The Shield February 18

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The Shield THE SHIELD ISSUE 05, DECEMBER 2015

THE PAPER FOR RAIL PEOPLE IN THE SOUTHERN REGION

SEE PAGE

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A BRILLIANT CHRISTMAS

ISSUE 17, FEBRUARY 2018 PLANT is a vital component of almost every project in the southern region, but it also comes with a huge number of safety risks.

That’s why employing best practice, and making full use of exclusion zones, is vital to ensuring every person working with or around plant goes home safe every day.

The West Anglia Mainline Capacity Improvement Project team have been leading by example on their site, making excellent use of exclusion zones and following plant-related best practice by the book.

Working with plant is about to get even safer as well, with a new best practice handbook recently released and the Southern Shield Safe Use of Plant Working Group investigating ways to continue to improve safety standards.

Full story on page 7 >>

SAFE SPACES

Working safely with plant and exclusion zones The importance of briefings

A look at best practice

Tony discusses his career

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www.southernshield.co.uk

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

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THE SHIELD ISSUE 17, FEBRUARY 2018

First Person JOHN COX, MANAGING DIRECTOR, RAIL – VOLKERFITZPATRICK

WITH A successful Christmas and the New Year period completed, everyone working in the southern region should be immensely proud of what they’ve achieved. Some 62 ontrack and 12 off-track sites safely completed work during what was the safest Christmas period we’ve had since 2014.

The Shield This paper is produced for:

In my company, VolkerFitzpatrick, we had an extra Christmas present as we celebrated an entire year and around 1.4 million hours worked without a lost time injury being reported. I am immensely proud of everyone involved in reaching this milestone and I hope it’s an achievement we can continue to build on over the next 12 months.

Of course, maintaining an excellent safety record across the region isn’t down to just one company – our Southern Shield safety forum helps us all learn from each other. Where safety is con-

cerned, it’s definitely about collaboration and not competition as we move towards our common goal of zero accidents and injuries.

We know that we must never be complacent as there are always improvements to be made. As part of this, I recommend to you the recently released best practice handbook by the Safe Use of Plant Working Group. Working around plant is one of the most dangerous activities we undertake, so anything we can do to make this safer is vitally important.

Let’s all strive to make 2018 our safest year yet.

ABOVE & BEYOND

DIFFERENCE MAKERS

The SLT has recognised colleagues for their work Making a Difference

Left to right: Matthew Suttle, Deputy Managing Director, Suttle Projects; Nathan Allen, Site Manager, Osborne; John Berrington, Senior Project Manager, Network Rail; Gordon Parr, Site Manager, Suttle Projects; Jason Everard, Head of One Team Wessex, Osborne IN THE last issue of The Shield, you might have read the story of Gordon Parr and Nathan Allen, Site Managers for Suttle Projects and Osborne respectively, who prevented a potentially fatal incident at their site involving a young girl.

The pair have been recognised through the Southern Shield Making a Difference Awards for their efforts, with each receiving a letter of thanks.

John Dowsett, Osborne Managing Di-

rector, said:“On behalf of the Safety Leadership Team, I was delighted to recognise Gordon and Nathan’s fantastic reaction to this life-threatening incident.

“Their quick thinking and positive actions potentially saved the life of a young woman who was going through an extremely difficult period in her life.

“Gordon and Nathan made a real difference, demonstrating the high calibre of people we have working on our railway.”

Samantha and Arron were over the moon to have been recognised

Written and designed by:

ON PAGE 8, you can find out more about the fantastic Mental Health Conversations organised by Samantha Mitchell, Commercial Assistant, Arron Dolan, Project Manager, and Adam Hillaby, STOP Think! Coach.

The three have been recognised for their hard work raising awareness of mental health issues with a Making a Difference Award. Arron said: “It’s nice

to receive some recognition, of course, but the best outcome is that we help as many people as possible feel comfortable talking about mental health, which is often a difficult subject to broach.

“Going forward, it’s vital we keep the ball rolling. We’ve had fantastic support and some great feedback from attendees, so now it’s about speaking to as many people we can.”

S ’ K C I R T A P Z T I VOLKERF

ON 5 December 2016, a VolkerFitzpatrick operative suffered a broken arm while undertaking screw piling. Exactly one year later, on 5 December 2017, the company marked 365 days and almost 1.4 million hours worked without a lost time injury being reported.

