Gas Networks Ireland’s Design Safety Management System has been shortlisted for the international Institution of Gas Engineers and Managers (IGEM) and the Energy and Utilities Alliance (EUA) Gas Industry ‘Safety Award’.

Purpose-built to ensure compliance with regulations in Ireland, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and the UK, the system centres on a principles-based approach to design safety that aims to exceed regulatory requirements.

It is built around a nine-task framework that equips Gas Networks Ireland’s project teams with the tools, techniques and training to deliver compliance in practice, as well as take a preventative approach to safety and embed safety throughout the organisation.

Paul O’Brien, Design Services Manager at Gas Networks Ireland said: “Ireland’s gas network is considered one of the safest and most modern in Europe. As guardians of Ireland’s gas infrastructure, we put safety at the heart of everything we do, and our design process facilitates a ‘safe by design’ approach.

“Our bespoke design safety framework helped foster an even stronger ‘safe by design’ culture within the organisation, focusing on mitigating risk during the design process to help prevent accidents during construction, maintenance and operation. We haven’t had a staff lost time accident in over 12 months.”

Now in their 21st year, the annual Gas Industry Awards will recognise the best and most innovative projects in the industry virtually on May 18^th, 2021.  Gas Networks Ireland is shortlisted for the safety award alongside Wales & West Utilities and Balfour Beatty.

Gas Networks Ireland is no stranger to accolades for its approach to safety, having won the “Health and Safety Initiative of the Year” award for its safety hazard reporting app at the Networks Awards 2020. Its Dial Before You Dig service, which provides information and maps on underground gas pipes enabling safe excavation works, won the 2020 Esri Ireland Sharing & Collaboration Customer Success Award and was also a finalist in the Networks Awards ‘Gamechanger’ category.

Gas Networks Ireland promotes public safety through its gas escapes emergency service, carbon monoxide awareness, dial before your dig, meter tampering, and using a registered gas installer campaigns.