Guernsey Electricity works with St John to ensure staff safety

Dozens of employees from Guernsey Electricity are receiving specialist training from St John Training Services to help reduce the risk of injury and strain

Guernsey Electricity has signed a three-year contract with the training provider, which puts all income it receives into supporting St John in the Bailiwick and the community at large.

So far 105 employees have received training on first aid and moving and handling.

‘At Guernsey Electricity we place great importance on the health and safety of our employees. Lifting and handling forms a large part of what we do; this ranges from delivery and warehouse employees moving TVs and fridges to the engineers moving and lifting engines and parts for the giant diesel generators. Surprisingly one of the heaviest things they move and handle are the heating blocks for storage heaters,’ said Alan Bates, chief executive of Guernsey Electricity.

‘The fact that all of the income St John Training Services receives goes to support the local ambulance and rescue service makes this an exciting opportunity for both parties.’

St John Training Services Guernsey is the Bailiwick’s leading provider of first aid training. Formed in 2005 as collaboration between St John Ambulance Guernsey and the St John Ambulance and Rescue Service, its professional trainers are qualified to the highest standards to teach life-saving and health and safety skills. They are drawn from members of the community including the emergency services, health and teaching professions.

Fiona Naftel, chair of training services for St John, said: ‘This half-day moving and handling course provides delegates with important information about the causes of back pain, basic to complex positions and movements for handling objects and manual handling regulations. We have also looked at risk assessment and spinal anatomy.

‘It’s great to see large local companies like Guernsey Electricity committing to providing employees with the basic health and safety training that can prove so important, especially in higher risk professions.’