What’s even more impressive is that at the time of writing, the team

have kept their spotless record going across sites including Blackhorse Road, Hackney Wick station, Subway and River Lea, Harts Bridge, Repton Street, Wharf Road, High Street, Malcolm Road and West Anglia Mainline Capacity Improvement Project.

The Shield sat down with some of the VolkerFitzpatrick team to hear about how they achieved it...

MARK WATKINS SUB-AGENT

TONY BROWN PROTECTION CONTROLLER

“I’ve been in the industry a long time, and have seen a lot of good things and a lot of bad things over the years.

But nowadays, the safety standards really are fantastic.

“For me, a big part of attaining such an excellent safety record is the briefings. A lot of the people at VolkerFitzpatrick giving the briefings are the same people who were once listening to them, which I think really helps.

“There’s also a strong team culture. Everyone works together and there’s no barriers between the guys on the frontline and management, which means everyone feels comfortable challenging each other if there’s a problem.”

“It’s a fantastic achievement. I think a huge part of it is that senior management at VolkerFitzpatrick lead from the top. They regularly visit sites and talk to colleagues, which makes a big difference. They want people to be open and honest.

“We’re all about quality here, right through from planning to completion of the work. And that includes safety. Even it takes longer, we would rather a job was done correctly and safely rather than rushed and with the risk on an incident occurring.

“If we work hard to keep doing what we’ve been doing while looking at how we can further improve, I see no reason why we can’t continue this excellent record.”

MARK TAYLOR CONTRACTS MANAGER “We have a culture that empowers people to make decisions and feel comfortable speaking up if something’s wrong. Combined with clear, concise communication; you’ve got a great base to work from.

EVERYONE HOME SAFE EVERY DAY

“Close Call reporting is also something that’s being taken much more seriously and is of huge benefit. Ten years ago, people would consider it telling tales. That’s not the case now – a recent 98-hour possession had more than 200 Close Calls submitted, equating to an unprecedented Close Call ratio to hours worked of 1:25.

“Over the last 12 months, we have also continued to develop excellent long-term relationships with our clients and key suppliers.

“We are now in the great position where subcontractors want to work with us and they assist with input into the detailed design process.

This ensures we have the best solutions and embrace safety by design.”

ISSUE 17, FEBRUARY 2018 THE SHIELD

WHERE ON THE WEB?

Whether you’re looking for issues of The Shield or the latest safety messages and updates, www.southernshield.co.uk has it all to help get Everyone Home Safe Every Day. Here’s a guide to what you can find on the website…

SAFETY MESSAGES

Missed one of the weekly Home Safe newsletters? Head to the safety messages section to read the latest releases.

THE CHARTER

The Southern Shield Charter gives information on all the initiatives agreed by the SLT which are mandatory across the southern region.

On this page, you can read and download the Charter, a ‘lite’ version and all additional appendices.

LIBRARY

The online library gives you immediate access to safety briefing documents, Toolbox Talks, Lessons Learnt, posters for your site and issues of The Shield.

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

Head to the health and wellbeing section for details of the Employee Assistance Programme, more on the Health and Wellbeing Strategy and a variety of Toolbox Talks.

EVENTS

Use this page to ensure you don’t miss out on upcoming Southern Shield events.

VIDEOS AND GALLERY

Check out a range of informative safety, health and wellbeing videos here.

BRIEF ENCOUNTERS HISTORICALLY, the IP Southern region experiences more accidents between January and March than at any other time of year. To try and make this the best post-Christmas period ever, back to work briefings were held at a number of sites following Christmas and New Year.

The Shield sat in on a Wessex Capacity Alliance pre-work safety briefing at Wimbledon and a back to work briefing at Winchfield, to find out what colleagues think...

WHY ARE THE BRIEFINGS SO IMPORTANT? • They are a reminder of the risk around key activity • Seasonal issues, such as working in the cold during winter, can be discussed • They are a reminder of any hazards on site and any other changes • First aiders and those responsible for safety and sitespecific emergency procedures can be reintroduced • They ensure everyone understands the Lifesaving Rules.

DID YOU KNOW? There were no lost time injuries in the southern region in Periods 10 and 11.

WINCHFIELD, BACK TO WORK WIMBLEDON, BEFORE WORK Ioan Trofin, Site Operative “I thought the briefing was excellent; it’s really important to be properly briefed on the risks we face during winter work.

