The Shield October 17

The Shield

ISSUE 05, DECEMBER 2015 THE SHIELD 1

THE PAPER FOR RAIL PEOPLE IN THE SOUTHERN REGION

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UP AND AWAY

ISSUE 15, OCTOBER 2017

WINTER WARNERS Preparing for the winter weather WITH summer now over, preparation for the colder weather is underway at sites across the southern region.

The Shield travelled to Northumberland Park to chat with some of the team working on the West Anglia Mainline Capacity Improvement Project about how they’re tackling winter. As well as holding regular winter briefings, they have been focusing on wearing the correct PPE, winter driving, keeping healthy and slips, trips and falls.

Full story on page 4 >>

Hot topic

Maintaining a healthy mind

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www.southernshield.co.uk

Bend and stretch PAGE 8

Any stories? Email theworks@networkrail.co.uk

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THE SHIELD ISSUE 15, OCTOBER 2017

First Person

John Dowsett, Managing Director Infrastructure, Geoffrey Osborne Ltd

AS A MEMBER of the Southern Shield Safety Leadership Team, I meet and am in regular contact with senior leaders from all southern region main contractors and Network Rail. You are probably not aware, but every accident that results in an injury, however minor, will be discussed at our monthly meetings. As a senior leader, if an accident occurs on one of your worksites, it can be really challenging to admit that something you are ultimately responsible for has gone wrong, to explain what you have done about it

and share what lessons everyone can learn from the incident. What we all value is the unconditional support we get from the rest of the team and the realisation that sometimes the difference between a minor and a major injury can be down to luck.

However, it is looking ahead that is one of the most significant things we do as a Safety Leadership Team.

We can learn from accidents that have already happened, but what we really want to do is stop the next one!

The recently updated Southern Shield Charter is a really important

The Shield

The following issues have been identified as the main causes of manual handling incidents over the past 12 months:

BAD THINGS COME IN THREES

www.beetroot.co.uk

Finally, I hope you enjoy this edition of The Shield. Personally, I am particularly interested in the article Matt Kent has written discussing the increased prevalence of mental illness through the winter months. Having experienced mental illness in my family, it is a subject that is close to my heart and one I passionately encourage our people to talk more openly about. It is also something that Osborne takes very seriously as an organisation, recently signing the Time to Change pledge on World Mental Health Day on 10 October.

DID YOU KNOW?

This paper is produced for:

Written and designed by:

tool in doing this, raising safety standards to a level that everyone in the Safety Leadership Team agrees to implement. The requirement to wear flame retardant overalls in substations is a good example, and you can’t fail to be horrified by the picture in this edition of the overalls from Victoria Substation after a contractor suffered burns from a high voltage cable.

If you haven’t seen the Charter, you can read or download a copy from the Southern Shield website – just Google ‘Southern Shield’.

PAYING CLOSE attention at all times Slips, trips and falls remain a comto the dangers of slips, trips and falls, mon cause of accidents. According to manual handling and tools and equip- the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), ment could stop you from becoming there are around 1,000 injuries each an injury statistic. year to construction workers involving In the southern region, more than 84 fracturing bones or dislocating joints. days’ time has been lost due to manuThe HSE’s advice for how to minimise al handling injuries, predominantly hand, the risk of slips trip and falls includes arm and finger crushing, in the past 12 creating walkways to avoid walking on months, and it accounts for 39 per cent uneven surfaces, removing any obstaof all non-fatal accidents. It’s closely cles and keeping storage areas tidy, followed by slips, trips and falls, which being aware of any trailing cables, account for 20 per cent of non-fatal avoiding wet or slippery surfaces and accidents and more than 120 days’ lost using signs to make staff aware of changtime, and the use of tools and es in level, for example, doorways. equipment, the cause of 11 Incidents involving tools per cent of non-fatal acand equipment also conManual handling is cidents and 100 days’ tinue to be frequent. defined in the Manual lost time.

