The Yorkshire Air Ambulance has benefited from funds raised through two safety initiatives undertaken at Drax Power Station.

Delivering zero recordable injuries, staff and contractors raised £4,000 through a scheme to encourage excellent safety performance during part of the construction of Drax’s new £80 million biomass co-firing facility.

The money raised through this initiative was boosted with a further £1,000 from a similar scheme applied to the whole Drax site during December.

Peter Emery, Drax production director said: “During large-scale projects we have hundreds of employees and contractors working together on site.

“Safety at work is always a top priority at Drax, but the sheer logistics and the number of people involved in the construction of the biomass co-firing plant mean that we have to focus very hard on safe working practices.

“These initiatives show a real commitment to safety all the way through the organisation, with the added benefit of helping a very worthwhile cause.”

Bob Smailes, regional fundraising manager at The Yorkshire Air Ambulance said: “The Yorkshire Air Ambulance relies solely on the generosity of individuals and sponsors to help save lives across the region and we are very grateful for the continued support of Drax.”

For more information, please contact:

Melanie Wedgbury/Rachael Hudson
Drax Power 01757 618381

Lisa McGauley/Richard Harrison
Imagen PR 01943 468778

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Notes to Editors

1. Drax Power Limited is the owner of Drax Power Station, the largest, cleanest and most efficient coal fired power station in the UK. The output capacity from the station’s six generators is 4,000MW. At current output levels it supplies some 7% of the UK’s electricity needs.

2. At Drax all injuries or accidents are recordable; they are defined as anything that causes harm to a person whether minor or major. At Drax recordable injuries are those ‘as per the requirements of RIDDOR 1995 (Reporting of Injuries, Disease and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations)’.

Left to right: Phil Woodall (biomass project section head, Drax), Bob Smailes (regional fundraising manager, YAA), Ed Clarke (safety advisor, Drax) and Gary Williams (outage and safety section head, Drax).