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A QUESTION OF DUST
THE PAPER FOR RAIL PEOPLE IN THE SOUTHERN REGION
STRONG AND CABLE Electrical upgrade under way A FOCUS on safety and the environment have been features of work to upgrade a substation and track cabling at West Dulwich. The work, part of the larger Sussex PSU project, means 12-car trains will now operate on the line. As well as keeping safety at the heart of the project – with the strong summer sun being a particular consideration – the team have also made a number of environmental improvements at the site. Full story on page 7 >>
Pole positions
Safety leaders
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Hot stuff? PAGE 8
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ISSUE 13, JULY 2017
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THE SHIELD ISSUE 13, JULY 2017
iF rst Person Stephen Webber Head of Safety and Sustainable Development Network Rail
As the Network Rail Head of Safety for the southern region, Southern Shield is really important to me. Every injury that occurs in our region is discussed by the Southern Shield Safety Leadership Team which is made up of senior leaders from Network Rail and its supply chain. At the time of writing, we have had one lost time injury since 1 April, this is a great start to the year so well done everyone but we can always do more, we are still sending people home injured; we have had 16 minor injuries with injuries to the
hand and fingers being the most frequently occurring. Unfortunately, some people think that minor injuries are an inevitable consequence of the work we do. I do not believe this. Looking closely at the injuries that our people are incurring, most, if not all, of them were preventable. Lifesaving Rules Make sure you are follow the Lifesaving Rules; the first four relate to Working Responsibly; Always be sure you have a plan in place
The Shield
for the work you are about to undertake; always use the correct equipment for the task, never undertake a job unless you are trained and competent and always make sure you are fit to work. Feel safe to ask If any of those items cannot be followed stop work and take a Time Out Take Five. Reassess the situation and what needs to happen to make sure you can follow the rules. We are about to start the sum-
AFTER TWO years of construction, Cambridge North station has opened to the public. The former railway sidings site has been transformed into a new station that provides an alternative connection for commuters in the north of the city. The new station provides better access for passengers as well as improved journey times in and out of London. Cambridge North station was built as part of Network Rail’s Railway Upgrade Plan. The station is running services to London and Norwich as well as serving the local community. The project was planned in line with the May timetable change, with passengers departing the station aboard the very first train on Sunday 21 May. Project Manager Steve Balliston said:
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mer period when we traditionally have a spike in accidents and incidents. So please ask yourself what you need to do to prevent injuries? If you are a manager or supervisor you need to encourage an atmosphere where your teams ‘Feel safe to ask’. For the frontline workforce remember that if it’s not safe don’t do it – even if this stops the job. If the task or the working environment changes or you just feel uncomfortable then you can also take a time out to discuss the situation and resolve any issues.
“We have been on site for two years in total and it feels amazing to have finished. We have definitely overcome a few challenges along the way. “As well as building the station with retail areas, platforms and the car park, we have created an architectural station square with cycle ways that link the site through to the Cambridge Cycleway. “The station includes many environmental benefits; we have installed solar panels and created habitats for wildlife from recycled materials, minimised site waste and re-used all site won materials in the permanent works. The great teamwork and communication meant we all pulled together to make it happen, and the finished product is something we can all be proud of.”
THERE TO HELP
PLANT KNOWLEDGE
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www.beetroot.co.uk
LEARNING MORE about plant is definitely something most staff could benefit from, which is why Stop, Make a Change stand down days featuring plant safety proved popular. The plant awareness days took place in April at the Redhill site, and more than 200 site staff had the opportunity to talk with experts in managing plant. They also gained an insight into operating an eight-wheeled lorry, Road Rail plant and a six-tonne dumper. Attendees learnt more about exclusion zones and why they are setup, as well as about innovation in areas such as working at height and lifting, from supply chain partners. Health and wellbeing was also a big factor at the sessions, with respiratory health high on the agenda, and more than 50 Know Your Numbers assessments were held. Participants also took part in mental wellbeing conversations and thanks to honest and open discussion, future initiatives will be shaped with these conversations in mind across the region.