Any work involving Handling Operations “It is best practice tools or equipment Regulations 1992 as “any to avoid manual hanshould begin with a transporting or supporting dling, using methorough assessof a load (including the lifting, chanical aids where ment of the work inputting down, pushing, pulling, possible. Assess the volved. This includes carrying or moving thereof) risk and pre-plan looking at the work by hand or bodily force”. works with sufficient and how to set up saferesources,” said Adam ly before beginning the Parker, a Network Rail safetask. It’s also vital that the ty expert. “If it must be done, you right tools or equipment are choshould assess the risk factors based on sen and tasks should always be planned TILE. That means looking carefully at ahead to ensure they are available. the task to be completed (T), the indiThe HSE also suggests that guards vidual doing the task (I), the load to be or safety devices should be checked lifted and handled (L) and the environ- and tested regularly, appropriate conment the task is in (E). trols put in place depending on if a pow“Manual handling is taken for grant- er supply is used and that all work is ed in most operations, as the task is properly supervised. often not complex or repetitive. To avoid Included in this issue of The Shield manual handling injuries, work should are top tips for avoiding slips, trips be well planned and manual handling and falls in the winter. Turn to page avoided as a first choice.”

5 to find out more.

Poor supervision Not using mechanical aids Poor communications Not planning lifting properly

MANUAL HANDLING Two operatives were manually loading C19 concrete troughs on to a flatbed van.

As the last trough was being loaded, one of the operatives crushed the little finger of his right hand in between two of the troughs.

He was taken to A&E and had the fingernail removed and finger stitched.

SLIPS, TRIPS AND FALLS A Close Call was raised after a member of an inspection team spotted that two coper stones were causing a trip hazard at Havant station.

The stones buckled and were raised above the normal platform level by around 30mm.This was causing a tripping hazard to the public at the platform edge, and also potentially a risk of a person being hit by a train.

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT An operative was using a hedge trimmer when he lost his balance.

The trimmer became snagged and, while trying to loosen it, his knee came into contact with the blade of the machine, which was still rotating at the time.

The operative sustained a small cut to his knee. He was taken to hospital where he received stitches.

EVERYONE HOME SAFE EVERY DAY

Want to be in the paper? Call 020 7749 0173 or text 07783 467892

ISSUE 15, OCTOBER 2017 THE SHIELD

THE BURNING ISSUE Wearing flame retardant PPE could end up saving your life The new Southern Shield Charter item states: “The minimum PPE requirement in the IP Southern region is as detailed in the PPE Guide. This is mandatory when undertaking work or visiting sites but does not remove the requirement to risk assess a task and identify specialist PPE.”

DID YOU KNOW? There are two main types of flame retardant garments: 1. Products coated with a flame retardant coating.

2. Inherently flame retardant garments. These are made from a fabric which remains flame retardant throughout the life of the garment.

If the item is laundered, dirty or old, the wearer will still be protected.

VICTORIA SUBSTATION

AN UPDATED version of the Southern Shield Charter including a new item on minimum PPE requirements and detailed information regarding flame retardant PPE has been launched and is available on the Southern Shield website.

Further changes have been made to the Track Access Protocol and Live Conductor Rail Protocol due to the introduction of Standard 019 and Planned Delivery of Safe Work Leader (PDSW).

It has been introduced as a reminder that all tasks should be risk assessed to ensure the correct PPE is worn and links to changes made to the Southern Shield PPE Guide, which has been added as an appendix to the Charter. Changes to the guide include more information about cleaning glasses, the use of chin straps, particularly when working at height, and, importantly, flame retardant PPE. It is mandatory that the Strapping

Operative and COSS in a strapping team wear flame retardant overalls as part of their PPE, and they are strongly advised that these also be arc resistant. Also important to note is the difference between flame retardant and arc resistant PPE. All arc resistant clothing is also flame retardant, but not all flame retardant clothing is arc resistant.

Electric arcs and arc flashes are one of the least understood hazards of electricity,occurring as a result of extreme discharges of voltage or electrical current from equipment such as switchgears and transformers. The risks resulting from this hazard include first, second or third-degree burns, extremely high levels of radiant heat, secondary fires or explosions and potentially fatal electrocutions.

