The Shield
THE SAFETY NEWSPAPER FOR RAIL PEOPLE
BOOT ( CA ON BAL MP) LAST PA GE 6
ISSUE 34, OCTOBER 2021
WE’VE GOT IT ALL IN CHECK
Ensuring safety on site is managed from the ground up
THESE ground technicians from Peter Baxter Associates are part of the large team ensuring construction of a brand-new station runs smoothly and safely. Due to be finished in Summer 2022, Thanet Parkway station will increase rail connectivity for passengers between East Kent and London. It’s a large and busy project, which means workers on site have to be fully aware of all the risks and ensure the highest standards of safety behaviour at all times. Keeping on good terms with the neighbours is also vitally important. Read the full story on pages 4 and 5.
Safer playtime
Works complete
Rail lives
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southernshield.co.uk
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THE SHIELD ISSUE 34, OCTOBER 2021
First Person As we move towards the end of the year, it’s worth restating how much the Southern Shield Safety Leadership Team (SLT) appreciates the commitment from all teams through-out the past 12 months – particularly with the continued presence of COVID-19. While vaccines, testing and distancing mean coronavirus is not the immediate threat it once was, we continue to work in high-risk areas. We must continue to speak out about unsafe acts, challenge anything that doesn’t look or feel right, and be thanked as a result. I recall the horrific accident at Paddington in 2019, where 66 people had an opportunity to stop the work before
the incident. To prevent any repeat of this, and to continue our drive to change safety culture on the railway, the SLT has defined five key safety ambitions in the run up to CP7 in 2024: • We are all Safety Leaders – everyone working together to deliver safely and successfully. • We are a learning organisation – lessons are learned and embedded, resulting in less harm to our people. • We do the right thing because we want to – we are empowered to act and supported to challenge. • We embrace new technologies to create safe, sustainable and healthy
The Shield YOU ARE
WHAT YOU EIGHT
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A CAMPAIGN to keep rail workers fit and well during an eight-week blockade has been run by Colas Rail. The Eight Weeks to Health and Wellness initiative was developed to encourage healthier eating, better productivity and smarter lifestyle habits.
environments for the workforce, public and the end user. • We are inclusive and considerate – everyone feels safe and healthy at work and people are valued and cared for. I personally am passionate about exploring ways technology can make our sites safer, and I look forward to working with teams across the region to ensure we get everyone home safe every day. Will Bryant, Operations Director, Colas Rail, South Rail System Alliance
The programme featured a Know Your Numbers session as well as visits from a fitness coach and occupational health nurse. Hydration Stations on site ensured everyone had constant access to fresh water, while a football club nutritionist created a meal plan to boost energy levels through slowrelease carbohydrates. Workers at the site in Bristol also had the opportunity to try out ‘blender bikes’ – using their pedal power to blend a healthy smoothie as they burned the calories. The bikes are due to be donated to local schools at the end of the project.
TEN TIPS TO STAY SAFE AND WELL THIS WINTER On site: • Maintain and use authorised and well-lit walking routes. Short cuts can result in slips, trips or falls • Order sufficient rock salt to keep walkways clear and slip-free and deal with autumn leaf fall – wet leaves are a common cause of slips • Check the weather forecasts so precautions can be implemented and have a procedure in place for snow removal • Keep absorbent mats around doorways to prevent floors from getting wet/muddy • Identify and level low/rutted areas which will allow water to collect • Ensure fire extinguishers have an appropriate anti-freeze additive or are protected from frost.
On yourself: • Wear multiple layers of PPE, thermal socks and keep your footwear in good condition. Have spare, dry PPE and use the drying facilities. On the road: • Ensure you have full vision and clear your windows of ice and snow • Take food, drink and spare clothing in case of delays • Drive and brake to suit icy conditions. Ensure you’re 20 seconds behind the vehicle ahead and be aware of low winter sun.
LIVE AND WELL Written and designed by:
beetroot.co.uk
A two-day virtual event offering practical tips on things like how to eat well, cope with stress or feel less tired is being held in November. Rail Wellbeing Live on 17 and 18 November will also cover topics including nutrition, fatigue and mental health.
