OREANDA-NEWS. SSE’s specialist lighting team recently picked up a top award for a health and safety initiative which has even been adopted by its clients.

SSE Enterprise Lighting Services won the award for Best Health and Safety Initiative at this year’s Electrical Contractors Association (ECA) Annual Awards in London. It was the first time this particular award category has been introduced.

In 2013 the team, which sits within the SSE Enterprise Contracting division, recognised that a device they had been using to identify if a damaged lighting column was live or not had some limitations. While it was essentially safe the device had a limited testing range, it was difficult to see the indicators in bright sunlight, and the operator needed to remove their safety gloves in order to use it.

The team then explored the possibility of using an ‘off the shelf’ alternative but those assessed also fell short of their requirements. However rather than make do with a testing device they had already identified as limited, the team approached and subsequently worked with a manufacturer to design a new device which has been so successful it been produced, rolled out across SSE and even used by some of the team’s local authority PFI clients.

Andy Marcham, Regional Director for SSE Enterprise Lighting Services, explained: “We are extremely pleased with the new device, which has both audible and brighter visual indicators for use in all conditions, a wider testing range and does not require staff to remove their gloves to operate it which essentially made them a part of the electrical circuit.

“Local authorities have also adopted and rolled the device out to their own staff, having been impressed with the innovative and collaborative way we worked with the manufacturers. The effort made by the Lighting Services team has benefited the safety of people beyond our own workforce and is well deserving of this award.”

ECA Group Chief Executive Steve Bratt said: “In our industry safety is paramount and we introduced this award this year to recognise companies who go the extra mile to improve the situation in the industry. SSE's new voltage and phase tester has already been deployed by its first public sector client and has the potential for wider adoption. Congratulations to SSE for winning this award and for helping to make our industry safer.”