Read the changes to the Charter online by visiting www.southernshield.co.uk

TWO CONTRACTORS were dressing cables into their final position on a wall-mounted cable rack.

One operative had to step up on to the cable tray to dress the cables, resulting in him stepping on the live cables, forcing one of them down and on to a cable clip stud. This pierced the cable insulation, causing it to short-circuit to earth and flash. The individual working over the cables received burns to the back of his legs and

LESSONS LEARNED: Incorrect PPE was worn for the task. Always wear flame retardant overalls when working on or near high voltage electrical equipment and ensure you have appropriate first aid qualifications for the risk, for example, electric shock first aid.

LATCHMERE CURVE POSSESSION arrangements required that blocks be placed at a complex track area known as Latchmere Junctions.

During the engineering supervisor’s (ES) briefing, the strapman stated he was familiar with the area and, on receiving his safe system of work pack, drove to the access point. The person in control of the possessions called the ES and advised that a track circuit was down at Latchmere and suggested that straps had been placed in the wrong position.

The ES requested that the strapman move the straps further into the possession, to a point past an

THE KEY FIGURES IN 2015/2016, 6 INDUSTRIAL FATALITIES WERE DUE TO CONTACT WITH ELECTRICITY

IN 2016/17, 8 INDUSTRIAL FATALITIES WERE DUE TO CONTACT WITH ELECTRICITY ELECTRICAL FIRES CAN BURN UP TO 19,000°C IN 2015/16, THERE WERE 422 NON-FATAL, REPORTABLE INDUSTRIAL INCIDENTS RELATING TO CONTACT WITH ELECTRICITY ELECTRICAL FIRES ARE UP TO 50 TIMES HOTTER THAN A TYPICAL FIRE

buttocks. The other, working below the cable rack, received burns to the top of his head and right hand.

SIMON AT WORK

insulated block joint. The strapman subsequently called the ES stating he had been burned and needed an ambulance.

LESSONS LEARNED: The strapman did not establish if the conductor rail was live or not by using a live line tester prior to attaching the shortcircuiting strap. He also did not apply the short-circuiting bar, as required by the Network Rail procedure, or wear rubber gauntlets. Not wearing gauntlets is common, as there is an incorrect belief they are not required to be worn.

SIMON WHITE, Level A E&P CRE – Infrastructure at Colas Rail, explained why flame retardant PPE is vital when working with electricity: “As part of the Wessex Capacity Alliance Project, we sat down as a group and looked at any work being done and what tasks were involved, identifying any hazards. We then assessed the risks associated with those hazards and identified appropriate controls required. One of the controls that came up multiple times was flame retardant PPE. “Identifying tasks that require flameretardant PPE is fairly easy. What is vital when it comes to carrying out that kind of risk assessment is having a multidiscipline team with the necessary specialities.

“It was identified that the majority of our tasks would require it and working with UK Power Networks (UKPNs), we already knew that it’s mandatory for their employees too.

We then discussed this issue with a member of the SLT, as we weren’t sure what the rules were.

“The SLT has been really responsive, and it’s great to now see it added to the Charter.”

Any equipment stories? Emailthat theworks@networkrail.co.uk Always use is fit for its intended purpose

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THE SHIELD ISSUE 15, OCTOBER 2017

WINTER IS COMING The Shield visited the West Anglia Mainline Capacity Improvement Project team at Northumberland Park to find out how they’re preparing for the winter months

WINTER BRIEFINGS

With winter on its way, daily briefings now include extra information on how to stay safe as the weather changes.

They cover everything from taking extra precautions with plant and wearing the correct PPE to staying healthy and safely travelling to and from site.

“It’s vital that we begin briefing people about working during winter sooner rather than later,” said Steve Ayeni, Safe Work Leader. “We don’t want anyone to become complacent or forget about the challenges winter poses.

“Every update needs to be shared with the whole team and everyone needs to know the site-specific hazards which come with winter.