“The day was a great success, with contractors from the southern region all supporting by releasing their site teams for the sessions,” said Gareth White, Operations Manager for Sussex, BAM Nuttall.“Our key safety point was to make people aware of the driver’s view and blind spots when operating the most common items of plant. “Going forward, the hope is that people will have greater awareness when approaching or working with plant and not put themselves in areas of danger.” Wessex Capacity Alliance held its own Stop, Make a Change day, focusing on mental health awareness,in May. With 155 attendees over five sessions, the main speaker on the day was Matt Kent, Southern Shield Mental Health Lead. During the sessions, staff opened up, despite initial reservations, agreeing that the stigma around mental health has to be reduced. Staff spoke about finding it a difficult subject to approach and talk about, and shared their thoughts and opinions with the group.
The Southern Shield Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) is now available to everyone who works in the IP Southern region. This includes our tier 2 and 3 supply chain, specialist plant operators and agency staff. It is a free, confidential counselling and information service available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with support and advice on everything from finances and tax to debt and health and wellbeing. Consultancy Validium, working in partnership with human resources and occupational health professionals, has been engaged to deliver the EAP services. “Mental wellbeing is an extremely prevalent issue not just in our industry, but generally,” said Julian Dunn, Programme Director. “I worked with
Juliet Cannock, of the health and wellbeing working group, to come up with a plan to support colleagues by creating the EAP and raising awareness.” Simon Morgan the incoming Health and Wellbeing Group Sponsor added: “The EAP provides every single person on the railway, within IP Southern, with access to a service that offers support. We’ve spent a long time working on physical safety on the railways but now want colleagues to understand that mental wellbeing is just as important.” If you would like to use the programme, you can call the 24-hour freephone number 0800 358 4569, or +44 141 271 7540 from outside the UK, or visit Validium.com to join VClub using username: southernshield and password: Homesafe
MATES IN MIND A NEW programme to promote positive mental health in the construction industry is due to roll out later this year. Mates in Mind (MiM) is a sector-wide programme that will help provide a consistent approach as well as an awareness and educational programme specific to the needs of the industry. The programme will help promote awareness and understanding of mental health and has been launched by the Health in Construction Leadership Group, with the support of the British
EVERYONE HOME SAFE EVERY DAY
Safety Council. VolkerFitzpatrick and VolkerHighways took part in a pilot and had trials at two locations. “The sessions were very well received, highly thought provoking and the programme on first view has great potential for removing the stigma attached with discussions around mental health,” said Andrew Battye, Head of HSEQS. “We are continuing to work with Mates in Mind on its development and look forward to its release in the coming months.”
ISSUE 13, JULY 2017 THE SHIELD
FROM POLE TO POLE
The Shield spoke with a number of experts about all things scaffolding… GOING DIGITAL ALLTASK is one of the largest independent scaffolders in the south east with approximately one third of its of turnover coming from rail. Since 2015, Alltask have completely digitalised their operations with a bespoke, cloud-based system called ‘Alltask KnowNow’. Nick Covell, Major Projects, said: “As a result of developing a digitalised contract management tool, we have identified additional ways beyond standard requirements to minimise risk to scaffolders and mitigate risk to our clients. Our system is made of a number of modules. One is Job Scheduler, linked to our training matrix, which has a hard, fail safe system eradicating the risk of operatives without the correct competency, induction or security clearance being allocated to a job.” Alltask is even helping minimise risk for contractors by improving the way scaffold inspections take place. “Any faults that have been identified during the statutory scaffold inspection are photographed, and then – upon rectification – are re-photographed, thus giving the client before and after photos,” said Nick. “These photos are included in the digital record of Weekly Scaffold Inspection, which includes the Inspectors current competency and a GPS geo-tag giving a precise time and location of the inspection. “As we record what the fault was and why it has occurred, this data can be used for analytical and behavioural based operational and safety patterns in a real-time environment. We can share best practice during a project between sites and even between contractors on a major project such as Crossrail.” These are just a few examples of the proactive approach Alltask can offer by making their business digital and, as a consequence, making the business safer. Alltask, which provide scaffolding predominantly in the civils and infrastructure sector across the southern region, have invested nearly £1 million on research and development to date to improve all aspects of project delivery beyond standard industry guidelines.