Guest speakers include Jason Fox from SAS: Who Dares Wins and Olympic gold medal-winning swimmer Rebecca Adlington. You can register for FREE at www.railwellbeinglive.co.uk
60 SECONDS With NSCD Train the Trainer sessions complete, The Shield spoke to Network Rail electrification & plant specialist, Shuchi Jain WHY IS NSCD SUCH AN IMPORTANT INNOVATION? For many years, we have applied straps (metal bars essentially) to the track as a means of preventing inadvertent re-energisation of a section of the railway that has the power turned off. NSCDs replace the need to apply straps. They are controlled from a place of safety, off the track infrastructure. Quite simply, they mean fewer boots on ballast. NSCDs have been rolled out across large parts of Southern region already and we hope to cover the entire region by the end of Control Period 7. HOW WILL NSCDs IMPROVE SAFETY FOR FRONT LINE WORKERS? They reduce the risk of slips, trips and falls. They eliminate the need to work on or near the conductor rail and the need for manual handling along the track. They also make us more compliant with the Electricity at Work Regulations and increase time for safety critical work on the infrastructure. In addition, the programme supports the Track Workers Safety Programme. HOW ARE WE TELLING OUR TEAMS AND THE INDUSTRY ABOUT NSCDs? Train the Trainer sessions have already taken place, which will help staff across the region learn all about NSCDs. We are also running engagement sessions to communicate our go-live plan to the industry/supply chain, to understand their readiness and determine if they need any support. DO YOU THINK WE CAN ACHIEVE EVERYONE HOME SAFE EVERY DAY? Yes, we have to believe this. How can we do it? By continuing to drive our safety culture, by following the safety initiatives we have in place and by always looking for more ways to improve. DESCRIBE WHAT SAFETY MEANS TO YOU IN 10 WORDS? It is the minimum standard we should ask of ourselves.
Want us to feature your team? Get in touch at shield@networkrail.co.uk
ISSUE 34, OCTOBER 2021 THE SHIELD 3
WE HAVE LIFT OFF
Do you need to manually handle? According to the HSE there were an estimated 500,000 work related musculoskeletal injury cases in 2019/20. The Manual Handling Operations Regulations require employers to (as far as is reasonably practicable): • Avoid the need for hazardous manual handling • Assess and reduce the risk of injury from any hazardous manual handling that can’t be avoided
Manual handling sessions are a valuable reminder KNEES bent, back straight – everyone knows how to lift properly don’t they? Manual handling can be a big part of rail construction jobs, so a reminder of how to do it without causing injuries is always welcome. That was the aim of an event held by Costain at Gatwick Airport station. The event, part of a mandatory course, was organised by Costain occupational health nurse Veronica Tattersall, with sessions led by Siobhan Connolly, an administrator with BCL who is also a qualified manual handling trainer. “We have a duty of care to our people, so this
PLAY IT SAFE
kind of event is very important,” said Veronica.“It reminds everyone to take the time to look after themselves, even when they are keen to get the job done well and quickly.” FOCUSED AND ALERT Video testimonies from workers who had suffered serious injury and were unable to support their families helped bring the message home. But there was also a fun side. “Each of the gangs had their own session, which encourages openness as they are comfortable with each other,” said Veronica. “Everyone joined in and enjoyed showing colleagues where they were getting it right and getting it wrong!”
THESE children are enjoying safe and fun playtimes thanks to a pioneering project by Network Rail and supplier Seva Rail. Their school now has a colourful play area made from recycled material cut up from life-expired waste cables that came from an HCRS project in the area. Aside from the multiple environmental benefits, Network Rail and Seva staff helped create a new playground with a trampoline,
Carpenter Michael Judge was one of the delegates. “It was fun, which kept everyone focused and alert,” he said. “I do a lot of working with timber, concrete and steel so lifting is a big part of what I do. I’ve been in construction for eight years but it’s always good to have a refresher. It’s easy to get complacent about something you do so regularly and that’s when injuries happen.” While technology increasingly helps reduce the requirement for manual handling, it’s still vital to know the basics of how to lift properly. Veronica explains: “Get close to the object with your feet shoulder width apart, bend the knees and squat and then stand up with your back straight. It something we all do naturally as small children but grow into bad habits as we get older.”
climbing frame and more, and the major improvement of a rubber-floored play at the school in south east London, creating social value. Head teacher Dean Gordon said: “The children love it, teachers love it and parents love it. We’re so fortunate to have this.” Darren Colderwood, Network Rail’s Capital Delivery director, said: “We’ve shown we can be sustainable and help people too, which is a really powerful thing.”