“Reminding the team of good practice around issues such as winter PPE and winter driving is really important too.”

DRIVING IN WINTER

Ice may be the first thing you think of when it comes to driving in winter, but there’s so much more than just slippery road surfaces to be aware of.

Vehicles need to be kept in good condition and checked properly before use, the distance between road users should be increased, extra care must be taken when driving in the dark and the low winter sun should be accounted for.

The colder, darker days also come with an increased risk of fatigue, which road users should be aware of when travelling to and from site. Make sure you plan for taking breaks during your journey.

“Before I leave home every morning, I make sure my screen is cleared and that my lights are working correctly and haven’t frozen up, as people can sometimes miss that,” said Alan Merrigan, Structures Fore-

man. “You also have to be aware of the road conditions and give yourself much more distance than you would during the summer.

“When on site, you should be aware of the surface you’re driving on, look out for any ice and be extra switched on for any hazards, especially in low light.”

TOP TIPS: ❄ E nsure you have full vision and clear your windows of any ice and snow ❄ Take food, drink and spare clothing in case of delays ❄ D rive and break to suit conditions and be aware of low winter sun ❄ O n icy roads, ensure you’re 20 seconds behind the vehicle ahead

ALAN MERRIGAN

Always ensure PPE is weather appr

ISSUE 15, OCTOBER 2017 THE SHIELD

WINTER PPE

Wearing the correct PPE suitable for the task you’re performing is a necessity, but there are extra steps you can take during winter to keep yourself safe.

At Northumberland Park, employees are utilising balaclavas, headlamps, thicker jackets, warmer socks and waterproofs so they can work safely whatever the weather.

Oluseye Toluhi, Safe Work Leader, said: “Before starting work or even thinking about winter PPE, we confirm that every single person is fit and safe for work, and is wearing the correct PPE. “It’s then about keeping warm. Jackets, balaclavas and special winter socks are a huge help with this. We want

everyone to be completely comfortable working outside and avoid anyone becoming fatigued due to the cold. The balaclavas must be Network Rail specification as well, with mesh ear panels to ensure hearing is not compromised.

“And while we always put up artificial lights when the days get darker, if there is still an issue with visibility, every person working must also wear a headlamp.”

TOP TIPS: ❄W ear multiple layers and thermal socks ❄ Have spare, dry PPE and use the drying facilities ❄ Wear a thermal hat liner under your hard hat – no hoodies! ❄ Make sure your gloves are suitable for the task

OLUSEYE TOLUHI

ENHANCED SEASONAL HEALTH CHECKS Catching a cold, or perhaps getting something even worse, is easier than usual during winter.

That makes being aware of your health of critical importance. And that doesn’t just mean wrapping up on site – it means watching your diet, getting the right amount of sleep and eating properly before heading to site.

Employees at Northumberland Park are regularly given the opportunity to have their health checked by a qualified nurse.

“There is a huge difference between winter and the other seasons,” said Paul Erhabor, Safe Work Leader. “It gets colder and it gets darker earlier in the evenings, and with that comes the need to pay extra attention to your health.

“As part of that, we have enhanced health screenings with an occupational health nurse, where we can have a number of checks done including blood pressure. It’s easy to think that as long as you don’t get ill during winter you are well, but sometimes health issues may not be immediately obvious.”

TOP TIPS: ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄

onsider giving up smoking C Consume hot drinks but limit your caffeine intake Eat hot, high calorie foods when working Eat a high energy breakfast

SLIPS, TRIPS AND FALLS

PAUL ERHABOR

ADAM KOPICZKO

As the weather gets worse, rain, snow and ice bring an increased danger of slips, trips and falls.

According to the Health and Safety Executive, in 2016 in Great Britain, falls from height contributed to 37 deaths.

There were also around 119,000 non-fatal injuries due to slips, trips and falls, with those involved taking an average eight days off.

Always be aware of wet or icy surfaces, take extra care in dark conditions and report poor lighting anywhere on site.