COACHING STYLE ADAM HILLYBE from LBS Coaching has been acting as a ‘Stop Think’ coach for Osborne and is planning a two-day course on scaffolding. “The rules around scaffolding are pretty set down, so it’s the complacency in the industry we are trying to aim at,” said Adam. “Sometimes people can no longer see the danger and we need to understand why people are not following these rules.
TOP TIPS: • Ensure your team is fully trained and have suitable experience for the level of complexity of the structure they are working on. • Ensure your equipment meets British and European standards and is regularly checked for defects. • Ensure your team is wearing clean, tidy and correct PPE to make sure everyone is safe and demonstrating a good image out on site and to the public. • Make sure there is supervision across the site. It is very important to make sure industry standards are followed and the job is performed safely and to the requirements of the client.
“After putting a post on Facebook asking why people need to wear harnesses while on scaffolding, only two said they wore one because they wanted to go home to their families, which was interesting.” During the summer months, Adam also suggested many different ways to keep sites secure. “We all know that children do get on to scaffolding, it is like an adventure playground for them,” he added. “There are many different things you could do to try and keep them safe, all depending on what type of work you are doing and who for. “Herras fencing could be used, the ladder could be removed, a locked device put around the ladder to stop access or netting could be installed around the scaffolding to prevent people getting near it.”
ELIMINATING RISK HADLEY Scaffolding supports contractors with scaffolding across the southern region, including most recently at Shoreham-on-Sea. “We are using different methods of erecting scaffolding to ensure everyone is safe and eliminate the risk of an incident,” said Sean Ruffin, who is responsible for health
and safety for the company. “This includes suspended scaffolding over the water and a retrieval reel, where operatives have a steel cable attached to them while they are working, so we are able to winch them back if they fall.” Hadley is a NASC (National Access and Scaffolding Confederation) approved company and follows specific safety guidelines including SG4, which details how you erect different types of scaffolding. “All of our guys hold CISRS (Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme) cards, a nationally recognised qualification that ranges from basic to advanced,” added Sean. “The Shoreham site needed advanced scaffolders due to the complexities of the job.” Hadley also helps keep sites secure by providing additional security for scaffolding, particularly Herras fencing, hoarding, emergency lighting, foam covers and caps. “Probably 70 per cent of what we do is for rail,” said Sean. “We all work for differ-
ent companies and we like to think that we are trusted by the contractor.”
STANDING SURE IT’S NOT just traditional forms of scaffolding which are common – SafeStand is also used at sites across the southern region. SafeStand is a working platform that can be used by anyone who has been trained to use it. It can be erected on site in less than 15 minutes and is a safe, stable platform that can carry loads of up to a tonne per stand. “It’s a means of scaffolding that is not entirely traditional,” said Sean Campbell from SafeStand. “The equipment, that has been used at the Waterloo renewal works provides a means of access that means you don’t have to wait for a scaffolder. “SafeStand can help to prevent delays to a programme as well as drive down costs.”
Do you have a BRIGHT idea you can share? Email shield@networkrail.co.uK
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THE SHIELD ISSUE 13, JULY 2017
NO CRANE, NO GAIN
The Maidstone stabilisation team leads by example Julian Dunn, Costain Programme Director
WHEN SOME of the railway’s leading safety VIPs visit your site, there’s not much more you can ask for than a glowing review.
And that’s what one team in Kent team received following a visit from Janice Crawford, Regional Director for Infrastructure Projects Southern, and Julian Dunn, Costain Programme Director, both members of the Southern Shield Safety Leadership Team (SLT). The team from Costain took possession of the site near Maidstone for 52 hours over the first weekend in June to reinforce the bank. Using a crane at its crest, more than 250 tonnes of material had to be moved on to the site to help shore up the gabion wall (rock-filled cages) the team constructed.
With work well underway, Janice and Julian headed to the site on the Saturday morning not only to view the site and its safety processes, but also find out the thoughts of everyone involved. Julian said: “I came away with a very positive impression. We had a fantastic site induction and works brief, and the work was clearly being undertaken very safely. “It’s important that the SLT are seen to be leading from the front and visibly demonstrating that we are doing the same things as we are asking our teams to do. Visiting sites is a great opportunity to understand colleagues’ issues, get confirmation that the safety processes we’ve put in place are working and gain valuable feedback.”
