RSG Railsafe Review Spring 2024

RAILSAFE REVIEW

Spring 2024

CONTENTS

WELCOME

COMPANY NEWS

PEOPLE NEWS

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT

TRAINING UPDATE

COMMUNITY NEWS

PROJECT UPDATE

SAFETY UPDATE www.railsafegroup.co.uk

Welcome, It’s been all systems go during the first quarter of 2024 for Railsafe Group, with team members working around the clock to deliver support in all areas from new premises and training programmes through to skilled workers and managers enlisted for infrastructure projects nationwide. Our approach to every operational activity reflects our determination to plan effectively, to match the right individuals to certain tasks and to ensure that site specific characteristics are fully catered for and managed.

We had a great opportunity to catch up with industry friends and make new connections with rail professionals at the Railway Infrastructure Networking Event at the Islington Business Design Centre in London.

With over 150 exhibitors, 1080 visitors and 685 rail companies represented, there was a real buzz at a great location. We look forward to playing our part in up-andcoming projects. By developing good partnerships, we have the capacity to share our expertise, create new opportunities and provide a quality service to our clients and your customers!

We’ve also been working on providing a dedicated pathway into rail for new entrants to the industry, with our latest round of Railsafe Group NVQ Level 2 training courses, funded by West Yorkshire Combined Authority taking place in Leeds. It’s a privilege to bring the next generation into our ever-evolving industry and we are pleased to support and grow young talent coming through the ranks!

With the prospect of April showers coming our way after a cold snap, rest assured that we continue to do our utmost to deliver every single project on schedule, despite the challenges of the Great British weather.

As we prepare for the Easter break, we take this opportunity to thank all our staff and clients for their dedication to safety, quality and innovation.

Remember, Stay Safe, Stay Railsafe.

Steve & Jamie Directors 2

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Company News: NEW COMPANY BROCHURE We’re thrilled to share our comprehensive company brochure with you, so you can find out all about our services and our core values as a business leader, as we strive to supply the best people for your projects as well as delivering high-quality training and CPD at all levels. Railsafe Group is meeting its ESG targets with an ongoing commitment to employee wellness alongside our dedication to delivering the very best to our customers.

LIVING WAGE EMPLOYER We are now an accredited Living Wage Employer via the Living Wage Foundation, reflecting the importance of working for a better tomorrow and ensuring that our staff are well-supported as they develop their careers with us. The real Living Wage is the only UK wage rate based on the cost of living. It is voluntarily paid by over 14,000 UK businesses who believe their staff deserve a wage so they can meet their daily needs – like the weekly shop, annual MOT, or a surprise trip to the dentist. Railsafe Group is proud to stand with big household names including Nationwide, Google, Lush, Everton FC and Chelsea FC as well as thousands of SMEs and half of the FTSE 100.

MINDFUL EMPLOYER Acting on our ambition to support the mental wellbeing of our staff, we have signed the ‘Charter for Employer Positive About Mental Health’. Established in 2004, Mindful Employer UK is a UK wide initiative run by Devon Partnership NHS Trust. Providing employers with easier access to professional Workplace Mental Health training, information and support, the initiative aims to help empower employers to take a lead in supporting the mental wellbeing of their staff. By signing the ‘Charter for Employer Positive About Mental Health’, Railsafe Group have made a public statement of our desire to support the mental health of our staff across the organisation. www.railsafegroup.co.uk | Railsafe Review

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People News: TONY HURRELL #NEW We are also thrilled to announce that Tony Hurrell has joined the delivery team as Planning Lead and Resource. Tony joins us from his previous position as possession planner for Network Rail where he worked for over 6 years based on the Anglia route. Before joining Network rail Tony worked on the Carillion Crossrail team based at old Oak Common where he worked within the core delivery team. Tony’s planning and delivery experience will add a wealth of knowledge to the team, the directors and rest of the team are thrilled to have Tony on board.

Welcome to the RSG family Tony.

ELLIE POCKLINGTON #PROMOTED We are thrilled to share the news that Ellie Pocklington is Railsafe Group’s newly promoted Resource Delivery Manager! Ellie has been an asset to delivery and her natural progression comes at a very busy time for us! She has earned this promotion through her hard work and dedication to the job, and our directors are pleased to announce such fantastic news within the business!

Congratulations Ellie on this well-earned promotion!