“Safety is the responsibility of everyone here, and getting the whole site together to discuss the issues is vital.

“It’s up to all of us to ensure we work safely so we can all go home safe every day. There’s no better way of making sure that happens than looking out for each other.”

Sam Harrington, Site Operative “The briefing was concise and covered everything we possibly needed to know for working over the Christmas period.

“Safety on site is key. It should be the number one priority for everyone, whether they are on the frontline or in offices.

“There’s not a huge amount I’d change in terms of safety. It’s great to see how vigilant everyone here is. We just have to keep on top of things as the weather gets worse, for example, looking for areas which could cause slips, trips and falls.”

Sean Steel, Safe Work Leader “I thought the briefing was brilliant.

I’ve been in the industry for 14 years, and briefings like that are a great example of how culture has changed for the better.They play a huge part in ensuring that continues to be the case.

“I’d like to see a similar briefing for staff on sites with night work. I’ve done plenty of night shifts in the past and I think they do get ignored a bit sometimes.

“The quality of clothing used during winter is another thing I think could be improved. It would be great to see Gore-Tex used more, as it provides great protection from the elements.”

John McHugh, Plant Operator “It’s good to talk about safety issues as much as possible. That’s especially true during the postChristmas period, as everyone has just had some time off and we need to avoid any complacency creeping in.

“The biggest safety issue to be aware of here is probably slips, trips and falls, which is an issue at a lot of sites. I think continuing to improve how we deal with those would have a huge effect.

“If I saw someone working unsafely, I’d feel comfortable bringing it up, and I know my colleagues would too.”

Do you have a bright idea you want to share? email shield@networkrail.co.uk

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THE SHIELD ISSUE 17, FEBRUARY 2018

A SAFE AND SUCCES An incredible 62 on-track and 12 off-track sites safely and successfully completed work over Christmas.

Here’s a look at the six red-rated sites with excellent safety records which contributed to the best Christmas safety performance since 2014 Work on the Gospel Oak to Barking electrification was a great success

“A GREAT PERFORMANCE DURING WHICH WE DELIVERED WHAT WE SAID WE WOULD, WHEN WE SAID WE WOULD, AND WE DELIVERED IT (MOSTLY) SAFELY”

JANICE CRAWFORD, Regional Director, IP Southern, praised the teams who worked so hard over the Christmas period: “We delivered at 74 different works sites in total, including six that were red-rated, so the spotlight was definitely on us! Thanks to your efforts, all our work was handed back on time.

“Unfortunately, we had four minor injuries reported, but our colleagues were okay to continue with their work, meaning we had no lost time injuries in the period.

“A great performance during which we delivered what we said we would, when we said we would, and we delivered it (mostly) safely.”

never enter the agreed exclusion zone un

ISSUE 17, FEBRUARY 2018 THE SHIELD

SSFUL CHRISTMAS LIVERPOOL STREET ELECTRIFICATION AND PLANT RENEWAL The dedicated team worked through Christmas Day at Liverpool Street to safely replace the previous uninterrupted power supply with a new supply featuring an automatic changeover.

Prior to that work taking place, the team also installed a relocatable equipment building to house the new supply, installed and tested all cables connected to the new supply and installed a new isolator panel.

Key facts: l A high operational and performance risk to the route was removed l Signalling power supply now has increased reliability l Life-expired assets were renewed l All assets will have a diverse power supply l The current system is easier to maintain.

GOSPEL OAK TO BARKING ELECTRIFICATION With rising passenger numbers and only four two-car diesel trains running every hour on the Gospel Oak to Barking service, capacity is becoming more of an issue every day.

The team worked tirelessly over Christmas to help remedy that situation by completing a number of works.

These included installation of contact wire and track circuit testing, which helps electrify the route and which will facilitate the launch of a fleet of new fourcar trains due to launch in spring 2018.

Key facts: l 450 metres of contact wire installed over Christmas l Work will help provide an alternate route for rail freight traffic across North London l 6,250 lorry journeys saved daily per extra freight train on the route l New electric trains emit 20 to 30 per cent less carbon dioxide than diesel trains l Maintenance costs 33 per cent lower than diesel trains.

GREAT EASTERN OVERHEAD LINE EQUIPMENT RENEWAL Replacing part of the overhead line equipment between Ilford and Chelmsford during Christmas, which included the installation of 10 wire runs, was a huge success.

