Drax Power has been awarded the maximum five stars in the British Safety Council’s Five Star Occupational Health and Safety Audit, and achieved a near perfect score. The audit, which was carried out by the British Safety Council, is a rigorous evaluation of the power station’s occupational health and safety management system, set against a worldwide benchmark.
Jon Clough, Head of Safety and Environment, Drax Power, explained what was involved:
“During the five day audit, auditors reviewed our safety management systems, interviewed colleagues and took a site tour and inspection to get a comprehensive picture of our health and safety culture.
“We were measured and scored against compliance with our policies and procedures and implementation in the work place. To achieve a five star award, it is necessary to score 92% or more. We scored 97.4%, highlighting how high our standards are, even against a global benchmark.
“This was our first audit, making the achievement all the more impressive.”
Andy Koss, Chief Executive for Drax Power said: “Safety is our number one priority – nothing is more important. Being awarded five stars is recognition that our standards and safety practices are among the very best. We can be proud of this achievement, but safety requires continuous vigilance and the commitment of everyone across the site.”
As five star winners, Drax Power will be eligible to apply for the coveted ‘Sword of Honour’ award which recognises the very best in health and safety management.
About Drax Group plc
Drax’s principal activities are electricity production, electricity sales to business customers, and processing sustainable biomass for use in electricity production. With carbon abatement central to the business strategy, the Group is transforming itself into a predominantly biomass-fuelled power provider through burning sustainable biomass in place of coal and providing the UK with cost effective, low carbon, and reliable renewable power.
The Group owns and operates the largest power station in the UK, typically responsible for supplying some 7-8% of the UK’s electricity. Upstream the Group has a presence in the US focused on developing wood pellet plants for the self-supply of some of its sustainable biomass requirements. At the other end of the supply chain, the Group’s retail arm, Haven Power, serves the electricity needs of a growing number of business customers.
For more information please contact:
Andrew Brown, Drax +44 (0) 1757 612165
