Cumbria safety drive gives helicopter heroes a lift


Sewer workers across Cumbria earned more than £2,300 for the region’s helicopter heroes – just by keeping their eyes peeled for potential accidents at work. Engineers and office staff who look after Cumbria’s 383km network of wastewater pipes and treatment works earned cash from safety bosses at United Utilities for every risk spotted and removed. The year-long drive netted a cool £2,319 which staff opted to donate to the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS). United Utilities’ wastewater area business manager for Cumbria, Kevin Sayers, said colleagues had worked hard to raise awareness and make their sites safer places to work and visit. “Our staff are used to working safely in some pretty remote places”, he said.

Sewer workers across Cumbria earned more than £2,300 for the region’s helicopter heroes – just by keeping their eyes peeled for potential accidents at work.

Engineers and office staff who look after Cumbria’s 383km network of wastewater pipes and treatment works earned cash from safety bosses at United Utilities for every risk spotted and removed.

The year-long drive netted a cool £2,319 which staff opted to donate to the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS).

United Utilities’ wastewater area business manager for Cumbria, Kevin Sayers, said colleagues had worked hard to raise awareness and make their sites safer places to work and visit.

“Our staff are used to working safely in some pretty remote places”, he said. “They all agreed the air ambulance should get the benefit, because when the chips are down it does such great work rescuing people from places a road ambulance would struggle to reach.”

Stacy Hucker accepted the cheque on behalf of the charity at United Utilities’ wastewater treatment works in Kendal.

She said: “We cover a huge area from Teesside, across the north east to Cumbria. One of our bases is at Langwathby, near Penrith. It costs £4m a year to keep our three helicopters in the air, so donations like this are a real life-saver.

“We want to thank United Utilities for helping us in this way. The funds raised will no doubt go towards keeping our aircraft flying, so their support is vital.”

Translate »