / Plant Interface is recognised as one of the key fatal risks within construction and features in most sites top 5 safety risks.
Key issues are:
• Hierarchy of Control
• Competence
• Suitable and Sufficient Safe Working Zones.
Please download the document to the right which contains more information about People Plant Interface.
Public Protection
We ALWAYS ensure that the public are protected by barriers that are strong, safe, secure and childproof.
Thames Water and its Partners carry out thousands of activities each year, construction, streetworks, tankering and deliveries. Hazards associated with these activities can cause risks to our customers.
In the UK every year, children and other members of the public are killed or injured by work activities that are not adequately controlled.
Please download the document to the right which contains more information about Protecting the Public.
Making the Commitment - Public Protection
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Schools Education - Safety at Roadworks
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Learning Bulletin 1 - Member of Public falling
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Learning Bulletin 2 - Member of Public fatality
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Learning Bulletin 3 - Member of Public undermining structures
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Learning Bulletin 4 - Member of Public Laceration
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