Janice’s view of the site was equally glowing. She said: “It’s important we visit the sites to better understand what risks we are exposing our employees, contractors and supply chain to. I must say, I’m very impressed. Before even entering the site, we had a concise but very appropriate briefing, which really set the tone. “Another aspect of the site I particularly liked was the care that’s been taken to ensure the entrance to the site and walkways are appropriate for the people using them. There’s been a lot of thought put into it. “Everyone I’ve spoken to has been very frank and I’ve had some great feedback from the team. That’s exactly what you want from a visit like this.”
Never enter the agreed exclusion zone, un
ISSUE 13, JULY 2017 THE SHIELD
JOHN KENNY, WORKS MANAGER “The work was completely reliant on getting full isolation of the track, which we had for a 52-hour period. “We had a high voltage (HV) route running through here which had to be isolated. With that being the case we had a HVCOMP (high voltage competent person) present, who ensured we did what was set out in the HV assessment. “I welcome site visits from the SLT. Janice and Julian gave up part of their weekend to visit, and it was a great opportunity to hear their views. “They don’t just tell us how to work safely while we spend the weekend working, they actually took the time to come talk to us – it makes a huge difference.”
MAX LLOYD, SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER “The team have worked very well to safely deliver as much of the work outside of possession as possible, and the job they’ve done during it has been equally impressive. “Our safety culture is continually improving and studying projects like this one is integral to keeping that going. On completion of the work, we’ll have a thorough debrief and a ‘lessons learnt’ exercise to pinpoint positives we can cascade throughout the company. “It was brilliant to have Julian and Janice visit and it’s a huge boost to have senior leaders who are so proactive about safety.”
Janice Crawford Regional Director for Infrastructure Projects Southern
SOKOL PALI, COSS/FRONTLINE SUPERVISOR “We used a lot of big machines, for example the crane, and I think the work has been done very safely considering that. “Everything has been well managed and the line and site managers have done a great job of keeping on top of everyone to ensure safety is the number one priority. “When you have our senior leaders visiting the site, it’s reassuring to know that you don’t need to change anything as everything has been kept under control throughout the possession.”
nless directed to by the person in charge
ELEANOR WATERS, SENIOR ASSET ENGINEER “It’s been great to have members of the SLT on site. We want their views on the work we’ve been doing and it’s great to hear them reinforcing the safety messages. “The feedback we’ve received has been very positive and I think it’s extremely useful to have. “Conversations with Janice and Julian have been open and honest, which I think is exactly how they should be. It’s important that everyone feels free to speak frankly about the challenges, so that we can then work out how to overcome them.”
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THE SHIELD ISSUE 13, JULY 2017
DUST AWARENESS
DRY SPELL
WITH THE drier weather comes drier ground, meaning that more dust is released into the air when the earth is disturbed. For AECOM’s Associate Director Matthew Thomasson, wearing correct protection is essential when working with dust. “The work we do at AECOM often involves intrusive ground investigation,” said Matthew. “Whenever the ground is disturbed, we carry out a dynamic risk assessment of the resultant conditions. “We take a step back from the work and as-
sess what is needed in terms of equipment, dust suppression and PPE, which may include face masks and goggles to protect staff from the dust.” Face masks are available in different categories suitable for different environments and conditions, with respirators offering a greater level of protection, if required. Staff are trained to identify if protection is required and what PPE is required to do the job safely. “Our operatives protect themselves against silica dust with face masks and eye protection
when moving large quantities of ballast,” said Matthew. The effects of not using the correct protection when working in dusty conditions aren’t just short term. “There are short term issues, such as breathlessness, and discomfort but there are potentially more serious, longer-term problems that may become apparent later in life,” said Matthew.“Getting dust particles into your mouth and lungs can cause respiratory issues, including serious illnesses, such as cancer. “We want to make sure our operatives are aware it’s not just the initial impacts they need to worry about, but also the potential long-term effects.” In the summer months, further action can be taken by dampening down the area, so less dust is created, or by using a dust suppressor. “At AECOM, we ensure face fit testing is carried out on the site crews. A number of our operatives are trained to test respiratory equipment to make sure that the seals on their equipment fit properly, so no dust particles can get around the mask,” added Matthew. More than 130 colleagues at Skanska took part in a dust awareness event as part of Stop, Make a Chnage in June. “The event tied into the value of Care for Customers,” said Environmental Advisor Paul Arnold. “Controlling dust was the focus, thereby helping improve awareness and overall health of our employees, as well as reducing nuisance dust for our neighbours.” The event included demonstrations of particulate filter masks and an overview of foods which improve respiration health. “Engagement was high and once the seriousness of the topic became apparent, many were motivated to make changes that will benefit their respiratory health,” added Paul.