“I always take that little bit of extra time to get where I’m going and keep particularly aware of the surface I’m walking on,” said Adam Kopiczko, Site Engineer. “If there are walkways or other specially created access ways, make sure you use them – don’t take any shortcuts.”

TOP TIPS: ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄

e aware of your environment B Keep your footwear in good condition Be careful when crossing uneven site areas Remain especially vigilant in dark conditions

ropriate, especially during winter

TURN PAGE TO SEAS 6 FOR MENT ONAL AL HE ADVI ALTH CE

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THE SHIELD ISSUE 15, OCTOBER 2017

HOW TIMES HAVE CHANGED

60 SECONDS We put a member of staff on the spot and talk about their thoughts on safety.

In this edition, we chat to Mike Evans, VolkerFitzpatrick Framework Director

We are always looking to improve PPE standards, recently adding flame retardant PPE to the Southern Shield Charter. And plenty of progress has already been made too. Just compare work being done at Waterloo in the 80s (left) compared to nowadays...

Focusing on mental health issues this winter AUTUMN IS upon us. And while many of you will be starting to feel the seasonal cheer, Southern Shield Mental Health and Wellbeing Lead Matt Kent is encouraging readers to spend time thinking about mental health matters.

“Poor mental health is a significant issue and can be especially prevalent for some during winter,” said Matt. “One in four people experience mental health problems in their lifetime and a construction worker is lost to suicide almost every day in the UK. “There is clearly a great deal still to do to improve the situation and sometimes the smallest of actions or gestures are those which can make the biggest difference.”

World Mental Health Day, organised by the World Federation for Mental Health, was held on 10 October, with this year’s event focusing on ‘mental health in the workplace’.

“Mental health is often neglected as a key aspect of employees’ overall health and it’s great this has been highlighted as winter approaches,” continued Matt. “We have a number of on-going initiatives in the southern region to tackle the issue. We’ve launched a pilot mental health in the workplace workshop, discussing the issues surrounding mental health at work with people managers, what support there is available and what more we can do.

THE WINTER BLUES Depression during winter and seasonal affective disorder (SAD) are more common than you may realise. Here are some well-known tips to help combat these issues:

EXERCISE

Increases serotonin and endorphin levels, leading to a happier mood

SOCIALISE

Spending time with family, friends and other people is a sure way to lighten your mood

VITAMIN D

Supplements may help during times when there is less sunlight (seek advice from a GP)

SLEEP SCHEDULE

Go to sleep and wake up at regular times, and avoid naps

EAT WELL

When not working, choose healthier foods such as vegetables and whole grains

“We’re also holding group mental health conversations to discuss the issue in comfortable environments and are about to enter the next phase of Mental Health First Aid introductory training sessions in the run-up to Christmas. We’re also encouraging member organisations to sign the Time to Change pledge, just as Osborne has done recently (see below right).

“A healthy workplace benefits workers and employers alike and I’d urge anyone working in the southern region who is struggling with a physical or mental health issue to make use of the Southern Shield Employee Assistance Programme featured alongside this article.”

THE SHIELD: Explain safety in 10 words.

MIKE EVANS: Getting everyone home safe every day with no accidents whatsoever.

TS: What unsafe act would you banish forever?

ME: Walking into exclusion zones – people and plant don’t mix!

TS: What do you think of safety in the southern region?

ME: Everyone has done a great job raising the bar over the last few years, but there’s still work to do.

Let’s see how much further we can raise it.

TS: Do you have any winter working tips?

ME: Never be frightened to ask for the right PPE and make sure you’re wearing it.

TS: What could still be improved safety wise?

ME: I think we really need to continue to focus on people and plant minimum standards across the rail industry.

OSBORNE SIGNS THE PLEDGE

HELP IS AT HAND The Southern Shield Employee Assistance Programme is a confidential care service available free to everybody who works in the southern region. This includes all tier two and three supply chain and individuals such as specialist plant operators and agency staff.

You can use this service for support on a whole spectrum of topics, from general guidance on financial or legal matters right through to complex mental health issues and counselling.