The team went above and beyond to finish the work an entire day ahead of schedule. The wiring is part of a wider project to install a new auto-tensioned system from Liverpool Street to Chelmsford, which will support a line speed of 100mph and additional trains, creating a faster, more reliable railway.

SEVENOAKS TUNNEL DRAINAGE Refurbishing two sections of blocked or collapsed drainage – part of an ongoing scheme to replace and refurbish sections of the main Victorian tunnel drain, was on the agenda during the Christmas possession.

By undertaking this work, the risk of future flooding has been reduced. This will in turn improve performance from feeder routes into the Thameslink core and reduce the likelihood of speed restrictions being imposed in the future.

Key facts: l 20,000 hours worked on site with no accidents or incidents reported l 10.7 kilometres of wire and completed one-day ahead of schedule l Nine section insulators and two complex overhead line structures installed.

Key facts: l 172 metres of drainage was replaced, exceeding the target of 110 metres l Overall, a 65 per cent increase on planned volume was safely achieved l A gravitational pipe system was installed as part of the work.

REPTON STREET BRIDGE INSTALLATION The Repton Street bridge is looking better than ever thanks to renewal work carried out by the project team over Christmas.

By replacing the deck and installing new walkways on the life-expired bridge, which crosses the c2c line from Fenchurch Street to Shoeburyness, trains will be able to run more safely and reliably along the route, benefiting customers.

The team also worked closely with local residents and councils to ensure a safe and successful delivery with minimal disruption.

REDHILL PLATFORM 0 A successful 10-day blockade was all that was needed for the Redhill team to complete the final commissioning stage for the station’s new Platform 0. The new bi-directional platform, alongside an optimised track layout, can accommodate 12-car trains as well as the new 2018 timetable. The platform entered operational service on 2 January, with its first passenger service arriving a couple of minutes after 05:00 on its way to Bedford.

Key facts: l Two U-type decks installed l Existing support structures broken down l 500 residents in close proximity to the work l Existing track and ballast removed.

nless directed to by the person in charge

Key facts: l Signalling signed in to use and possession handed back at 00:25 l No lost time injuries reported l Northern station throat remodelled and simplified l New switch and crossing layout installed to improve performance.

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THE SHIELD ISSUE 17, FEBRUARY 2018

PROBLEM SOLVERS MITRE BRIDGE GORILLA GRIPPERS

Best practice initiatives at southern region sites REDHILL RETRACTABLE BARRIERS

THE PROBLEM: Carrying sheets of plywood can often be awkward due to their shape and size, with cheaper versions carrying the risk of splinters and, in exceptional cases, more severe hand injuries. Manually lifting the sheets of plywood can also be difficult to assess, as most people use their own technique.

THE PROBLEM: Every site needs to be able to quickly create easily-identifiable exclusion or restricted access zones at some point during work. At present, many sites use tape, which can be difficult to set up and often needs to be replaced.

THE SOLUTION: Gorilla Grippers use two plates, attached to each side of the plywood, and a

THE SOLUTION: A high-visibility retractable barrier system, which can easily be set up, re-

rubber handle, which can be used to lift easily with reduced chance of injury. The handle allows operatives to safely lift from a fixed point using bent knees and a straight back, preventing injuries.

LEE TRAVIL, GENERAL FOREMAN, BAM NUTTALL

“The sheets of ply are quite unwieldy to carry, which made using the correct manual handling technique difficult at times. Using a Gorilla Gripper, it’s easy to carry plywood safely and with a much-reduced risk of injury. The response has been fantastic and I’d definitely recommend them.”

WATERLOO STATION DUST MONITORING THE PROBLEM: Ballast, demolition and construction work were causing large amounts of dust to be released into the air. Not only does dust cause major visibility issues, it also poses long and short-term health risks for those working on site.

THE SOLUTION: Mobile dust suppression units were deployed on each platform and three stationary units were placed in heavy areas. Specialist machinery designed to create less dust was used. Dust masks were made available, control and monitor processes were put in place to inform operatives of dust levels – complete with a red (masks mandatory), amber (take action and review dust controls in place) and green (ensure regular cleaning, no dry sweeping, use vacuums/wet vacuums) warning system.

MARK LEADBITTER, SECTION ENGINEER, SKANSKA

“Using mobile units meant we could prevent dust from escaping not only on site but also near platforms, protecting both operatives and the public. Being self-contained units, we also didn’t need to worry about water or power supply issues and could activate the system at the push of a button.”

