The Shield
THE PAPER FOR RAIL PEOPLE IN THE SOUTHERN REGION
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BORING EXCITEMENT
ISSUE 16, DECEMBER 2017
ABSOLUTE ZERO
How to achieve 12 months with no lost time injuries
At exactly 10.40am on 22 November, Kier achieved an incredible statistic – exactly 12 months without a single lost time injury. That’s a staggering 415,224 hours worked since the last lost time injury – an operative slipping on a wet ramp and injuring his back at Oulton Broad station. The Shield was eager to find out how Kier did it, so headed to Redhill on the morning the amazing record was reached to talk to the team about how they maintain such a high standard of safety. Full story on page 4/5 >>
Safe winter driving
Quick check ups
A site’s view of PDSW
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www.southernshield.co.uk
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THE SHIELD ISSUE 16, DECEMBER 2017
First Person
Janice Crawford, Regional Director IP Southern
We all know that the railway can be a dangerous place and it can be even more so during the dark nights and the winter weather. We also know that as we start the Christmas and New Year works there will be pressure to deliver the works we have committed to and to hand back the railway on time so that passengers can start using the railway again. This can result in a perception that safety takes a back seat so it is really important that we all focus on what it takes to do things safely knowing that if we do this, great performance will follow.
In the IP Southern region we have some great examples of this and we have highlighted six of our Southern Shield award winners in this edition who have gone above and beyond in order to make a real difference to our safety culture. Well done and thank you to these six and all the other recent award winners. Kier Rail has also gone 12 months without a single lost time injury, a fantastic achievement by everyone concerned. Although some may still believe that zero is an unrealistic target, this accomplishment shows that this
really is achievable and is what we should all continue to strive for. So please remember, if you can’t do it safely then don’t do it at all; you can always take a Time Out Take Five at any stage you feel unsafe or unsure. Never, ever forget to follow the Lifesaving Rules – they are exactly that, applied by everyone, in every situation, could save a life. Have a safe, productive and happy Christmas and New Year and if you see me out and about during this period, please come and say hello.
The Shield KEEPING THE HOLE SITE SAFE This paper is produced for:
Written and designed by:
www.beetroot.co.uk
Running cables from an existing substation to the railway as part of a high-voltage power upgrade is a challenging enough job as it is. And that’s without having to dig an entirely new tunnel to run them through, some 14 metres below ground. That’s exactly the task the team at Bermondsey recently took on, creating a shaft on site so that a boring machine could be lowered by crane to create the tunnel. According to Gareth John, General Foreman for BAM Nuttall, even getting the machine on site came with its own logistical challenges: “Of course, everyone was well aware of the machine coming on to site. The area was fenced off and signs were erected to keep colleagues segregated. “When it was brought on site, we let specialists from our chosen contractor concentrate on getting the machine down the shaft in a safe and controlled manner.” Once the machine was in place and ready to begin tunnelling, only competent and trained personnel were allowed in the vicinity.
Gareth added: “Due to the nature of the work, we have three different exclusion zones across the site. “General zones, marked in blue, are areas anyone can be in, such as offices and walkways. There are also restricted access zones, marked in yellow, only for those authorised, and finally exclusion zones, marked in red, which is where plant, cranes and other dangerous machinery is in operation. The red areas are where there is the possibility of death if something goes wrong, which means they must be treated with the utmost respect at all times. “We also had to be aware of the results of our ground investigation. We are tunnelling under a Thames Water sewer and multiple buildings, so all structures within ten metres of the central path are monitored and measured constantly for movement – any mistake during the job won’t just negatively affect us but them too, making it all the more important that every bit of the work is done safely and correctly first time.”