HEALTH IN MIND
TO MARK Mental Health Awareness Week in May, events were held across the southern region to talk openly about mental health, with the theme, “Surviving or Thriving?” As part of the event these top ten tips were also shared: 1. Talk about your feelings – this can help people to stay in good mental health and well as
to deal with more troubled times 2. Keep active – regular exercise can boost self-esteem, help you concentrate, sleep and look and feel better. It also helps to keep your brain and other vital organs healthy 3. Eat well – a diet that is good for your physical health is also good for your mental health 4. Drink sensibly – drinking is not a good way to manage dif-
MORE THAN 120 Murphy staff took part in a Step Up event to try and remove the stigma around mental health issues in the rail sector.
ficult feelings, sometimes people will drink to deal with fear or loneliness, but the effect is only temporary 5. Keep in touch – keep the lines of communication open, it’s good for you 6. Ask for help – none of us are superhuman, if things are getting too much for you, ask for help 7. Take a break – a change of
The event, held in May, aimed to help people understand talking about mental health worries and experiences can help. A film and a presentation highlighted the
scene or pace is good for your mental health 8. Do something you’re good at – enjoying yourself can help beat stress 9. Accept who you are – good self-esteem helps you cope when life takes a difficult turn 10. Care for others – this is an important part of keeping and building on relationships with people closest to you.
importance of recognising the signs and symptoms of mental health issues, how simply asking ‘are you OK?’ could, potentially save a life.
60 SECONDS Matt Kent, Mental Health and Wellbeing Lead, Southern Shield
THE SHIELD: Explain safety in 10 words. MATT KENT: Safety is a physical and mental situation we can choose. TS: What unsafe act would you banish forever? MK: People working under unreasonable conditions in which they are not afforded the time to do things in a controlled, considered and sufficiently detailed manner. TS: What is the best safety motto you have heard? MK: To be healthy as a whole, mental wellness plays a role. TS: What would be your top tip to your colleagues for working outside during the summer? MK: Remember that when the good weather does eventually show up, the enthusiasm to enjoy and make the most of it can sometimes overtake doing the necessary things to keep us healthy and safe. Take sufficient time to make sure you are protected and that nobody else is rushing around with things in a way that may cause harm.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I’VE LEARNED
Irosha Gunatunga, Site Engineer, BAM Nuttall
“The most important thing I’ve learned is to utilise different types of communication effectively. Some people prefer you to pick up the phone, others like email while others still prefer a weekly progress report. A big part of my job is to communicate with people at all levels, including the client, the agent, the commercial team and even the designer. A continuous flow of communication between people is so important. “I think it is particularly good to have briefings and communication at this time of year around summer working. When it is warm, I always make sure that I remind staff to take regular breaks during our daily briefings, particularly if the work they are doing is labour-intensive. I also make sure the welfare facilities are as close to the work site as they can be. “Everyone around me is constantly teaching me new things and, when I am preparing and giving briefings, I am always open to new ideas. I want to ensure that we have an environment where people are not afraid to speak their mind to ensure that a project is successful and safe.”
