AVANGRID has formal policies and procedures around health and safety in order to establish accountability. We also support a healthy and safe workplace by encouraging a culture of shared responsibility, starting with a firm commitment from the executive team and extending out to bargaining units, management, contractors and each individual employee.
SAFETY AS A CORE VALUE
In 2018, AVANGRID embarked on a major initiative across the company to instill a learning and improving safety culture. Rather than focusing
on individual safety incidents, we are creating a proactive safety culture that examines system and procedural weaknesses, and assigns targeted teams to identify sustainable solutions to protect employees. We create and leverage teachable moments with managers and employees on the journey toward a safety culture focused on learning and improving. Notably, the program seeks to involve everyone in proactively improving processes and mindsets, instead of simply reacting once incidents occur.
The entire AVANGRID organization must continually work to adapt and evolve within this culture of proactive safety. Each quarter, a campaign
is organized around themes that reflect the journey. From appreciating current strengths in the culture, to exploring what needs to change,
to adopting new ways of working in a learning and improving safety culture, we are comprehensively taking stock of what makes AVANGRID
a safe company.
Of course, changing the culture does not work without buy-in from the entire organization. To ensure incremental success, we deliver
these messages through a set of coordinated tactics intended to reach key stakeholders.
CERTIFICATIONS
The entire AVANGRID organization is now fully certified in the widely recognized OHSAS 18001 health and safety standards. Additionally,
Klamath Energy, part of Avangrid Renewables, maintains its Oregon OSHA Voluntary Protection Plan Star Certification, a hallmark that
recognizes effective implementation of safety and health management systems, and injury and illness rates below industry averages.
SPOTLIGHT ON ERGONOMICS IMPROVEMENT
In December 2018, United Illuminating underground crews deployed a device called a cable glider that allows workers to install underground services without having to pull wire by hand. A custom dolly makes the device easy to transport. Employing equipment like this in the field contributes to reducing soft tissue injuries and making AVANGRID a safer place to work.