OF HIGH IMPORTANCE The Southern Shield Safety Leadership Team has sent an open letter to our supply chain sub-contractors following the Close Calls you raised about working at height
To all suppliers who work on southern region worksites – IP Anglia, South East and Wessex WORKING AT HEIGHT AND USE OF PPE As you are aware, the Southern Shield was formed to make a difference in safety performance in order that Everyone gets Home Safe Every Day. We have seen great safety performance improvements through supplier collaboration via the Southern Shield which has also resulted in much better information being provided to assist decision making. Following reviews of our Close Call reporting data, we have noticed a significant number are related to scaffolders working without clipping on and hence operating without adequate protection measures to mitigate the risk of falling from height. Such practice is a breach of the Lifesaving Rule of: “Always use a safety harness when working at height, unless other protection is in place.” Please be aware that across all IP Southern sites we will be operating a zero tolerance to any scaffolder working without adequate measures to prevent falling from height. Should anyone be found working without adequate protection, we will undertake a fair culture hearing, which may result in their removal from site. I hope you understand why we have chosen to take this action and that you will fully support this by communicating this to your employees and ensuring full compliance with the Lifesaving Rules. Sent by the Southern Shield Safety Leadership Team
CHARTER UPDATE
The Southern Shield Charter, mandatory for all work in the southern region, has been updated with a new item. New item 4.18 states: It is prohibited for anyone to use their hands to hold open a bag that is being filled by mechanical means. Therefore, this task must be planned and risk assessed to avoid anyone having to enter the exclusions zone while the bag is being filled.
EVERYONE HOME SAFE EVERY DAY
This has been added due to Close Call data, which showed that the practice of loading one-tonne bags by machine while an operative holds the bag open was still happening. This should be avoided using task planning and risk assessments. You can view the Charter and its new item online by visiting www.southernshield.co.uk
ISSUE 16, DECEMBER 2017 THE SHIELD Keeping safe on the road can be as simple as following these Lifesaving Rules: 1. Never work or drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol 2. Always obey the speed limit and wear a seat belt 3. Never use a handheld or hands free phone, or any other mobile device, while driving
DRIVE FOR SAFETY
And to stay safe on site, ask yourself these questions: • Do you have safe vehicles? • Are your drivers safe, trained and competent? • Is your site safe by design and activity?
Driving to and from work is as dangerous an activity as many of the tasks performed on site; especially during winter. Road collisions are a leading cause of death in the UK, and many could have been prevented by simply driving more safely. The majority of fatal or serious incidents on our roads are linked to the ‘fatal four’ – driving while under the influence, speeding, not wearing a seat belt and being distracted.
THE SOUTHERN SHIELD DIFFERENCE MAKERS
On our roads there are: • 1,500 fatalities annually • 24,000 serious injuries • 5,000 workplace transport accidents • 50 workplace transport fatalities while driving
Colleagues who have gone above and beyond in the pursuit of safety are being recognised through the new Southern Shield Making a Difference Awards. Every period, organisations can nominate two employees to receive the award. The first set of winners were recently chosen, with each
receiving a thank you letter and a £50 voucher. “When things go wrong, we have to focus on these events so we can learn the lessons to prevent a repeat. However, that means it can often feel like all we ever focus on is when it goes wrong,” said Mark Carter, Safety Improvement Specialist, Network
Rail. “But there’s also a lot of good work being done on sites every day, which it’s important we recognise too. “Much of our culture comes from the stories we hear, and we want to share the stories of those who have been doing things right. Congratulations to our winners. I’m looking forward to sharing more winners’ stories soon.”
Ricky Thorpe – General Foreman, Kier Ricky was nominated for his work setting the right culture on site, from ensuring briefings and inductions are properly carried out to ensuring tasks are completed safely and correctly. “It’s about following the same high standard expected across every project,” said Ricky. “Leading from the front and ensuring every task is done properly is vital to instil the right culture on site. “To receive something for doing a good job is great and I want to say thank you to Southern Shield for the recognition.”
Adam Hillaby – STOP Think! Coach, Osborne Stopping an operative from working unsafely and demonstrating commitment and passion for the Southern Shield culture working group initiatives earned Adam his nomination. He said: “I’m one of those people who has to stop and say something if I see something unsafe, even if it’s on a project I’m not involved with. It’s something I feel very strongly about and is always a big part of any talks I give. “I really believe in the value of recognition too, so it’s great to see an initiative launched based around rewarding safe working.”
Wayne Harding – Health, Safety and Environment Manager, Kier In his nomination, Wayne was described as a “hands on leader” and praised for his work during the weekend blockade at Ashtead. “Safety is about planning everything in detail and then communicating that plan to the right people to ensure everyone understands what they are trying to achieve,” said Wayne. “The Ashtead blockade was a difficult one as we had to ensure we took localresidentsintoconsideration,butweworkedtowardsacommon goal and got the job done safely and efficiently. “The award came as a complete surprise, and it’s really nice to receive the recognition.”