GENERATION GAIN THE POWER of Flextron has arrived in the Southern region and is generating a lot of interest (as well as electricity) at Denmark Hill station. The station in south London is the first in Europe to use Flextron, a solar energy ‘film’, to power the building. In fact the photovoltaic film produces more power than the building needs, meaning surplus can be added back into the grid. As well as showcasing this sustainable energy landmark the upgraded station provides better access for patients and staff to two major London hospitals. The building features a new entrance, more comfortable waiting facilities, sheltered platforms, better lighting, and a cycle hub. It was officially opened in September by Rail Minister Chris Heaton-Harris, who was joined by local resident, writer, and broadcaster Sandi Toksvig, along with other community and rail representatives. The new station upgrade is already receiving industry recognition and has been shortlisted for two 2021 National Rail Awards – ‘Infrastructure Project of the Year’ and ‘Sustainable Development of the Year’.
NEVER UNDERTAKE ANY JOB UNLESS YOU HAVE BEEN TRAINED AND ASSESSED AS COMPETENT
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THE SHIELD ISSUE 34, OCTOBER 2021
ON SITE
BETTER SAFE THA With the adjacent lines open to trains, the team delivering a new station at Thanet Parkway are well aware of the need to stay safe JUST OUTSIDE the village of Cliffsend in Kent, a new station is taking shape. When complete, Thanet Parkway will increase rail connectivity between East Kent and the London area by providing access to mainline and high speed services. The two-platform station will include new road access with additional pedestrian and cycle routes via the village and a 300-space car park. Work is due to be completed in summer 2022. When The Shield visited just after a weekend possession, the team was installing steelwork for the concourse and lift shafts, and completing under track crossings. GOOD SEPARATION “The key risks here are working at height and any line open (ALO) working,” says Liam Disbury, senior agent for BAM Nuttall. “We’ve built a scaffolding deck to allow installation of steelwork for the platform and, because we can’t work that close to the live line with a mechanical excavator or a crane, we are using small hand-operated pallet trucks to move materials around. There are currently 50-60 workers on site on any one day but we’ve got good segregation of people and plant here. “One of the advantages of a new station site is that
there’s generally more room to ensure good separation than on an existing, older station. For example, in our major earthworks area we ensure that only people involved in that activity are allowed in to the exclusion zone. The levelling for plant working on that part of the site is also done by a GPS system, so you don’t need to have an engineer out there to check and mark out.” SUSTAINABILITY IN MIND With the potential for noise, mess and disruption of biodiversity, keeping local residents informed and involved at every step has been vitally important. As well as holding regular online meetings and posting updates at the village hall, the team has resurfaced the hall’s car park as part of an ongoing renovation. There is also a plan to run a competition for local schoolchildren to decorate the site hoardings. Logs and chippings from trees removed as part of the work have been donated to residents and the local golf club, and an environmental impact assessment is ensuring that landscaping results in a net gain in biodiversity. With sustainability in mind, HVO-fuelled plant and battery powered generators are used on site along with a wheel wash for trucks that recycles rainwater.
Always use a safety harness when working
ISSUE 34, OCTOBER 2021 THE SHIELD
AN SORRY
MEET THE TEAM Shaun Green, Safe work leader “I make sure everyone’s working in the right way and sticking to the rules. Briefings are the most important part of that. We always have question and answer sessions as part of it and if something’s not being done right, we re-brief and make sure they know how to do it safely. “The adjacent line is probably the biggest safety consideration here as well as machine works, so it is important safe working zones are clearly marked and that people stick to them. “People coming on to site have a far better understanding of safety issues than ever before but as safe work leader I still need to lead by example and set the standard.”
Kyle Simpson, Safe work leader “There are two main parts of the site – Shaun looks after one I look after the other. “This role is about understanding the whole job, who needs to be where and when and what else is going on around the site. You need to know the team well and what their competencies are. They need to know that we are always there if someone puts their hand up to ask something or if something is not safe. “I’ve been seven years in the business and safety been paramount ever since I first started. You can’t take the basics for granted though. I’m always glad to have a hard hat – it’s so easy to get bumped on the head.”
Paul Cockerell, Machine driver/supervisor
It’s all about RESPECT – seven steps to being a good neighbour
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EVVING – keep engine noise to a minimum. No engines idling or unnecessary revving, especially at night. Close doors quietly. MPATHY – ensure our neighbours know how seriously we take our role. If you receive a complaint, handle it with understanding and courtesy.
