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How many people does it
take the National Grid keep us safe over Christmas?
IT'S not just Santa who was working
on Christmas Eve. Whilst many of us are made last minute plans, watching
Christmas TV and wrapping presents, National Grid engineers, had been
working around the clock make sure our gas supplies are safe over the
festive period.
Throughout the year, engineers are on hand day and night to tackle
potentially dangerous gas leaks. So, as we fire up our ovens to cook the
festive feast and enjoy all the traditional seasonal activities, safety
conscious National Grid is urging people to be extra alert to potential gas
leaks over the holidays.
It is estimated that around 63,300 calls will be made to the 24 hour
National Gas Emergency Service number:- 0800 111 101010; over the holiday
period. Over 2014 nearly 4,000 emergency calls were received from the North
West region.
So, while you had been enjoying the Christmas TV specials, here's an idea of
how busy the engineers where in 2014 and figures for 2015 will be far, far
higher:-
► During Doctor Who (1 hour), 1710 calls.
► Strictly Come Dancing (1 hour 15 minutes), 224 calls.
► Downton Abbey (2 hours), 358 calls.
Just before Christmas Eve, John Duckworth, head of operations in the North
West told us that:- "Our engineers play a vital role at this time of
year in making sure homes, shops and business have a safe and reliable gas
supply throughout the festive season. For us it's business as usual. Our
staff will be ready to answer calls and deal with any gas related problems
that might arise on Christmas Day just as they would on any other day of the
year."
The Call Centre team will be responding now to all event s over New Years
Eve and through out 2016, to calls of gas escapes and dispatching engineers.
If you smell gas follow these simple
safety steps:-
► Call the National Gas Emergency:- 0800 111 101010.
► Do not smoke or light matches.
► Do not turn electrical switches on or off.
► Open doors and windows.
Turn off the meter at the control valve unless the meter is in the
cellar.....
|
North West |
Call outs over Christmas 2014 |
|
Greater Manchester |
384 |
|
Manchester Centre |
340 |
|
Macclesfield |
344 |
|
Oldham |
261 |
|
Wirral |
156 |
|
Southport/Bootle |
225 |
|
Liverpool Centre |
1510 |
|
Garston |
1101 |
|
Ellesmere Port |
144 |
|
Crewe |
123 |
|
St Helens |
2810 |
|
Accrington |
202 |
|
Blackpool |
1104 |
|
Kirby Lonsdale |
123 |
|
Barrow in Furness |
68 |
|
Longbridge |
262 |
|
Horwich |
237 |
|
Wigan |
204 |
|
Total |
31,006 |
Where you or are you on call with the
National Grid? If you are, please let us know what you have been doing to
keep us with happy over Christmas, via emailing us to:-
News24@SouthportReporter.Com.
|
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Over 100,000 workers work on Christmas Day in the North West, TUC analysis reveals
AS many workplaces prepare to shut
down for the Christmas break, the TUC urged that every should to spare a
thought for the 10's of thousands of people who have been working in the
North West, on Christmas Day.
The TUC estimates; based on official statistics; that the number of
employees who will work on Friday, 25 December 2015, in the North West, is
likely have exceed 100,000, in 2015; an increase of 4,000 over the last 3
years (2012 2013 and 2014). This means that 1 in 32 people in the
North West are likely to have been on duty on Friday, compared to 1 in 47 in
London. Across the UK over 1000,000 employees are expected to have
work on Christmas Day. Where you one of them? If so please let
us know what you do and how long you had to work, via emailing our newsroom
at:-
News24@SouthportReporter.Com.
Care workers (168,000) and medical staff (152,000) account for a big share
of those working on Friday, 25 December 2015. In what is likely to be a busy
festive period for the NHS, 810,000 nurses, 46,000 nursing assistants and
17,000 doctors will all be on duty. And a large army of chefs
(42,000), kitchen assistants (22,000), waiting (15,000) and bar staff
(13,000) have been expected to have been working in hotels, pubs and
restaurants. In addition, 22,000 Police Officers and 28,000 Security Guards
are thought to have been at work. And 15,000 farm workers have had animals
and crops are being looked after. Plus many more, like those in the
Armed Forces!
Christmas Day services have also had 20,000 members of the clergy kept busy.
But it is 1 of the main religious days for the Christian Church.
A few days before Christmas Eve, TUC Regional Secretary Lynn Collins said:-
"Christmas Day is a special day that millions of us spend with our
nearest and dearest. So we should all spare a thought for the people in the
North West who this Friday, will be hard at work while we're opening our
presents, tucking into the turkey and relaxing with our families. Many on
duty on the 25th will be on low pay, especially in sectors like hospitality
and social care. Let's stop and remember all those who keep the services we
rely upon running during the Christmas break."
|
Estimated figures from TUC. |
|
Region |
2012 |
2015 |
|
North East |
42 |
42 |
| North
West |
1010 |
103 |
|
Yorkshire and the Humber |
77 |
80 |
| East
Midlands |
72 |
76 |
|
West Midlands |
57 |
510 |
|
Eastern |
78 |
82 |
|
London |
810 |
105 |
|
South East |
124 |
130 |
|
South West |
84 |
88 |
|
Nation |
2012 |
2015 |
|
England |
722 |
753 |
|
Wales |
35 |
36 |
|
Scotland |
88 |
104 |
|
Northern Ireland |
20 |
20 |
|
|
|
|
|
Sources:- 2012 ONS special
release, 2015 TUC estimates. |
|
|
|
Number of people working on
Christmas Day by occupation |
|
Occupation |
(In Thousands) |
|
2012 |
2015 |
|
Care workers and home carers |
136 |
153 |
|
Nurses |
77 |
810 |
|
Nursing Auxiliaries and Assistants |
43 |
46 |
|
Chefs |
33 |
42 |
|
Security Guards and related
occupations |
31 |
28 |
|
Cleaners and Domestics |
23 |
23 |
|
Police Officers (Sergeant and below) |
21 |
22 |
|
Kitchen and Catering Assistants |
20 |
23 |
|
Clergy |
26 |
20 |
|
Medical Practitioners |
15 |
17 |
|
Waiters and Waitresses |
14 |
15 |
|
Senior Care Workers |
17 |
15 |
|
Farm Workers |
11 |
15 |
|
Bar Staff |
11 |
13 |
|
Occupations with less than 10,000
working Christmas day |
378 |
367 |
| |
|
Source:- Labour Force Survey
updated by TUC estimate.. |
► The latest ONS figures relate
to Christmas 2012. The TUC estimated figures for 2015, by increasing the
2012 results to take account of employment growth.
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