TOBY COLE #PROMOTED After an incredible six-month journey with Railsafe Group, we are delighted to announce that Toby Cole will be commencing a new role at RSG in Business Development. He is very excited to embark on this new venture within the company, where he will be driving growth and forging new opportunities with new and existing clientele.

Toby’s professionalism is a real credit to our work ethic and company goals at Railsafe Group and we are very proud to promote from within!

Congratulations Toby and keep up the good work!

TONY SPENCER & TOM PERRY #DEVELOPMENT We would like to congratulate two RSG employees, Tony Spencer and Tom Perry on both recently passing their COSS! As we all know, COSS is essential for the planning and implementation of the Safe Work Pack (SWP) so we can all keep our rail teams safe…

Great work We have a great culture of upskilling and career development at RSG. In fact, core staff who stay with us for at least 12 months after COSS training and an incident-free delivery of their role, will have the opportunity of attending OTP Core & MEWP MC training. We are delighted that Tony and Tom will have the opportunity to progress with our mentors and keep growing their skills with us!

Railsafe Review | www.railsafegroup.co.uk

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Employee Spotlight:

KIERON NUAMAH, CONTROLLER OF SITE SAFETY AT HARLESDEN Kieron has proved an invaluable member of our team. He espouses Railsafe Group’s values, and we are keen to continue supporting him on his journey.

Kieron Nuamah is currently undertaking the role of COSS at Harlesden. Having been based there for several months, he has been integral in delivery of the 11kv route works being particularly adept doing the mitre joints for the elevated GRP route. In fact, Terry Robbins, Operations Manager at Railsafe Group says, “Kieron has proven to be highly competent in the capacity of COSS demonstrating superb leadership qualities. During my visit, Kieron delivered a comprehensive COSS briefing and was very composed when liaising with the Signaller to implement a Line Blockage - incidentally, the first time Kieron has done so.”

Kieron has had a varied career thus far having attained a 2:1 whilst studying a degree in Interior www.railsafegroup.co.uk | Railsafe Review

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Architecture at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge. Finding that opportunities in this field were limited without extensive further education, he transitioned to the recruitment industry working as a recruitment consultant for Phaedon International recruiting skilled professionals within the medical industry. Subsequently, Kieron dabbled with web, app and graphic design, notably utilising the project management skills learnt during his degree as a Scrum Master for Lloyds Bank developing a Finance Fitness app, before embarking on his railway career.

Having demonstrated aptitude and a positive attitude, Kieron was selected to attend COSS training last year. Since completing the training, Kieron has gone from strength to strength and has shown significant potential to progress. His ultimate ambition is to utilise some of his project planning skills and become a Project Manager. He is certainly on the right track.

Training Update: NEW TRAINING ACADEMY This February, Railsafe Group officially took possession of new premises in East Tilbury, intended to undergo a remarkable transformation into our new training academy.

The past four weeks have been a whirlwind of activity, evolving from an open-plan office to a fully operational academy with five classrooms, a delivery office, and a boardroom.

We are delighted to announce that our new home is now fully operational, welcoming trainees for learning and development.

This achievement is the result of significant collaborative efforts.

The speed at which we mobilised is a testament to a tremendous team effort, and the directors extend their gratitude to everyone involved.

Special thanks are due to our new landlord for promptly providing us with the keys, the

dedicated building team that worked tirelessly during night shifts, delivering a highquality result within a tight timeframe, and our Training team, led by Sarah Brown, Operations & Training Manager.

Over the past four weeks, the team has demonstrated unwavering commitment, with some members putting in extra hours and overtime to ensure the academy is ready as a comfortable working and learning environment. Everyone at RSG is thrilled with the new Academy and we express our thanks to all those who played a role in making this achievement possible.

This is an exciting time for Railsafe Group, as with so many new ventures already planned-in for year, it’s great to deliver such a strong start to 2024!

NEW RAIL ENGINEERING COURSES Railsafe Group is now delivering a range of NVQ Rail Engineering Courses in the North of England, which are part of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s AEB (Adult Education Budget) funding stream.

Company funding will cover Leeds, Wakefield, Calderdale and Kirklees areas, and given our brandnew Training Academy is nestled in the heart of Leeds Town Centre, we’re confident we can offer a solid foundation across the entire region of West Yorkshire.