VARIOUS SITES CARL APP THE PROBLEM: Close Calls are vital to ensuring any unsafe acts or working conditions are monitored and reported as soon as possible. However, reporting a Close Call can often be a difficult or time-consuming process, with little feedback received that it’s been logged and action has been taken as a result of it being raised.

THE SOLUTION: Colas Rail’s CARL (call, action, response, learn) app makes it quick and easy to log and submit a Close Call using Android or iOS-equipped devices. Once a Close Call is submitted, the user receives an email to confirm it has been reviewed and a further email to confirm it has been closed, including details of the actions taken. The CARL app also allows users to undertake dust assessments, safety inspections, safety conversations and highlights the Lifesaving Rules.

JAMES MITCHELL, SITE MANAGER, COLAS RAIL

“It’s now so much quicker to submit a Close Call. You don’t have to fill out a card or go back to the office, and the feedback, which you often wouldn’t receive in the past, means you know every Close Call is being taken seriously and acted on. It’s brilliant.”

moved and relocated.Tapes are nine metres long and can be joined together to create larger zones.

Being reusable, they are also more economical and can be fitted with accessories such as lights for night working.

ANDY STEWART, GANGER SUPERVISOR, BAM NUTTALL

“They are an excellent idea. Not only are they bright and distinctive, making them difficult to miss, they are lightweight and can be moved easily without risk of injury. We have a lot of lorries visiting the site, so they were perfect for marking out zones for loading and unloading.”

REDHILL DIGITAL ENHANCED CORDLESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS (DECT) HEADSETS THE PROBLEM: Clear communication between plant operators and banksmen at Redhill was difficult due to the narrow and restrictive site. Shouting was often required, as it was difficult to hear over ambient noise, and operators would need to take their hands off their controls to use a handheld radio.

THE SOLUTION: The site introduced DECT radio headsets. The headsets remove the need for shouting, allowing for higher quality communication, and are hands-free for operators. The equipment is provided fully configured to reduce set up time and can also be voice activated to reduce ambient noise.

PATRICK NOLAN, GANGER SUPERVISOR, BAM NUTTALL

“We do a lot of loading and unloading here, and it can often be quite difficult for machine operators and banksmen to communicate. The headsets solve that problem completely. Once paired up, a simple process, the two can speak to each other clearly without the operator ever having to use their hands.”

REDHILL PUSH POLES THE PROBLEM: Banksmen often had to touch suspended loads when lifting or lowering using a lifting appliance. Loads always need to be controlled, but a ‘hands on’ approach comes complete with an increased risk of manual handling injuries, especially to fingers and hands.

THE SOLUTION: Teams are now required to carry push poles with them when loads are

being lifted. The poles minimise risk by reducing the need for operatives to make direct contact with a load. They include a hook on the end for latching on to objects, adjustable length to increase distance and a rubber end for pushing objects into place.

DARAGH GALLAGHER, SITE OPERATIVE, BAM NUTTALL

“In the past, it’s been difficult to control loads being lifted or lowered – a problem the poles solve completely. They are lightweight, extendable and have a hooked and blunt end, making them ideal for the job. Combined with the headsets and retractable barriers, any safety issues for loading and unloading are completely eliminated.”

DO YOU HAVE A BRIGHT IDEA RAIL TO SHARE? Email shield@networkrail.co.uK LIVES– page 8

ISSUE 17, FEBRUARY 2018 THE SHIELD

ON SITE

IN THE ZONE

The Shield visited the West Anglia Mainline Capacity Improvement Project to find out how the team safely works with plant

LUKE FOLEY, UNDERGRADUATE ENGINEER “I think people do understand how to use and work around plant safely.We have exclusion zones set up and a Person in Charge to stop work if anyone enters or approaches them.

“However, there’s always the danger of someone forgetting or not noticing a zone, which is why we hold regular drills and task briefings. The biggest danger in my opinion is actually getting the bigger machines on and off site.There’s always people moving around, so it’s vital safety procedures are followed.”

STEVIE STORES, WORKS MANAGER “I’ve seen a number of incidents involving plant. I’ve seen a crane come down and I’ve seen people hit by machines. You have to remain vigilant at all times. But things have improved 100 per cent.You used to be told to get on with the job, whereas now if there’s anything unsafe, you’re told to stop working.

