Mark Madigan
Group Head of Safety, Health and Environment, ESB
Irish electricity company highlights safety, health and wellbeing in the workplace, promoting innovative ways to bring safety culture to life.
For Irish electricity company ESB, safety, health and wellbeing are more than just regulatory requirements. Mark Madigan, Group Head – Safety Health and Environment, explains, “They’re at the heart of everything we do — fundamental to our strategy to deliver a net zero, future-focused electricity system.”
“While safety, health and wellbeing have always been central to our strategy since ESB was founded in 1927, technological advancement, evolving legislative requirements and emerging hazards and risks require us to take a dynamic approach. We’re constantly updating and challenging our accredited Safety Management System to ensure our staff, approved contractors and the public remain safe, supported and empowered,” explains Madigan.
With over 9,500 direct employees working across diverse work programmes and workplaces, a responsive approach is key. “Regular staff surveys include questions about employee safety, health and wellbeing, allowing us to remain agile as the needs of staff evolve,” says Madigan.
supporting over 430 trained Mental Health First Aiders
Policies guided by core values
Four intrinsic values guide the company: Caring, Driven, Trusted and Courageous. “We care for our people to ensure they feel valued and supported; we’re driven to continually improve processes; trusted to protect and care for our staff, approved contractors and the public; and courageous in intervening when safety risks arise,” says Madigan.
These values guide behaviour, while informing broader initiatives like their award-winning inclusive apprenticeship schemes. “Female participation within our apprenticeship schemes has reached 26% this year, which we’re very proud of and continue to promote,” highlights Madigan.
Promoting safety culture
Their commitment to safety culture can be seen in wellbeing events throughout the year and initiatives supporting over 430 trained Mental Health First Aiders, men’s health initiatives and menopause support programmes. Moreover, for over 50 years, an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) has provided confidential help and support to staff and their families.
Health and wellbeing campaigns run alongside national and global initiatives to promote important areas such as road safety, mental health or healthy eating and being active. An internal incident management system enables the identification and response to emerging trends and ensures tailored initiatives are quickly set up to support the needs of an evolving workforce. This serves the company’s goal of delivering a clean energy future, as Madigan concludes, “Working for ESB means driving the safe transition to net zero — empowering communities to live more sustainably and safeguarding our planet for generations to come.”