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HOUTING – loud conversations or shouting on site, especially at night is disturbing for neighbours, please keep to a minimum.
ARKING – obstructing private driveways, or parking on grass verges is not permitted –please think before you park. ATING – eating and smoking should always be done off site and during agreed breaks – not in public.
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LEAN UP – clean up after yourself, and leave no litter on site, or in car parks.
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OILETS – only use provided toilets or agreed welfare facilities – using neighbours’ trees, fences or hedges is not acceptable.
at height, unless other protection is in place
“I drive all kinds of machines – long reach, telehandlers, dumpers. “As a machine driver, I have to ensure proper barriers are in place to separate people from plant. I also rely on the banksman. We wear headsets to make sure we can communicate clearly. If the banksman is doing their job and following the correct processes properly, it means I can focus on the safe operation of the machine. “We have slew and height restrictors in place. You tap the distances into the computer, and it prevents the machine from moving above that setting. That’s one example of how tech has greatly improved safety. Back when I started, shouting ‘watch it mate’ was all you could do!”
Chris Sparkes, Assistant site engineer “Day-to-day my role is about setting out all the lines and levels, ensuring all quality documentation is completed and then observing to make sure all the procedures and health and safety protocols are followed. Safety is excellent here but sometimes it’s the obvious thing you have to remind people about – complacency is often what’s behind some of the most common accidents. “I’m also involved in planning and writing the task brief sheets – making sure these are clear and understandable to everyone. “There is currently lots of plant moving on site so we have to ensure there’s proper segregation and walking routes are kept to. Good communication as always is important too.”
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THE SHIELD ISSUE 34, OCTOBER 2021
TRAINING GETS A RE-BOOT Safety behaviours and tool handling were the focus of ‘boot camp’ sessions in Kent THE RIGHT TOOLS Making the right decisions, and using tools properly are part of a Southern Shield Toolbox Talk on Safety Behaviours. The Toolbox Talk aims to get front line teams discussing safety behaviour and thinking about what they might do differently. It can be downloaded from southernshield.co.uk
FRONT LINE track renewal workers got some hands-on safety training at a series of ‘boot camp’ sessions hosted by South Rail System Alliance. The sessions held across the summer, provided training on the safe use of a full range of small tools but also covered a wide range of topics including tool maintenance, sustainability, working with lineside neighbours and communication. It also focused on safety behaviours – unsafe behaviour being one of the main causes of accidents in the construction industry. A total of 32 front line workers took part in the sessions with gangs working alongside each other. The sessions took place on six days over two weeks. “Having the gangs train together
means you build teamwork but also you have a consistent level of competency and understanding of safety behaviour within a gang,” said Rory Evans-Beale, assistant project manager for Colas. “The workers are all familiar with tools like clippers, whackers, jacks, drills and hammers but these obviously carry very different risks if not used in exactly the right way.” BEHAVIOUR FOCUSED Some sessions were classroom-based but the main practical training took place outside on sidings near Hoo
Junction station in Kent. “Our Close Calls data showed frequent, repetitive low-level events being raised as a Close Call. The root cause of many are a combination of staff behaviours and knowledgefade. So, this behaviour focused programme was a way of addressing these,” said programme engineering manager Nick Matthews, who arranged the sessions. “Some of these related to damaged tools, so having training into how to handle and care for the specific models we use on site is very important.” Another key element was learning how to stop, speak up and challenge poor practice, and how to respond in an emergency situation – both fundamental to track safety. The format and content of the sessions proved successful. “Feedback has been extremely positive,” said Nick. “There were some who challenged the need for attending the boot camps, but the teams quickly realised that this was an investment in their skills and safety, a good opportunity to increase their knowledge and showed that the South Rail System Alliance values all workers.”
COMMENTS FROM HAPPY (BOOT) CAMPERS “It has refreshed my mind from previous courses.” “It was a great experience because I have come away with more knowledge.”
Everyone home safe every day
“The safety critical communications, behaviours, environment and emergency response training was good and refreshed all of our knowledge.”