Gareth John – General Foreman, BAM Nuttall Gareth was recognised after he stopped unsafe work being carried out on a construction site adjacent to the HV Power Upgrade project in Bermondsey. “An operative was working nine metres up with no edge protection and inadequate PPE,” said Gareth. “I couldn’t just walk by, so I asked him to stop working and had a discussion with the Site Manager. They said it was a quick job, but those can often be the ones that lead to major incidents. “I was just doing what anyone would in that situation, but it’s still nice to receive the recognition.”
James Lynn – Site Manager, Siemens Presenting at a Southern Shield event in front of more than 200 colleagues earned James a Making a Difference award. James said: “I was asked to give a talk about some of the things I’ve experienced on sites during my career, especially highlighting one incident which could have resulted in a fatality. It was definitely nerve wracking presenting in front of that many people but also a great way of getting the message across. “I’m really pleased to have been recognised and think the awards are a great idea for encouraging best practice.”
Tony Brown – Protection Controller, VolkerFitzpatrick Tony won a Making a Difference Award following his work acting as a mentor, a role he took on independently in addition to his project role. “It’s my job to be approachable,so colleagues feel comfortable talking to me if there’s a problem,”said Tony.“I will then sit down and work with them to find a solution. “Making a Difference isn’t just about focusing on site safety either, it’s also about sharing what you’ve learned with others. “I was quite taken aback to receive the award. It’s great to be recognised for making a difference but it’s not just down to me, it’s down to the team I work with too.”
Do you have any best practice you could share? Email shield@networkrail.co.uk
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THE SHIELD ISSUE 16, DECEMBER 2017
AN EARLY CHRISTMAS PRESENT Kier’s rail division had reason to celebrate on 22 November as it reached 12 months with zero lost time injuries. The Shield visited the team at Redhill to find out how they did it… Sean Hebden, Kier’s Rail Director
It must have been a fairly tense morning for the Kier team on 22 November, as they watched the clock edge closer and closer towards 10.40am.
And you’re probably asking yourself why they were so eagerly clock watching on what was for most a perfectly ordinary Wednesday.Well, they were counting down the minutes because at exactly that time, Kier reached the incredible achievement of going a full 12 months without a lost time injury across their rail sites. The Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate refers to the number of lost time injuries occurring in a workplace per one million man-hours worked. To put that further into perspective, over the last year, the Kier team has worked a staggering 415,224 hours across many high-risk rail sites without a single lost time injury. Kier’s last lost time injury occurred on 22 November 2016 at 10.40am at Oulton Broad station, when an operative slipped on a wet ramp and injured his back. Fortunately, he suffered only minor bruising and made a full recovery in days.
Sean Hebden, Kier’s Rail Director, explained how the company had reached the amazing statistic. “I don’t think it’s any one thing,” said Sean.“At Kier, we’ve worked hard to create and maintain an excellent safety culture. That goes right through from getting the best people on our jobs to creating the right environment when the work begins. It also extends to colleagues in our supply chain, who do a great job supporting us and helping create that environment. “Of course, the teams on our sites every day play the biggest part. The standard they set is the standard people will work to. It’s imperative we have the right supervision and the right culture, and it’s important people feel comfortable making an intervention which could stop someone getting harmed. “I’m really privileged to work with some inspiring people at Kier. They really do live and breathe the railway and that shows in their performance every day. I can’t thank them enough.”
DESIDERIU SAFAR, SITE OPERATIVE “It’s great to work on a site with such a fantastic safety record. Whenever I’m on shift, I’m always impressed at how well all the housekeeping is done. “Everyone is very friendly here, so you always feel comfortable talking to colleagues. The briefings are done so you know exactly what’s happening on site before you begin work. “At the end of the day, safety is the responsibility of every single person on site, from those working in the office to the teams out on track.”
GEORGE STAN, CIVILS TEAM MANAGER “People are very on top of safety here and always look out for you. I’ve been particularly impressed with the diligence when it comes to ensuring everyone wears the correct PPE. “I think building on this achievement is about keeping everyone talking to each other, highlighting excellent safety results and getting everyone involved in safety. “The first person responsible for safety on site is yourself. You need to look out for your own body and do your own job properly and safely first and foremost, and then look out for those around you.”