Working closely with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), Probation Trust and Leeds City Council to name but a few, learners will receive full access to an NVQ qualification including all practical elements relating to rail. Once fully qualified, the course member will then enter into employment with either Railsafe Group or another employer within our partnership scheme.

For more information, please contact Sarah Brown, Head of Education & Training at Railsafe Group on: t: 07544 871 163 e: sarah.brown@railsafegroup.co.uk.

Alternatively, call us on 01702 567 283 (option 3) Railsafe Review | www.railsafegroup.co.uk

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Community News: RSG SPONSOR PRO BKB FIGHTER KEVIN GREENWOOD Railsafe Group was extremely proud to support Kevin Greenwood – Pro BKB fighter and personal trainer, who secured the title of British cruiserweight champion against Eric Madja on 27th January. The contest was broadcast live on BeIN sports with plenty of RSG team members cheering Kevin to victory!

SAVE THE DATE: Everyone at Railsafe Group is thrilled to announce that ‘The Green Machine’ will be fighting for the Light-heavyweight world title against Croatian champ ‘The Emperor of BKB’ Marko Martinjak this May. BKB 38 takes place in London on Saturday 4th May 2024, at indigo at The O2 and RSG stands ready to cheer Kevin to victory. Having secured the title of British cruiserweight champion back in January, there’s everything to play for as Kevin is set to deliver a true display of high-level technical boxing.

Greenwood exemplifies what it means to be a fighter: to face challenges head-on, to push beyond your limits, and to always, no matter the

circumstance, stand tall and fight with heart. We see Kevin’s journey defined by courage, hard work, and an unyielding commitment to his passion. As proud sponsors and fellow supporters, RSG couldn’t be prouder of Kevin, and we eagerly await his next bout in the ring. Watch this space for more updates!

ON THE BALL Railsafe Group is also a proud sponsor of Romford United Youth U13. The junior football team are making their mark in the Echo Junior League securing five wins, and one draw this season with club caption Teddy Turner, pictured above, scoring a last- minute equalizer against Colebrook Royals and picking up Man of the Match!

Great effort boys, you all played and worked extremely hard and everyone at RSG is looking forward to seeing you smash it at the next game!

www.railsafegroup.co.uk | Railsafe Review

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Project Updates: EAST LONDON LINE TUNNEL CLEANING | MARCH 2024 During the East London Line Easter shutdown, Railsafe Group efficiently carried out tunnel deep cleaning works on behalf of Arriva Rail London after securing the project through a stringent tender process. The designated track section, spanning from Shoreditch High Street to Surrey Quays, covered approximately 35,590 square meters and was classified at level D, indicating the presence of excess grease, dirt, and debris.

Considering the tight timeframe to deliver the works, meticulous planning was crucial, requiring integration with other contractors working on a major station upgrade at Surrey Quays. Despite facing various challenges, Railsafe Group’s exceptional teams executed the works brilliantly, completing the project slightly ahead of schedule.

Adhering to TfL’s stringent cleaning standards, the deep cleaning covered tunnel walls, the surface of the track, pipes, cables, running rails, conductor rail insulators, track equipment, signals, signage, cable routes, and voids under the track, ensuring they were clear of litter, grease, dust, and debris.

Specialised HEPA filtered vacuums were employed for thorough cleaning, guaranteeing effective removal of minute particles, in line with TfL’s standards.

Railsafe Review | www.railsafegroup.co.uk

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Safety Bulletin: HEALTH & WELLBEING EAT WELL Make sure you are taking good care of yourself with the latest advice from Network Rail Your body is like an engine – it needs good fuel in order to work properly. Yet knowing what a healthy diet involves can be confusing.

The best principles of healthy eating are those of the Mediterranean diet that includes lots of vegetables and nuts, moderate amounts of meat and fish, and healthy oils like olive oil.

Scientists have found that eating like this reduces your risk of conditions such as heart disease and cancer.

In fact, recent research has found that the Mediterranean way of eating is better at reducing the risk of heart disease and heart attack than sticking to a strict low-fat diet.

WHAT IS A HEALTHY DIET? Get your 5 a day – this will provide important vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. A portion equals roughly 80g so two stalks of broccoli or three tablespoons of chopped carrots or peas, a small side salad or one medium banana. Frozen or tinned vegetables all count as does one serving of fruit juice a day.

Variety is key – generally the more colours on your plate the better.

