- Essential gas mains replacement projects to re-start
- Extra safeguards in place to protect customers and colleagues from Covid-19
- Initial three-month programme to be monitored and assessed
As the UK gradually eases lockdown restrictions, energy networks like Cadent will play a key role in helping the economy to get back on its feet, as well as continuing to support the NHS and other critical public services.
Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, Cadent staff have been working around the clock. Their efforts have kept over 11 million customers safe and warm, fuelled schools and hospitals, powered factories making essential supplies and supplied hot water to clean hands and surfaces.
This week the company will begin to carefully reinstate its construction programme, renewing the pipes that keep the gas flowing – but with added safeguards to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
During lockdown, gas mains replacement was pared back to only critical work and those projects that required no or minimal contact with the public. This week will see projects begin that may require colleagues to enter people’s homes for brief periods.
There will be an initial three-month programme, which will be monitored and assessed and will take account of customer feedback.
Chief Operating Officer Howard Forster said: “Safety is at the heart of everything we do and it is safety that underpins our gas mains replacement programme.
“Every year we replace some 1800 kilometres of pipes, as they reach the end of their working lives, so that we can make sure that gas safely reaches our 11 million customers, including the most vulnerable.
“People’s safety is our prime concern. In line with government guidance on Covid-19, we have put a series of measures in place to protect customers and colleagues as we restart our gas mains programme.
For more information please go to our dedicated webpage.”
Before gas mains replacement work starts, householders will be contacted by Cadent customer liaison officers, who will discuss any concerns or special needs they may have.
Where colleagues need to enter people’s homes to check that gas is flowing safely to their appliances, they will be wearing appropriate protective clothing to keep those living there safe.
They will ask householders to stay in a separate room and will wipe down any surfaces they have touched before leaving the property.
Colleagues will observe social distancing. Where work tasks need colleagues to work more closely together, contact will be kept to a minimum, they will wear the appropriate PPE for the task and follow good hygiene rules.
ENDS