14 October 2004

COOLKEERAGH ESB MARKS EUROPEAN SAFETY WEEK

Coolkeeragh ESB is marking European safety week with a programme of on site events, launched today ( 14 October 2004 ) by Dave O'Dwyer General Manager of Coolkeeragh ESB and Johann Lassman, Vatech project manager.

European safety week runs from 18 to 22 October and this year's focus is on the construction industry with the theme "Building in Safety".

During the 27 month construction programme of Coolkeeragh ESB 400MW power station, on which major work is now complete and commissioning has begun, an on-site safety record five times greater than the national ( UK ) average was achieved.

According to Dave O'Dwyer, this is a result of a comprehensive safety programme implemented last year to maximise awareness of all workers on the project to safety issues and safe work practices.

"There are still approximately 350 people working on site from a peak of 700. The aim of Coolkeeragh ESB and its contractors GE/VATech during European Safety Week is to highlight the standard of safety that has been achieved on the project and to recognise the contributions that have been made by all who have worked on the construction effort," said Dave.

"Many aspects of the existing company's Site Safety Improvement Plan, which was introduced earlier this year, will be expanded for the week with an overall goal of raising awareness of safety on the project.

"The on-site events to mark the week include safety quizzes, presentations and other schemes designed to promote the issue of safety. A tunnel will be erected at the pedestrian entrance to the construction area and this will form the focal point for the week. 'Five Times Better' signs will be erected on the entrances to the tunnel promoting the sites safety record highlighting the statistic that it is five times better than the national average. All working on the site will have to pass through the tunnel before entering the construction area and will be encouraged to take an active part in the safety week," concluded Dave.

Notes to Editors:

EU Safety week is held every year.

Every year around 1300 workers are killed in construction related accidents across the European Union.

ESB's participation in EU safety week includes a major conference on Health and Safety and a wide range of events across each of the company's business units.

ESB has also submitted entries for the 2004 EU safety awards - these entries cover many aspects of safe practice across the ESB group, both in Ireland and across the EU.

For further info rmation contact

Claire Aiken or Shane Finnegan

At Aiken PR Tel: 028 90 663000

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