Also try basing meals on beans and other pulses such as lentils or chickpeas which also count as one of your five a day. Include starchy foods at each meal –

foods like potatoes, bread, rice and pasta. They add minerals, vitamins and fibre needed for a healthy digestive system.

Choose brown rice, pasta and bread instead of white as they are much better for you. They contain more fibre and vitamins; helping you to feel fuller for longer, and release energy more steadily throughout the day.

Choose good fats – we need some fat as it provides nutrients and has other important roles.

Try to cut down on unhealthy, saturated fats, like butter and lard that’s found in foods such as pastry, fried food and biscuits.

Instead choose fats that are good for heart health. You’ll find these in oily fish such as salmon, fresh tuna and mackerel. Other sources of healthy fats are seeds, some nuts, and small amounts of olive oil.

Reduce red and processed meat: Too much red meat may increase

www.railsafegroup.co.uk | Railsafe Review

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your risk of cancer and heart disease. If you eat more than 90g of red or processed meat a day (about 3 thin slices of beef, pork or lamb), it is recommended that you reduce your intake to 70g per day, which is the average UK consumption.

Eat more fish: You should eat two portions of fish a week – one of which should be oily fish such as salmon, trout or mackerel, as they contain omega 3 oils which are good for the heart.

WHAT CAN YOU DO? Remember to read the food labels on food packets. These will list the calorie content, salt, sugar, total fat and saturated fat content. They’re usually colour coded – green is low, amber is medium and red is high. Ideally, choose foods with more green codes than red.

Eat well, feel good and enjoy a balanced diet.

For information, please visit: here

Safety Bulletin:

HEALTH & WELLBEING DRINK WELL Having a beer with friends or a glass of wine with a meal is to many people, a nice way to relax. The occasional well-timed drink when you are off duty may even benefit your health.

However, drinking over the recommended limits can have a damaging effect on both your physical and mental health. You may have experienced some of its short-term health effects, a hangover or a bad night’s sleep, however it’s the health effects of alcohol in the longer term that people often only experience once it’s too late.

HOW ALCOHOL COULD DAMAGE YOUR HEALTH: As alcohol is a toxin or poison, your body needs to get rid of it quickly. It is processed in the liver; however, the liver can only process so much at once. If you drink too much it can damage your liver cells which leads to a toxic build-up of chemicals.

Alcohol removes fluid from your body, which means you need to visit the toilet more than normal, and can become dehydrated, this causes typical hangover symptoms such as a headache. Alcohol irritates the stomach, which is why you may feel sick, and It also affects your sleep, leaving you tired the next morning. There’s no cure for a hangover, you just need to drink sensibly to avoid getting one.

Boozing can damage cells all over the body. For example, drinking alcohol long term has been linked with an increased risk of seven types of cancer.

Drinking too much can also increase your risk of stroke, heart disease, and depression. Alcohol is also bad for the waistline, with a pint of beer containing more calories than a bag of crisps, and a large glass of wine having as many calories as an ice cream.

SAFE LIMITS: Your limits are set not by the glass but by the unit and how many units a drink contains depends on how strong it is. So, for example a pint of normal lager has two units but a pint of strong lager has three.

To reduce the risk of alcohol-related health problems stick to the following limits: • Men: no more than 3-4 units a day.

• Women: no more than 2-3 units a day.

It is also recommended to have two alcohol-free days a week. This is because your liver needs time to repair itself from the damaging effects of alcohol.

If you think you’re drinking too much think about how you can cut down.

Cutting back could make you feel and look better, you’ll sleep better and reduce your calorie intake (the average bottle of 13 per cent wine contains 682 calories). Ways to cut back include ordering half measures or trying low alcohol or non-alcoholic alternatives.

For information, please visit: here Railsafe Review | www.railsafegroup.co.uk

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CONTACT US

You can talk to us on 01702 567 283 or email: Labour@railsafegroup.co.uk Planning@railsafegroup.co.uk Training@railsafegroup.co.uk For all general enquiries please email: info@railsafegroup.co.uk 24-HR on call 0800 471 4838 RSG Head Office: 516-518 Eastwood old Road, Old Concrete Yard, Southend on Sea , SS9 4DU Training Academy Thames Hub, Thames Industrial Park East Tilbury, RM18 8RH Training Academy & Resource 68 Wellington Street, Leeds, LS1 2EE www.railsafegroup.co.uk