Always use a safety harness when working a
ISSUE 16, DECEMBER 2017 THE SHIELD
MIKE PEARS, ENGINEERING MANAGER “I think a big part of maintaining a good safety record is ensuring everyone feels comfortable speaking up. I’m quite happy having a word with someone if I see an issue and have spoken to a couple of people about wearing the correct safety glasses. “Kier definitely listens if you have any concerns. I talked to management about improving access points and they were happy to help do just that. “There’s definitely still things I think could be improved so that we can achieve this across all sites in the southern region. The big thing for me is night time working. I personally think it should be knocked on the head as the best work is done during the day.”
JANE GILLETT, SITE OPERATIVE “It’s good to work for a company you know is looking out for you and with a team which has such high safety standards. “Kier is a company that is simply really on top of safety. Safety information isn’t just dumped here, there and everywhere, but rather you’re given useful, relevant information. “I do think there’s still some work to do on the PPE front, however. It can be very hot during the summer and fairly chilly in the winter. Also, flame retardant overalls come in one piece, which is difficult if you need to remove it only for a short time.”
COLIN BARNES, SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER “It’s very pleasing to have a large team who have not suffered a single lost time injury in 12 months and have returned Home Safe Every Day. “This site could have been a bit of a challenge as we’ve got a number of different companies working together to complete the project with Network Rail. However, we’ve been fortunate in that it’s a good group of contractors who all have high standards of behaviour. “I believe behaviour is one of the biggest hurdles to get over on site if you want to remain incident free. If everyone is on the same page and working together with safety in mind, you’ve overcome the hardest challenge. “We’re all over the moon to have been part of this achievement and I can only praise everyone on the team who’s worked so hard towards it.”
CONRAD BRUCE, SITE MANAGER “Achieving something like this a great feeling, and it’s reassuring knowing that you’re part of a team which strives to get Everyone Home Safe Every Day. “Everyone here is always looking out for each other, and we’re all comfortable speaking up if we see anyone doing anything unsafe.And if someone does do that, we’ll sit that person down and give them the proper advice on what they should be doing. “To continue on from what we’ve achieved, I think it’s a case of carrying on as we are, continuing to properly brief everyone on site and learning from anything that’s happened on other sites.”
at height, unless other protection is in place
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THE SHIELD ISSUE 16, DECEMBER 2017
KNOW YOUR NUMBERS It’s important to keep an eye on your health, which is why Southern Shield has made full-time RPS Health and Wellbeing Advisor Tom Watkiss available to everyone working in the southern region. During his visits, Tom runs a ‘Know Your Numbers’ health assessment, measuring BMI, glucose and cholesterol, blood pressure and body fat percentage.There is also a short questionnaire, covering issues including smoking and diet, so Tom can offer the best advice on where positive changes could be made. “The measurements give an insight into any health issues a person might have, but don’t necessarily tell you why they’re present,”said Tom.“That’s why it’s so important we have a chat about lifestyle factors after I’ve taken their measurements. “Sometimes, people don’t notice the areas where they could improve. For example, a drink or two in the evening might not seem like much, but over the weeks and months it adds up.”
Tom began his visits on 25 September, and has so far run assessments at sites in Shoreham,Wimbledon, Goring and Worthing. He is available to visit any site or office and covers all shift patterns. “I think a few people were initially a bit apprehensive, as no one wants to be told they’re unhealthy, but overall there’s a been a really positive response,”continued Tom.“There aren’t always warning signs or symptoms with some of the tests, for example cholesterol, so all the more reason for people to get to know their results. “Small lifestyle changes can often have a big impact on someone’s health, which is what we want to encourage. Everyone who has an assessment also goes away with a booklet with their results in and some goals to help them achieve a healthier lifestyle.” If you would like to arrange a Know Your Numbers visit at your site or office, please contact Shield@ networkrail.co.uk for the attention of Juliette Cannock.
