BBUS Wins NJUG World Class Award for the Second Consecutive Year

08 December 2009

Left: BBUS representatives receive the Award alongside NJUG CEO Les Guest (left) and Louise Ellman MP (right)

Company recognised for approach to ZERO HARM

Balfour Beatty Utility Solutions has received the prestigious NJUG World Class Award - for the second year in succession. BBUS received the award for its submission 'Our approach to ZERO HARM', which showcased what the business has accomplished in the past twelve months toward realising its ZERO HARM vision.

The award was presented during a reception at the House of Commons on December 1st and winners were congratulated by keynote speaker Sadiq Kahn MP, Minister for Transport. Hosting the event was Louise Ellman MP, Chair of the Transport Select Committee, and awards were given to utility companies and contractors who had best demonstrated their delivery of one or more of the objectives of the NJUG Vision for Street Works.

The BBUS submission outlined the business' innovative response to Balfour Beatty Group's ZERO HARM initiative, which facilitated employee engagement across the company and has already produced some notable first successes. This approach centred on a logistically demanding roadshow programme where BBUS launched ZERO HARM to over 5,500 employees with shows that mixed presentation, audiovisuals and live performance. The entry also showcased the structure BBUS has in place for the next stage of the ZERO HARM journey, which includes a Board level Steering Group, a Central Coordination Team, numerous Regional Working Groups and groups devoted to Competency and PPE.

The first successes illustrated in the winning submission include barrier foot improvements, a next generation barrier system concept, the adoption of GreenRoad technology in over 250 company vehicles, new quick hitches and the impact-minimising Excavation Template. All this combined to demonstrate that BBUS has made ZERO HARM an outright priority within the business.

Tom Lambert, BBUS' General Manager Streetworks and NJUG Performance Director, said: 'This recognition - our second consecutive success in the World Class category - clearly demonstrates BBUS' commitment to the NJUG Vision for Street Works. ZERO HARM is setting the benchmark for others across the industry to follow.'

Brent Mitchell, BBUS' Head of Support Services, said: 'The ZERO HARM team has worked tirelessly over the past twelve months and we are delighted to receive this recognition for our efforts. What the World Class Award demonstrates is that ZERO HARM has the potential to drive change within the industry. We have made some excellent progress in 2009 but we must continue to challenge our current processes if we are to achieve our vision by 2012 - and we still have a long way to go.'