Safety good for people, planet and profit

People, planet, profit was the theme at the Integral Energy e-safe Energy Safety and Field Expo gala dinner.

Richard Powis, Integral's CEO, set the theme by emphasising the company's aim for zero workplace injuries and accidents. He went further, explaining that while Integral has 2700 employees, the effect of workplace accidents is multiplied as the impact on the families involved in an incident is factored into the equation.

e-safe is the NSW energy industry's annual safety event. Country Energy, Energy Australia and Integral Energy each host the event in turn for two years. This year and next it is Integral's turn and the company has elected to protect the planet as well as its people by making the event carbon neutral.

Maurice Overy from the NSW Electricity Supply Industry Safety Steering Committee (ISSC) spoke briefly on behalf of the industry, congratulating it for the development of a national outcomes-based electrical safety code and for improving its safety record by 80% over the last decade: loss of time due to workplace accidents was once up to 40% and is now down to 3"5%.

Vince Asdagi, senior leader DuPont Safety Resources Asia Pacific, was the guest speaker for the evening. His message was "Safety is good business'. Asdagi outlined the company's attitude to safety, environmental stewardship and leadership.

The company believes that good leadership is essential if a company is to develop a culture of safety. Furthermore, a culture of safety and environmental stewardship affects companies positively and leads to improved profitability on top of the obvious benefits to its people and the planet.