Nationwide Access has signed a three year agreement with National Grid to supply powered access units to all their sites.

Gary Collier, from National Grid's Network Services procurement, said: "We needed to find contractors who could provide a consistent service across the country within reasonable timescales and who could meet our high safety standards.

"We have worked closely with Nationwide Access to ensure that the safety specifications, especially earthing, have been designed to the highest standards, to protect those working near live equipment."

Safety in all aspects of its operations is high on the agenda for National Grid, and the new specifications for the platforms have been drawn together by a team from the company's access platform working group, health and safety and engineering.

Procurement manager Chris Troy added: "We now have access to some of the very latest equipment, which we know is built to the highest safety specifications. At the same time, we benefit from using a single contractor across all our sites."

Nationwide Access will be supplying National Grid with boom lifts, scissor lifts and truck-mounted Skylift units, for use near substations and overhead lines.

Nationwide Access director Mike Evans said: "National Grid are a major client for Nationwide Access. As well as supplying powered access units for hire, we will also offer the facility to sell them equipment and carry out their training if necessary."

END

Issued by Phoenix Public Relations (01482) 219898.