We are proud of our ongoing intelligent collaborative partnership with Sapphire Utility Solutions and United Utilities under the Network Maintenance Services contract, looking at key areas such as Health and Safety, compliance, customer service, efficiency and sustainability.
Together we have developed a series of initiatives that are now being implemented or are in process. They include:
S.T.O.P. Cards
These cards have been developed as a quick reminder to our teams to Stop, Think, Observe and then Proceed. Simple reminders can be the most effective – helping keep everyone safe on site. They also offer a clear directive that everyone has the authority to stop work or behaviour that is unsafe.
HAVI Watch Trial
This clever piece of kit enables system administrators to gather vibration magnitude data via the HAVI app on our team’s phones. The HAVI itself is strapped onto the tool being used, and together they calculate our operatives HAVs exposure each day enabling us to better protect our teams from this risk.
License to Operate
This innovative scheme provides a clear framework for competency, experience, performance and behaviour. It provides a tiered structure of progression for our ancillary operatives while giving both businesses a clear view of how to support our teams, as well as a great opportunity to share best practice and knowledge across the contract.
Health, Safety and Wellbeing Calendar
This shared calendar of key health, safety and wellbeing touchpoints enables the two businesses to work together to raise key messages and keep our teams safe and well.
These initiatives are complemented by our collaborative leadership inspection schedule, handout packs and schedule of stand downs.
We are all proud to be working collaboratively
John Glover, Director of HSEQ at Sapphire Utility Solutions said;
“Sapphire have been proud to take part in an initiative with United Utilities and Network Plus which has realised the huge benefits of working collaboratively together as a single entity. We have seen consistency of Health and Safety messaging, measurement of performance and perhaps the most significant of all, the Licence to Operate scheme. This scheme, more than any other in the Waste Water theatre of operations, clearly defines what can be achieved when becoming one team delivering one contract in a professional, collegiate and structured manner whilst at the same time, providing a structured career pathway to all our personnel in each respective organisation.
We view this partnership as employee centric, customer aligned, and at the very cutting edge of Health, Safety, Quality and Environmental performance.”
Oliver Norris, Network Plus’ HSEQ lead for the contract said;
“We are really pleased to be working with Sapphire Utility Solutions and United Utilities on these important initiatives and proud of the success we have already seen as various schemes, such as the License to Operate, have been implemented.
The health, safety and wellbeing of our teams is of utmost importance to all three partners and it is great to see the results of such a positive collaboration.”
Lindsay Page, Water Network Business Manager at United Utilities said;
“Our collaborative partnership across United Utilities, Network Plus and Sapphire is going from strength to strength. Our joint initiatives focus on culture, relationships and learning with safety always at the heart. We have seen the consistent messages flow through all three areas, and this has seen improvements in our performance.
We are all playing our part to ensure every colleague goes home safe and well and it has been a pleasure to be part of this.”
Read more