Gareth John – General Foreman, BAM Nuttall “During my health assessment at our Bermondsey site, an issue with my heart was picked up and I was advised to see a cardiologist. It was then discovered that I have an ectopic (irregular) heartbeat. “I underwent a number of tests and had a 24-hour monitor fitted. Fortunately, during that time only five of my heartbeats were irregular out of around 85,000, so no medication needed prescribing. “My father passed away from a stroke, so I was worried at first but I’m also so glad I had the opportunity to get myself checked – I’d much rather know about the issue than not. “The health assessments are 100 per cent worth doing.They’re quick, easy and informative, and like myself, may reveal an issue you had no idea about.”
Edwart Lika – Site Operative, Randstad “I decided to have a health assessment because it’s good to know about things before they happen, rather than when it’s too late. I lost a friend who was only 34 to cancer, so I’m trying to be more proactive about my health. “Of course, there’s a bit of worry before the assessment, as no one wants to be told they’re living an unhealthy lifestyle. Fortunately, my tests were mainly good and the only thing I need to do is lose a small amount of weight. “To be honest, I don’t think having an assessment should even be a choice. It doesn’t take very long and you come away knowing whether there’s anything wrong and, if so, what you need to do to fix it. It’s an excellent idea.”
NOT WORTH THE RISK
60 SECONDS Matt North is a Site Engineer for BAM Nuttall.
THE SHIELD: Explain safety in 10 words. MATT NORTH: Personal and collective responsibility for everyone’s wellbeing in the workplace. TS: What do you think of safety in the southern region? MN: Standards are set high! The region promotes safety well, is open to thoughts and ideas, and continually looks to improve safety on sites. TS: How do you think it can be improved? MN: Forums for different trades and professions involved in the region. This would help encourage discussion of ideas and issues that otherwise might not be picked up by others. TS: Give an example of a time when you would stop work and call a Time Out Take Five. MN: Possessions are high-pressure environments which have the potential to cause issues. A Time Out Take Five allows the opportunity to stand back, evaluate the situation and approach the task with a safer and clearer mind. TS: What is the best safety motto you have heard? MN: Everyone Home Safe Every Day.
Safety in numbers A reduction in workplace deaths and stress becoming the UK’s biggest work-related illness are just two of the headlines in the Health and Safety Executive’s 2016/17 statistics
Ill-health
With party invitations and winter bugs going around in equal measure during the Christmas period, it’s important to remain mindful of the effect drugs, alcohol and medication have on your performance at work. Every organisation has a drugs and alcohol policy and it’s vital you are aware of exactly what it says. And if you’re taking any medication, whether over the counter or prescribed, then you must inform your manager so they can ensure it does not impact your performance. Because of these issues, there is also likely to be increased drugs and alcohol testing over the period. If you
give a urine sample which comes back all clear, it’s known as a negative result, while a sample containing something it shouldn’t is a nonnegative result. Francis Broughton, Health and Safety Manager for Wessex Capacity Alliance, explained: “If you have a non-negative result, your sample will be sent to the lab for further testing and you may be stopped from working pending the result. “A test which shows recreational drugs or alcohol will have serious consequences for the person involved. If it shows an issue to do with medication, it depends on the circumstances.
NEED ADVICE? If you need to talk to someone about drugs or alcohol,Talk to Frank is a free, confidential service. Call 0300 123 6600 or head online to www.talktofrank.com for more information.
DRUGS AND ALCOHOL : • Impairs judgement • Reduces reaction times • Clouds thinking • Makes you drowsy
“Certain medication can make you drowsy while working or have other effects, so we must know about it. Anyone can make mistakes, which is why it’s so important to let your manager know straight away if you have been taking anything.” If a sample does show recreational drugs or alcohol, it could have a huge impact on your career. Francis continued: “For instance, someone who fails a test due to cocaine whose skill set is specific to railway work would probably never work on the railway again, or at the very least for the next five years, and would have to take work outside the industry.” SOME MEDICATION CAN: • Cause severe dizziness • Make you feel drowsy • Increase your heart rate • Make you feel weaker
1.3m suffering from workrelated ill-health
609,000 workplace injuries
5m cases of work-related stress, depression or anxiety
£14.9bn the cost of workplace injuries and new cases of ill-health
31.2m working days lost
Enforcement
137
£69.9m
fatal injuries (compared to 144 in the previous year)
in employer fines handed out (compared to £38.8 million last year)
70,116
£30.7m
injuries reported by employers
accounted for by just 20 large fines
Have you made a change to your lifestyle? shield@networkrail.co.uK RAIL LIVES–Email page 8
ISSUE 16, DECEMBER 2017 THE SHIELD
PLANS AND PACKS We visited Meridian Water, where work is well underway on a major track upgrade between Stratford and Angel Road, to talk about Planned Delivery of Safe Work (PDSW) and Standard 019
NETWORK RAIL STANDARD 019 Standard 019 defines the process to keep people safe for work activities on or near the line and the development of a safe system of work through the production and issuing of a Safe Work Pack.
