Skip to main navigation
Home
  • Group PLC
  • Electricity Transmission
  • Gas Transmission
  • ESO
  • United States
  • Western Power Distribution
  • About us
  • Stories
  • Electricity Transmission
  • ESO
  • Careers
  • Media
  • Contact us
Diggers excavating for gas pipeline

Working through a crisis to protect our vital gas network

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Email

22nd May 2020 - Grid at work

The first time you run a team you don’t expect it to be during a pandemic, but this is just what happened to Natasha Bacciarelli. As a 27-year-old graduate trainee, she found herself staying away from home while helping to protect her team as they carried out essential maintenance work on a major gas pipeline during the coronavirus crisis.

National Grid Gas Pipeline Maintenance Centre graduate trainee Natasha Bacciarelli

Graduates rotate through different placements to learn about the business. Since joining the scheme in 2018, after completing a Masters in Chemical Engineering, I’ve worked at the Isle of Grain Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Terminal in Kent and with the Gas Innovation team in Warwick; but I wanted to get some hands-on experience with big engineering projects, so I joined the Pipeline Maintenance Centre in Derbyshire.

Our work involves using what we call a PIG, a Pipeline Inspection Gauge, to pick up any issues in the pipeline. We then list them in order of criticality and, for the worst ones, we may need to excavate the pipe to inspect it and judge what repairs are needed. We then reinstate the pipe and you’d never know we’d been there – that’s my favourite bit, as it’s so satisfying. We also perform maintenance activities on other pieces of equipment on the gas network, such as valves or compressors, and if there’s an emergency, like a gas leak, we’ll be the team to respond.
 

Carrying out critical work

Now I’m working on Feeder 10, a 45.53 km gas pipeline that runs from Penicuik to Boon on the Scottish Borders. The pipeline was commissioned back in the 1970s and required critical maintenance work to secure the gas supply. To do the repairs, we’re using a mix of advanced paint to help seal the pipeline or applying a sleeve, which is like a giant metal plaster, to encase and protect it.

As a Project Supervisor, it’s my job to manage the day-to-day running of the site, making sure we have the right equipment to carry out the maintenance work and that the team is safe. Obviously, since the coronavirus outbreak this has involved a lot more work.

 

National Grid Gas Pipeline Construction Argocats all-terrain vehicle

Keeping people safe at work

The key thing is maintaining social distancing on site. We’ve also using Air Fed masks, which we usually use to protect against fumes – they’re different from the PPE healthcare staff wear, but they’re effective against the virus too. We use open air, all-terrain vehicles called Argocats to get people around. We’re also doing extensive cleaning on door handles and all hard surfaces, and have hand sanitisers on site and in every vehicle.

The whole team of around 14 of us, plus contractors, are isolating in the Tontine hotel in Peebles. We stay here for 12 days at a time – always in the same room – then have two days at home before coming back. It’s not like normal jobs where you travel and go out to explore the area. We’re eating all our meals at the hotel – sitting on allocated, socially distanced tables – and only leaving to go to the site, to protect the community around us.
 

It’s not all work and no fun

It’s still fun though. We’re getting to know each other really well and we’ve done bingo nights and quizzes to keep ourselves entertained. In some ways, living together makes it easier to support one another, as we can chat about any concerns we have during our downtime. I know who on the team has children who are off school or a vulnerable person they’re worried about, so I can ask after them and make sure they’re doing alright over breakfast or after dinner, when we’re not focused on the job in hand.

We’re working in a disused quarry at the moment, which is about a mile from the laydown area so, even though we can’t get out and about, if you walk between the two you can get quite a bit of exercise. So far, my record is 8 km in one day.

Similar reading

National Grid Electricity Transmission substation during a storm Group : Grid at work

5 ways we keep the electricity network protected from storms

14 March 2022

Storms can mean disruption and unpredictability for our electricity system. We take the job of ‘keeping the lights on’ very seriously and we have a number of approaches in place to deal with potential issues that severe weather might cause – from power cuts to pylon damage.

Read article
Drone inspecting high-voltage overhead power lines ET : Grid at work

National Grid’s drones: what are they used for?

7 March 2022

Find out more about our fleet of drones and how they're helping us save time and money when carrying out inspection work on our overhead power lines network across England and Wales.

Read article
Group : Grid at work

Exciting jobs you could do as a National Grid apprentice

7 February 2022

Whether it’s venturing into tunnels deep below London, using futuristic new technology or keeping the country’s lights on (literally) by making sure electricity flows to the right places, our apprenticeship schemes offer so many different and exciting opportunities - all while playing a part in National Grid’s commitment to tackle climate change.

Read article

Safety and emergencies

  • Smell gas? Call 0800 111 999
  • Power cuts? Call 105
  • Power lines? Call 0800 40 40 90
National Grid
© National Grid 2022

Connect with us

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • youtube
  • Instagram
  • Connect with us
    • Contact us
    • Media contacts
  • About us
    • Electricity System Operator
    • Electricity Transmission
    • Gas Transmission
    • UK Leadership team
  • Work for us
    • Careers UK
    • Careers US
  • Safety and emergencies
    • Power cuts
    • Smell gas?
  • Our policies
    • Terms and conditions
    • Privacy policy
    • Modern slavery statement
    • Accessibility
    • Cookie policy
  • More from National Grid
    • Stories
    • Investors
    • Energy explained
    • Suppliers
    • Pay your bill (US)
© National Grid 2022
Top