ISSUE 34, OCTOBER 2021 THE SHIELD
UPGRADES ON TRACK A number of vital projects have been completed across the region
BARNEHURST
TWICKENHAM
RAIL workers were out in force over the summer on a number of important projects. Red-ranked sites during the August Bank Holiday weekend included Twickenham, south west London, where work included two switching and crossings (S&C) point ends, 140 yards of plain line track, 900 metres of conductor rail and replacing expired components. One safety issue encountered was a track trolley left on the line, causing significant delays. An investigation is ongoing but there were no incidents involving injuries. At another red-ranked site in Lewisham, south London, more than 1,100 yards of plain line track renewal were carried out. Despite complexities on the site, especially around access, the work on this high-profile route went according to programme and there we no safety incidents. There were two projects in the Horsham area of Surrey. At North Stoke Cutting, work was completed to reduce the risk of rockfall onto the railway while at Ockley an embankment which had been showing signs of movement was stabilised. This involved installation of around 80 metres of sheet piles. Stabilisation work also took place at Barnehurst in Kent. Work completed in September, bringing to a close over ten years of reactive and planned works at a location which has suffered considerably due to bad weather. Work covered around a mile of earthwork using solutions including king post walls, soil nails and sheet piling. Elsewhere in Kent, earthworks and drainage improvements were carried out during a nine-day blockade at Bearstead Cutting to prevent rockfall onto the track. Over 7,700 metres of soil nails and anchors were drilled into the slopes on either side of the railway line. During the project there were 130 Close Calls raised but no reported accidents or lost time injuries. Around 8,000 litres of HVO fuel was used, helping reduce the environmental impact of the work. Another nine-day blockade, on the Arun Valley line in Sussex, was also completed. Work included renewal of 10 point ends, 400 yards of plain line renewal and NSCD installations.
NORTH STOKE BEARSTEAD
LEWISHAM
OCKLEY EMBANKMENT
Be sure the required plans and permits are in place, before you start a job
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THE SHIELD ISSUE 34, OCTOBER 2021
RAIL LIVES
CAN SHE DIG IT? YES SHE CAN! Jaz Coleman tells The Shield about her career on the railway
DIGGING ditches, laying tarmac, pushing wheelbarrows – you name it, Jasmine Coleman is a dab hand at it. Never one to shirk a hard day’s work on a railway site, Jaz as she is known, has been working in the industry since her teens. This hard graft, combined with her experience and desire to help others learn, has helped her take on roles in charge of site safety across the region. Jaz works for her father’s company Coleman Rail, a subcontractor on emergency platform maintenance projects around Kent and Sussex. It means she can be on a different site every day, acting as a COSS at one place or hand-keying signals at another. “I genuinely love my job,” says Jaz. “I like having responsibility and being able to show others how to do things the right way. I enjoy
the atmosphere of working on sites. We have a laugh together but the team know that I call the shots and what I say goes.” SHIFT WORK Despite having worked on construction sites since she was 16 and gaining her Personal Track Safety certificate aged 18, Jaz wasn’t always set for a rail career. She considered training as a hairdresser, had a job grooming horses on a country estate, and later went to university to study teaching. Jaz found the student life wasn’t for her however, and chose to increase the railway shifts she was already doing to pay her way through college. As a woman in a male dominated industry, Jaz is aware that women often have to work harder than men to be taken seriously. “I’m confident and let people know I’m
not messing around,” she says. “As a woman on site you have to make extra effort – you can’t be quiet and timid. “But I’ve worked for nine years on the railway now – in some cases I supervise the guys I use to push wheelbarrows for. I’ve had a couple of run-ins with men who didn’t take me seriously, but most are fine. They know I’m happy to get my hands dirty and that I’ve been there, done it, got the t-shirt.” NO-NONSENSE APPROACH When it comes to site safety, Jaz has a no-nonsense approach. She recalls how she confronted someone who wanted to go ahead with unapproved work. “The rules stated you must use an aluminium scaffold tower with shrouding and rubber matting,” she says. “But the only tower available was made of GRP [glass
fibre]. One of the guys wanted to use it anyway to get the job done more quickly but I refused to let the line blockage happen. He was getting very angry but I refused to be pressured and stuck to my guns.” Jaz is continuing to develop her skills. She recently completed her Engineering Supervisor course and is awaiting mentoring and assessment. And her career has progressed alongside raising a family. As a mum of two young children, Jaz admits juggling shifts with family life is not easy, but is possible with a strict routine. “We’ve learned to live with it, and it’s a job I love doing,” she says. “I would 100 per cent encourage any young women to consider a construction career. You have to be willing to work hard but for I find it a challenge every day – for me it beats working in a shop all day.”
to be in the paper? 020 7749 0173 or text 07783 467892 What Want do you think? Get inCalltouch – shield@networkrail.co.uk