PETER JAWORSKI, CABLE WATCHER “We already had COSSs, so it doesn’t feel too different. It’s more complicated for the Safe Work Leaders as it requires more planning. But it’s good for our sites and our industry. “I feel comfortable going to a Safe Work Leader with any issues. They’ve had a full briefing before work begins and can pass that knowledge on should there be any problems. “In future, I’d like to see the Person in Charge putting more thought into the work being done as a whole, so people can be briefed as thoroughly as possible before it begins.”
ALEX UNGUREANU, ALO COORDINATOR “I am a Safe Work Leader myself. I think it’s a brilliant idea which has absolutely made a difference to the way we work. “There’s now one person giving all the instructions. It’s clear who that is and means information can be delivered concisely. “Compared to the previous system, you get more information. You receive your pack and have a few days to read it and comment. It ensures you’re absolutely clear on what needs doing that week.”
TONY BROWN, SAFE WORK LEADER “I brief all task leaders on the Safe Work Packs and have overall responsibility for the site. “PDSW works. I wouldn’t champion it if it didn’t.Without a good plan, we might deviate. By sticking to it and delivering with confidence, we’ll have a safe site. “At Meridian, we have 12 zones, and the Safe Work Pack will tell you which zones you’re covered for. We have Safe Work Leaders working across all the zones, and their pack will tell them exactly what’s going on in each zone. “The changes encourage everyone to have a voice. If anyone comes to us with concerns and we think work needs planning again, we can stop and call a Time Out Take Five.”
The introduction of Planned Delivery of Safe Work on 23 September has brought with it a number of changes to the way work is planned and delivered. A Person in Charge appointed by a manager is accountable for safely delivering work.They work alongside a Planner before work begins to identify andcontrolriskssotheycanbeeffectivelymanaged. The two create a Safe Work Pack, a document
SANDIP SINGH, SITE SUPERVISOR “With PDSW, tasks are always well-planned, which makes life much easier. For example, we’ve been taking a lot of deliveries recently and we know exactly what to do when the vehicles arrive on site. “It’s great to have a Person in Charge too, as it means any issues can be communicated quickly and clearly to a single person. “The implementation has been smooth so far. The Safe Work Pack in particular is a great idea, as it means any information can be accessed through one convenient document.”
including information on operational,task and site risks, and welfare facilities. Craig Lightheart,Programme Manager,Network Rail, said: “We want colleagues responsible for delivering work involved at the planning stage. PDSW gives every Person in Charge on every site confidence that the plan is correct and suitable before work begins. “It means one person is responsible for safety
MATTHEW AKANJI, ALO COORDINATOR “PDSW is a good initiative but it’s in its early stages and there are still improvements to be made. “One issue a few of us have is that Proscient,our electronic tool used to check and issue permits,has not been perfected yet. Some of the paperwork also still needs fine-tuning. “Having someone you can go to rather than dealing with different communication channels is a good idea. It has streamlined work and made it higher quality and more efficient.”
on site, who has been involved from the very beginning, improving communication. “In the southern region, we have Safe Work Leaders on all of our sites which are on or near the line. In worksites, they have safety critical roles reporting in to them, responsible for identifying and managing task risks on site. The initiative has been a success so far,but Craig believes there is more work to be done.