“It’s great that there are handbooks and working groups discussing specific issues like this. Along with briefings, it means everyone knows exactly what they’re doing and exactly what the dangers are, making the work much safer.”

OLUSEYE TOLUHI, SAFE WORK LEADER “At the start of every shift, I tour the work area with the machine operators and ensure they do their check list. I’ve been very impressed. The correct checks are always done and the machines are always properly lubricated.

“It’s great to see everyone using earplugs or defenders too, even if they are just in the vicinity of the machines. If someone isn’t wearing them, I will ask them to move further away from the site.

“The attitude towards plant and exclusion zones has really improved over the years, but we need to continue to improve people’s safety consciousness and ensure we aren’t complacent.”

DORIN LOGHIN, SUPERVISOR “The number one reason people ignore exclusion zones is because they are in a rush.They want to get the job done quickly, rather than safely.

“A handbook covering different types of plant is a great idea, as you should be aware of specific safety issues. For example, with diggers you have to be aware that the driver does not have a 360-degree view of their surroundings.

“It’s great to see how technology is being used to improve safety too. Banksmen are now using headsets to speak to machine operators, which is a fantastic way of ensuring communication remains clear and concise at all times.”

WHAT’S large, loud and one of the of the biggest safety risks on any site?

If you answered “plant”, you’d be correct. Not only is it one of the most dangerous things a project can utilise, it’s also one of the most diverse, with a wide range of different machinery regularly used.

The West Anglia Mainline Capacity Improvement Project team is working on major track upgrades between Stratford and Angel Road.

Part of that work is using plant to drive piles into the ground to provide foundation support. To do this safely takes proper planning, making sure the correct permits are in place and the right equipment is available, ensuring everyone is trained and competent and, of course, having in place and recognising exclusion zones.

You should recognise these as four of our Lifesaving Rules.

Behind the scenes, the Southern Shield Safe Use of Plant Working Group has been

busy working to reduce the risk of accidents and incidents caused by plant movements and improve our understanding of the dangers and hazards associated with using plant. The group is also devising strategies to improve competence for vehicle marshalling and Banksman duties, examining and testing new proximity warning technology, and regularly reviews Close Calls data and incidents involving plant and exclusion zones.

The group has released a Southern Shield Best Practice handbook about using non-rail mounted plant. The handbook identifies the plant most commonly used across our sites and details the minimum requirements for plant and plant operators, the hazards of each type of plant and any best practice identified.

To read or download the document visit www.southernshield.co.uk

Always be sure the required plans and permits are in place, before you start a job or go on or near the line

Never undertake any job unless you have been trained and assessed as competent

Always use equipment that is fit for its intended purpose

Never enter the agreed exclusion zone unless directed to by the person in charge

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

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THE SHIELD ISSUE 17, FEBRUARY 2018

RAIL LIVES

A FOCUS ON MENTAL HEATH

TALKING about mental health can be tough. Every year in the UK, one in four people will experience mental health difficulties, and it can often be an uncomfortable topic to address.

FROM MARKET TO MAINLINES

Tony Brown has come a long way since starting work at 13

THERE are very few people who learn the importance of hard work quite as young as Tony Brown did. Because at 13,Tony,VolkerFitzpatrick Protection Controller, was already working on a fruit and veg stall to help support his parents.

Tony explained: “My parents suffered from health conditions, so neither could work. My brother Steve and I would skip school to work at the market and put food on the table.

“Eventually, I was called into the headmaster’s office. I explained the situation and he allowed me to leave at 14 with no qualifications to work full time.

JOINING THE RAILWAY A few years later, after a stint as a welder,Tony began working in security for ships. Next, he moved into the railway industry, after spotting an advert in the paper.

“I got my first railway job in 1998, working for TESS 2000,” continued Tony. “Given my history at school, studying and learning didn’t come naturally, but I worked hard and progressed through the ranks, taking on roles including COSS and PICOP.” After 13 years,Tony started working as a Subcontractor for VolkerFitzpatrick, before moving to the company on a permanent basis.

“I’m really proud of what I’ve achieved. The training has sometimes been hard, but it’s been worth it for the industry I love. I’m now a Protection Controller, Safe Work Leader 1 and Safe Work Leader 2 during possessions.

