MEDIA RELEASE: 15 | 05 | 2019

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Pictured, from the left: Kelly Hansford, winner of the RoSPA Influencer Inspiration Award, Andy Brierley, winner of the RoSPA Distinguished Service Inspiration Award, and Jack Gale, winner of the RoSPA Pride Inspiration Award.

Three colleagues each win individual RoSPA awards for inspirational safety

Three colleagues working for drainage and utility specialist Lanes Group plc have each won national awards for their inspirational dedication to the health and safety of others, including saving the life of a baby.

Jack Gale, Kelly Hansford, and Andy Brierley have won RoSPA Inspiration Awards which recognise the exceptional contribution that individuals make to occupational health and safety.

Lanes Group Director Andy Brierley has won a RoSPA Distinguished Service Award, which is given to safety professionals or campaigners who make a sustained and long-term contribution to health and safety.

He said: "I am humbled and honoured to receive this award. I'm super-passionate about health and safety, but it's made real by the hundreds of people in our organisation who also live and breathe it every day.

"I'm particularly pleased for Jack and Kelly who have made a real and direct difference to the safety and wellbeing of others, and not just work colleagues, over the last year."

All three colleagues work for Lanes Utilities, which is responsible for surveying, cleaning, unblocking and repairing drains, sewers and wet wells for Thames Water.

Jack Gale has been awarded the RoSPA Inspiration Pride Award which recognises ‘acts of heroism' in a life-threatening situation, while campaigning for health and safety, or when selflessly helping others.

The wastewater engineer, aged 22, saved the life of a one-year-old baby boy who had stopped breathing. The lifeless child had been carried into the street by his distraught mother.

Jack, a former British Army battlefield medic, with experience in Afghanistan, took the correct emergency action needed to revive the baby, who made a full recovery.

He said: "It feels great to be recognised for helping others. With the right training, other people could have done what I did. I hope this shows the value of getting first aid skills through work. If have the chance to get first aid training, I'd say take it."

Kelly Hansford is to receive the Influencer Inspiration Award, which recognises individuals who have made the biggest impact on health and safety in the previous 12 months.

She is both a mental health practitioner and a trauma risk practitioner who works on a pioneering Lanes initiative to support the wellbeing of colleagues.

A wellbeing app monitors employee happiness and puts Kelly in touch with individuals who want help with any problems.

At any one time she is supporting around 40 colleagues with issues that include mental illness, personal debt and family disputes. She is also helping to develop a support network of voluntary groups.

Kelly said: "It's fantastic to be given such a wonderful award. It wouldn't be possible if Lanes wasn't so forward thinking. I work with lots of people who are very committed to building strong and caring teams. We all need help at different times in our lives."

Andy Brierley is the lead director of Lanes Utilities, which employs 1,400 people, and carries out 1,400 jobs for Thames Water every day. He is also chair of water company's health and safety leadership team.

Since Lanes started working with Thames Water in 2012, he has devised, inspired and championed a string of pioneering and award-winning health and safety initiatives.

This includes the introduction in 2018 of the world's first 360-degree video training theatre with virtual reality capability, allowing groups to interact together during highly-immersive safety training.

Lanes Utilities' focus on health and safety has contributed to its accident frequency rate falling to zero at the end of 2018, the illness frequency rate falling by 30% and employment churn falling by 57%.

Lanes Group:www.lanesfordrains.co.uk

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PR Contact:Andy Comber
Telephone: 01952 883526
Mobile: 07889 630440
Email: ac@matm.co.uk

About Lanes Group

Lanes Group plc is a national wastewater and drainage solutions provider. It sits at the heart of the drainage industry in the UK and Ireland, and is serious about delivering excellence in service, safety and innovation.

The company has a network of 32 depots and strategic utility hubs, providing high quality utility, drainage, and maintenance services for commercial, public sector and domestic customers.

Its services include CCTV drainage surveys, drain and sewer cleaning and unblocking, sewer excavation and repair, sewer lining, wet well and tank emptying, industrial cleaning, tankering and professional services. 

Key market sectors are water utilities, construction, energy, rail, highways, insurance and commercial maintenance.