Have you made a change to your lifestyle? shield@networkrail.co.uK RAIL LIVES–Email page 8
ISSUE 13, JULY 2017 THE SHIELD
POWER UP Enhancing the power at West Dulwich substation means larger capacity trains will now operate on the line
PART OF the larger Sussex PSU project, the Siemens team has been on site at West Dulwich since February upgrading the substation and track cabling to accommodate eight and even 12-car trains. “The equipment is also coming to the end of its life,” said Project Manager Jim Lynn. “We are replacing the DC switchboard, running the old one and the new in parallel until we do the changeovers on the track feeder cables on midweek night shifts. This will enable us to completely replace the old board and commission the new board into service in planned stages. The old DC switchboard will then be part salvaged for spares that are no longer produced, and part re-cycled. “We are also replacing the track cabling, which supplies the Chatham and Portsmouth lines.” Cable management sleepers, made of hol-
lowed-out concrete, are also being installed to replace plastic pipes, which makes it safer for the cables to pass through. Since being on site, the team have also brought about a number of environmental changes, which have benefited neighbours. “When we arrived, we found that the site had been used as dumping ground, which was a bit of an eyesore,” said Jim. “We cleared 20 tonnes of rubbish, and will put in flower beds and paint the perimeter palisade fence as requested by neighbours. “We are also doing some enhancement work for a local sports centre by cleaning up their site and creating more football pitches for them, as they have kindly let us park our cars there.” It is a very busy time at West Dulwich, and with hot weather expected, extra supplies of water are available for the teams on site.
want us to feature your team? Get in touch – shield@networkrail.co.uk
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THE SHIELD ISSUE 13, JULY 2017
HOT OFF THE PRESS
WHAT A SCORCHER! Enjoy the summer but keep safe in the sun WITH THE summer here and plenty of long, hot days ahead, it is important to make sure you stay safe in the sun. Shockingly, there are more than 100,000 new cases of non-melanoma skin cancer diagnosed every year in Britain. And not only that, there are also 240 new cases of melanoma skin cancer every year that is linked to exposure to the sun at work. To keep yourself safe while working this summer, remember to: Cover up – clothing forms a barrier to the sun’s harmful rays. Make sure to comply with PPE requirements. Stay hydrated – prevent dehydration by drinking fluids throughout the day and try to minimise your caffeine intake.Try not to drink energy drinks as they contain quite a lot of both sugar and caffeine. Seek shade – stay in the shade whenever possible, particularly during breaks. Use sunscreen – sun cream of at least factor
30 should be applied at every break. Protect your head – when not required to wear a hard hat, always wear another hat in the sun, preferably with a wide brim. Be skin safe – check skin regularly for any unusual moles or spots. See a doctor if you find moles that are changing in shape, size, colour, itching or bleeding. Although enjoying the warm weather can bring lots of benefits, it can also place a lot of stress on the body, particularly heat exhaustion or heat stroke. A prolonged higher core body temperature can cause these illnesses, symptoms of which can be weakness or extreme fatigue, faintness, confusion, headaches, nausea or vomiting. As well as the weather, air temperature, humidity, clothing, PPE, proximity to plant, powered tools and the type of work can all lead to heat stress. During these hot months, look out for each other and if you or a colleague starts to suffer any symptoms then seek immediate first aid or medical assistance.
Non-melanoma – one of the most common cancers in the world and refers to a group of cancers that slowly develop in the upper layers of the skin. Melanoma – is a more serious cancer and can spread to other organs in the body. Melanoma is caused by skins cells that begin to develop abnormally. Exposure to UV light from the sun is thought to cause most melanomas.
The Wessex Capacity Alliance Civils Team (above) wearing wristbands that change colour. This happens when there is enough UV light to require action like covering up, wearing sunscreen, sticking to the shade and drinking plenty of water.
The Shield also spoke with Matt Galvin,Transport for London’s Health and Wellbeing Improvement Manager, about the advice that TfL gives to staff who work on London’s extensive underground during the summer. To keep cool in the summer months, the new London Underground uniforms include lightweight material options for staff, including lighter summer trousers. And staff working on deep level platforms are encouraged to stand in areas of good ventilation when possible, to try and take advantage of breezes. Just like colleagues in the southern region, Matt advised all London Underground colleagues to stay hydrated to maintain focus and concentration levels. Even though in a more customer facing role, London Underground staff are encouraged to take small bottles of water with them and drink with discretion in view of customers. Just as on sites across the southern region, deep level stations are fitted with water dispensers in mess rooms and ticket office use areas. To make water more interesting, slices of fruit or a little juice can be added but sugary drinks should be avoided. If London Underground staff work outside, they are also encouraged to stay in the shade where possible and to always wear sunscreen.
What do you think? Get in touch – shield@networkrail.co.uk