5 Safety Essentials

To eradicate accidents, particularly serious and fatal ones, we must all adopt 5 Safety Essentials.

I know and apply the life saving rules

Eradicating serious and fatal accidents is an absolute priority for the ENGIE Group. Analysis of fatal accidents in the past has led to the following observation: a few simple rules which, if followed, would have prevented most serious and fatal accidents. 

These rules are known as the “Life Saving Rules”. There are 9 of them, and they are at the heart of the Group’s system for preventing serious and fatal accidents. Their objective is to save lives – those of Group employees, temporary workers and (sub)contractors carrying out activities on behalf of the Group. These 9 Life Saving Rules must be respected at all times, by everyone, everywhere. 

Be Hooked Up

Clip on your harness when working at height.

Step Aside

Stay out of the path of moving vehicles, plant and equipment

Check

Verify that there is no live energy (mechanical, chemical, electrical, fluids under pressure, etc.) before starting work.

Make Sure

Only enter a trench if the appropriate wall supports are in place.

Control

Test that the atmosphere is safe before entering a confined space and monitor it as you work.

Halt

Do not perform hot work until the fire or explosion risks have been eliminated.

Avoid

Do not walk or stand under a load.

Ban

Do not work under the influence of alcohol or drugs including driving.

Stop

Do not manipulate your phone or any other communication device while driving.

I do a last minute risk assessment before starting work

What is the Last Minute Risk Assessment?​One minute to check that all risks are under control before starting an activity​. 

  • I stop and observe: I inspect carefully the workplace and the surroundings​ 
  • I analyse the work to be done: what are the different tasks to be performed?​ 
  • I assess the risks: what are the risks related to the activity and the working environment? ​ 
  • I check that all the risks are controlled: can all the safety rules be respected?​ 
  • I carry out the task safety: I only start the work after I have made sure that all the safety conditions are met. 

I stop the work that I think is unsafe

Not as safe as it could be? Stop immediately.
Stop the work is your duty for everyone’s safety: yours, that of ENGIE employees or external companies. Raise the alert and ask the following questions: 

  • Why is it not safe? 
  • How should it be done? 
  • What actions need to be taken? 
  • When can work work resume safely?​ 

Note: There will be no negative consequence if you stop the work for safety reasons. It is better to make a mistake and wrongly stop an activity if you have a doubt than to let the accident happen. 

I report events and incidents in order to prevent the worst from happening

I report events and incidents, including HiPo, to learn from them and to prevent a more serious event happening in the future. HiPos are events that could have led to a serious or fatal accident. An HiPo can be, for instance (non exhaustive list) : 

  • A fall from height 
  • A fall of a heavy object 
  • An electrical arc 
  • An ignition or explosion 
  • Un incident in a confined space 
  • The collapse of a trench 

I am vigilant for my own safety and for everyone's safety

Shared vigilance is being vigilant for your own safety and for everyone’s safety whatever the status of that person (employee, (sub)contractor, temporary worker…) and whatever his/her hierarchical level or function. 

Alert someone if his or her safety seems threatened, and accept for myself, the vigilance of others. 

Document

Safety Essentials Booklet

Booklet of ENGIE’s Safety Essentials for every Group employee, (sub)contractor and temporary worker.

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