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 Password: homesafe There is also the My vClub App, which you can download to your smartphone. Simply search for ‘My vClub’ on the App store for iPhones or on Google Play for Android devices to download.

TO CELEBRATE World Mental Health Day, Osborne has signed the employer pledge with Time to Change.

Run by charities Mind and Rethink Mental Illness, the pledge encourages businesses to commit to changing the way mental health is thought about in the workplace.

The signing ceremony took place on World Mental Health Day, with Osborne CEO Andy Steele and Chairman Andrew Osborne pledging their support with a plan of activity to tackle the issue.

Osborne joins more than 450 organisations to have signed up, including Network Rail, which signed in 2014.

Jo Loughran, Interim Director of Time to Change, said: “We know it can be hard to talk about mental health, which is why we’re supporting employers to open up; to talk and to listen.”

Have you made a change to your lifestyle? shield@networkrail.co.uK RAIL LIVES–Email page 8

ISSUE 15, OCTOBER 2017 THE SHIELD

ON SITE

A SUBSTATION RELOCATION

Safely moving the Pangdean Substation to higher ground has been no easy feat DARREN LUCAS, CONSTRUCTION MANAGER “I think the main challenge for this site was actually the nearby bridge, which has a threeton weight limit. To deliver the high voltage switch gear, we actually had to safely build the road!

“Demolishing the old substation near the track needs to be done safely but without disrupting services on the operational railway next door. We’re working closely with Network Rail.

“It’s been a complex task, but we’ve had great backup from our senior management at Siemens, who have put safety at the forefront and invested heavily in it throughout this work.”

PETER BROWN, SITE MANAGER “The cables we work with are live, as is a lot of the area around us, so we always have to be vigilant. Using flame retardant PPE creates another barrier to keep us safe.

“With Siemens, we always have a colleague with a Level A competency inside the substation, and they are the only ones that will be doing any switching or live activities, to eliminate the risk of a failure.

“What we need to continue working on, not just at substations but as an industry, is encouraging people to come forward if there is a safety issue or concern so we can prevent any potential accident from happening.”

ROBBIE ROBSON, CIVIL LABOURER “With so much high voltage work going on and so many large cables around, flame retardant PPE is essential when working at substations like Pangdean.

“And the danger doesn’t just start once the cables are in place. During the excavation, we have to dig quite deep, so you must be aware of your surroundings.

“Keeping safe at a substation is about using the method statements and assessments properly, always using CAT scans, keeping vigilant and ensuring you’re always wearing the correct PPE.”

LESTER CLEVELY, SITE MANAGER FOR SRS “If people are working around anything high voltage, it’s hugely important they wear flame retardant PPE. “If one of my colleagues has a question about PPE or any other safety issue, I want them to feel comfortable stopping work, calling a Time Out Take Five and coming to have a chat, so that we can take a step back and assess the problem.

“If it’s something we can sort out on the spot, we’ll sort it. If not, we’ll look at what expertise and specialist machinery is required to safely resolve it.

“We hold regular site briefings to ensure the team knows what they’re doing and when, and so that everyone is aware of potential hazards or changes to the site or working conditions.”

WATER AND high voltage electricity don’t mix, so an area susceptible to flooding definitely isn’t the ideal place for a substation.

It’s fortunate, then, that the Pangdean Substation team has been hard at work during the summer relocating the facility to higher ground in preparation for the autumn and winter weather.

And the job didn’t start with the relocation either. Before the project could even get fully underway, an entire 800-metre long road had to be built across three landowners’ sites in order to bypass the nearby bridge and its three-ton weight limit.

“Creating a usable road was a challenge, especially with the weather we were experiencing at the time,” said Siemens Site Manager Peter Brown.

“We had to negotiate with three different landowners, be careful not to damage a nearby cycle path and, once built, we’ve had to constantly maintain it.”

With the road up and running, the next safety challenge was getting the cranes needed into place.

“Any time a lift was going on, the main access gate to the site was locked to create an exclusion zone. A 10-metre exclusion zone is ideal, but ours was more like 30 to 40 metres.