“The camaraderie on projects is fantastic and I feel like a part of one big family. We all look after each other to ensure we return home safe every day.

“I believe quality is the most important factor on every project. If we have got quality planning, staff with the necessary training for the job, quality of supply chain, quality of materials and quality PPE, then you are setting yourself up to do a great job.”

CONTINUED IMPROVEMENT But the industry’s commitment to quality, certainly in safety, hasn’t always been so.

During his 19 years in the rail industry, Tony said he has seen safety improve in leaps and bounds.

He explained: “Safety has definitely become a much bigger priority over the years.And there’s still room to improve. Personally, I think complacency is the biggest danger and it’s something that can easily slip.

“Perhaps the worst incident I’ve experienced is two brothers working together, one a machine driver and one a machine controller.During work, the controller’s phone rang, he turned away and his brother reversed into him. It was fatal. It really demonstrates how quickly things can go wrong if you get complacent and take unnecessary risks.”

Tony said he is happy in his present role, but wants to help others in the industry who are facing the same challenges he once had to overcome.

“I’ve learned a lot on my way to where I am now, so I want to be there to help and advise the next generation who are studying hard to take that next step but might find it quite difficult sometimes.

“I believe anyone can progress if they work hard and love what they do – the railway certainly made the best of me.”

That’s why Osborne has been running Mental Health Conversations, aiming to improve understanding and encourage more open discussion of mental health and wellbeing.

Hosted by Commercial Assistant Samantha Mitchell and Project Manager Arron Dolan, and created with support from STOP Think! Coach Adam Hillaby. The workshops discuss the stigmas and fears which surround mental health, as well as how and where people can get support.

Arron said: “People struggle to speak about mental health openly, which is why workshops where people can have a discussion in a relaxed, comfortable environment are so important. We want to bring them to as many frontline colleagues as possible.”

Conversations have already

been held at Burnaby Road Underbridge, Foxhills and Winchfield sites, with plans for a further rollout ongoing.

Samantha continued:“The response has been fantastic but we need to do more to tackle poor mental health and illness. Mental Health First Aiders and the Juliette Cannock, Southern Shield Health and Wellbeing Lead: “I honestly cannot recommend the workshops highly enough.

It’s brilliant to sit in a room with people and speak frankly about the issues surrounding mental health.

“It can be a tough topic to discuss, but workshops like these help make people aware of the options open to them if they’re struggling.

“We realise there’s a huge

Southern Shield Employee Assistance Programme are definitely great first steps.

“The more we can raise awareness, whether via conversations, first aiders or by providing clear information, the more comfortable people will feel telling someone if they are struggling.” mental health issue in the industry. It’s clearly something a lot of people need support with, which is why we’ve introduced Mental Health First Aiders and the Southern Shield Employee Assistance Programme.

“Visibility is so important, and we want everyone who’s part of the Southern Shield to know that our Mental Health First Aiders are here to help. They aren’t counsellors, but they will be able to point you in the right direction should you require support.”

A BUSY YEAR AHEAD WITH THE New Year comes new health and wellbeing initiatives.

Juliette Cannock, Southern Shield Health and Wellbeing Lead, explained:“We want to treat physical and mental health as connected issues – when one is improved, often the other does too. The Health andWellbeing Group wants to improve health in all its forms across the southern region, as with good health comes better focus and safer work.

“During the first quarter of 2018, we’re running pulse checks, both online and face-to-face, at sites to gain a better understanding of the issues people are facing.We also want to get the Know Your Numbers health assessments, accompanied by a new stress resilience questionnaire, to as many frontline people as possible.

“Looking further forward, we want to find people willing to be Health and Wellbeing Champions at sites and offices – people passionate about health and wellbeing who will share success stories from their site. We want to build a health and wellbeing community.”

If you would like to book any health and wellbeing visits to your site or office, please contact Shield@networkrail.co.uk for the attention of Juliette Cannock.

Results so far from the Know Your Numbers assessments:

Satisfactory Unsatisfactory

Blood pressure

Normal

15%

High Very high

Waist circumference

85%

Cholesterol

30%

22% 51% 27%

70%

The confidential Southern Shield EmployeeAssistance Programme is available free to everybody working on behalf of Infrastructure Projects Southern. Call the 24-hour freephone number on 0800 358 4569 or +44 141 271 7540 from outside the UK, or go online at Validium.com to join VClub using username: southernshield and password: homesafe

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