Welcome to Cleveland Search & Rescue Team

Safety Reward Aids Search and Rescue Team

26 Jan 10

The Cleveland Search and Rescue Team is £500 better off thanks to the safety achievements of teams at Corus Teesside Power and Energy Department.

More than 100 people played their part in ensuring that the power teams reached a milestone of one year without a lost time injury (LTI). Team members nominated charities to receive a share of a £1000 safety achievement reward.

The Cleveland Search and Rescue Team (CSRT) was nominated for the LTI award by Gas Safety Officer, John Bollands, in memory of Glenn Smith, a member of the gas safety department who died tragically in 2009. The CSRT has received a donation of £500 and the remaining £500 is going to Brain Tumour UK.

Representatives of the CSRT visited Corus Teesside towards the end of last year to pick up their cheque and to talk about their work. Power station safety representatives were told that 2009 had been the rescue team’s busiest year in its 44-year history, with 43 incidents to date.

The CSRT’s ability to respond to incidents is the result of a rigorous training regime which requires team members to train every Wednesday evening and on five full weekends every year. But the commitment doesn’t end there. The team receives no official funding and is reliant on donations and fund-raising activity.

The CSRT is currently undertaking a major challenge to raise £150,000 to refurbish its base near Great Ayton. The rescue team leader, Rob Johnson, said: “The refurbishment of our base and training facilities is a key factor in investing in the future of the team. This will enable us to continually improve and up-date our skills so that we can continue to serve the local and, not so local, community and provide the same professional approach to search and rescue over the next 44 years.

“This award from Corus will go into the team’s base refurbishment fund.” Manufacturing Manager at Redcar Power Station, Mike Brooks, was one of the Corus representatives at the cheque presentation event. He paid tribute to everyone in the Power and Energy teams who had helped to ensure the LTI award. Mike said: “Everyone takes safety very seriously. It’s been a team effort and it’s notable that the one year LTI-free was achieved in a period when there were major overhauls of boilers and turbines.

“We have well-established safety routines and we maintain a high standard of housekeeping and carry out regular safety audits.”

Corus present cheque

Pictured left to right following the presentation of a cheque for £500 to the Cleveland Search and Rescue Team (CSRT) are: Corus Safety Rep, Steve Murray; Jason Armstrong and Dave Griffiths of the CSRT; Redcar Power Station Manufacturing Manager, Mike Brooks; CSRT members Barry Warrington and John Bollands who also works for Corus; Corus Safety Rep, Marty Blane, and Paul Bell of the CSRT.