“There was some scepticism at first,”continued Craig. “But sites such as Meridian Water have adapted well.We’ve had a lot of positive feedback on the concept, so it’s now about refining it. “Over the next year, one thing we want to improve is the technology side of things. We are also organising working groups to discuss ideas and will be holding lessons learned sessions so we can continue to improve the system.”
want us to feature your team? Get in touch – shield@networkrail.co.uk
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THE SHIELD ISSUE 16, DECEMBER 2017
RAIL LIVES
ON THE RIGHT TRACK Moving from construction to the railway was one of the best decisions Phil Mellish ever made Without a chat about careers with his mates, Phil Mellish may never have left the construction industry to embark on a 15-year journey on the railways. “My friends said the railway was more exciting,” explained Phil, now Senior Construction Manager at Skanska. “And they were right. It’s not just the job itself you have to think about, you have to be mindful of what effect trains have on a project along with the huge health and safety component. “I’d been in the construction industry from the moment I left school at 16, and taking on new
challenges really appealed to me.” And taking on those challenges is exactly what Phil decided to do. He left the construction industry, where he had worked his way up to Project Manager, to become a Site Manager on the railway. “One of the first things I noticed when I started was the way health and safety was handled. The rules regarding PPE, for example, were far stricter. On construction, we used to just wear high vis. “That being said, it was still nowhere near the standard it is now and there was certainly more risk. You used to be able to just wander
down to the Signalman and ask for 30 minutes on track – you absolutely could not do that now.” It gets worse than that too. Phil said he once saw a group head out on to track before walking in completely the wrong direction. “It was an incredible thing to see,” he continued. “They hadn’t been briefed properly and immediately turned left and went the wrong way. It really goes to show just how important briefings are. “Despite that horror story, briefings are actually something I continue to be most impressed by every time I see one. Before projects
begin, everything is planned in meticulous detail, which is then communicated clearly, concisely and regularly across sites. They are vital. “I think the introduction of Safe Work Leaders and the Safe Work Pack is also a brilliant idea, and will only make managing risk more efficient than ever. It will take some time to get it all embedded, but it’s going to have a hugely positive effect.” But Phil was also quick to point out that even with the improvements made over the years, there’s still more work to be done. “The biggest thing for me is that people feel comfortable speaking
QUICK THINKING SAVES LIVES A major incident was recently avoided at an Osborne site in the southern region thanks to the quick thinking of Gordon Parr and Nathan Allen, highlighting the importance of remaining vigilant when on or nearby site. Gordon, Site Manager for Suttle Projects, was travelling back to site when he spotted a young woman shuffling along the parapet of a bridge. Thinking quickly, he gestured to Nathan, Site Manager for Osborne, who was able to get across the bridge to the woman just in time to stop her jumping. And it wasn’t just the site team who were spared from witnessing a horrific scene either, as a train was also approaching below. The incident would have had a long-
lasting effect on both the train’s driver and its passengers. “It all happened so fast, there was barely time to think,” explained Gordon. “When I saw her, you could tell something was up, and thankfully Nathan was close enough to grab her when we realised what was about to happen.” Nathan continued: “It’s what anyone would have done, but it just goes to show how quickly an incident can begin or be averted. “As you can imagine, the girl was very distressed. I took her back to the office and an ambulance came to pick her up. She is now getting the help she needs.” Project Manager Derek Rapson said
additional support was immediately offered: “I visited the site to check the guys were okay and counselling services were made available with STOP Think! Coach Adam Hillaby, who also went down to site and had a chat with everyone. I’m happy to say that everyone dealt with what happened really well.” Gordon said he and Nathan have also kept an eye on each other since the incident occurred, and was pleased that additional support was made available if necessary. “We’re both just glad we were able to stop what happened,” he continued. “I think everyone on site has handled the situation well, but it’s great to know that there is extra support on offer if required.”
up when they identify a safety issue. No one should ever be afraid of putting a Close Call in if they believe it is necessary. “We need to continue to work towards ensuring every site is an environment where people feel confident approaching a colleague and telling them something’s wrong. “If I could say one thing to anyone working on the railway, it’s don’t walk by. We work in a fantastic industry, albeit one where we have to be aware of the risks at all times. One of the best ways to negate those risks is by ensuring we all look out for each other.”
HELP IS AT HAND If you’ve witnessed an incident and need support, the Southern Shield Employee Assistance Programme is a free confidential care service available to everybody who works on behalf of Infrastructure Projects Southern. Simply call the 24-hour Freephone number whenever you need support: 0800 358 4569 or +44 141 271 7540 from outside the UK. Or go online at Validium.com to join vClub: Username: southernshield and Password: homesafe
What do you think? Get in touch – shield@networkrail.co.uk