“When a lifting operation was taking place, it was managed so that it was the only work happening on site at the time. It’s all about reducing risk as much as we possibly can.”

And even with the cranes gone and the substation relocated, there still remains the job of safely demolishing the previous site, with work planned to take place during October and November.

“Briefings for any lifting or demolition work is extremely extensive. At the end of the day, if everyone knows exactly what’s going on and what their role is, we can all go home safe.”

want us to feature your team? Get in touch – shield@networkrail.co.uk

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THE SHIELD ISSUE 15, OCTOBER 2017

RAIL LIVES

NEIL GOB

FLEXIBLE WORKING

Staff at Slade Green are coming off the job more limber than ever WHEN visiting a busy railway construction site, you’d expect to see sleepers being placed, walls being built, or any other number of tasks being completed. What would probably be more of a surprise is to see the entire site’s team indulging in a spot of morning yoga!

But yoga is exactly what’s been on the weekly agenda at some of Costain’s sites, rolled out as an extension of its musculoskeletal awareness campaign.

The idea is the brain child of Neil Gob, Occupational Health Nurse, and Ellie Walshe, Environmental Advisor, who decided to expand on the July campaign with a more long-term programme.

“I’ve been doing yoga for six or seven years and qualified as an instructor two years ago” said Ellie. “We thought we could put that training to good use alongside Neil’s campaign, so worked together to come up with a 20-minute plan we could introduce to sites, starting with Slade Green and Churchsettle.”

It’s one thing coming up with the idea of morning yoga sessions, it’s another introducing them, and you would think there may have been some resistance to the idea. But according to Paul Baciu, Site Manager at Slade Green, that certainly wasn’t the case.

“Costain have always been very proactive around health issues, so when Neil spoke to me about the idea of introducing yoga on site, I was all for it,”said

Paul.“I didn’t know much about it before we started, but I really enjoy it and definitely consider myself a convert!

“The guys on site have been receptive to it, which is great, and all members of management take part to encourage participation.”

Ellie agreed with Paul, and said she was impressed at how keen colleagues were to get involved right from the start.

“There was a bit of joking around at first, which was to be expected,” continued Ellie, “but everyone ended up really enjoying it.

“It’s an activity the whole site can take part in together and it has lots of health benefits, so it’s a win-win. The word must have spread too, as I’m getting phone calls from sites asking me to visit.”

According to Neil, the next step is to give as many people as possible the opportunity to take part.

“Offering in-house yoga sessions is a first for Costain and a great step forward in improving our team’s health at work,” said Neil. “The sessions are integrated into the daily pre-starts, and are designed to give simple yoga stretches and positions to improve the workforce’s posture, increase flexibity, improve strength and help with respiration and energy levels. We’ve had great feedback so far. In fact, it’s proved so successful that we are now expanding offering the service not just to Costain employees but to all the subcontractors too.”

JOEL LEWIS SITE OPERATIVE, SLADE GREEN “It’s definitely unusual. I’m not sure everyone quite believed it when we were told it was coming to the site, and perhaps thought it was a joke between the lads!

“We’ve been doing it for a fair few weeks now, everyone’s used to it and we all really enjoy it.

“Not only is it a bit different, the stretching and exercises really help keep you loose and it’s something to look forward to each week.

“It’s also good team building to have something outside our day-to-day roles to do together – I definitely think it should be introduced at more sites.”

EDDIE BRYANT SITE SUPERVISOR, SLADE GREEN “To be honest, I think it was all quite new to most us, but definitely exciting too.

“I’m always up for trying new things, and none of the team took much convincing to get on board. The response from everyone has been very positive.

“I’ve really enjoyed it so far. It’s made me feel more relaxed and I think it’s great that we have the opportunity to take part in health-related programmes like this.

“Everyone here is really behind it and we’ve now made it mandatory to take part if you work here. I’d say it’s something more sites should have access to.”

What do you think? Get in touch – shield@networkrail.co.uk