The shield june16 issuu

The Shield

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FANCY A CUPPA?

THE PAPER FOR RAIL PEOPLE IN THE SOUTHERN REGION

ISSUE 08, JUNE 2016

IN THE MIX Safety first on substation site WORK to excavate and build a new substation at Blackheath in south east London, is well underway.

Time is of the essence as staff have only a few months to complete the huge project.

Full story on page 4-5 >>

Tidy sites GETTING IT RIGHT PAGE 7

Lea Bridge opens after 31 years

People power

PAGE 3

PAGE 8

www.southernshield.co.uk

2 THE SHIELD ISSUE 08, JUNE 2016

n o s r e P t s r Fi JULIAN DUNN PROGRAMME DIRECTOR COSTAIN

The Shield This paper is produced for:

I joined Costain in January and was pleased to be asked to be the Southern Shield Safety Leadership Team sponsor for Health and Wellbeing.

Why? Well I’m also at the start of my personal journey in understanding these issues having recently woken up to the need to support a member of my own family. What I have come to realise is that the journey begins with investing more time and becoming a better listener.

Studies have shown that helping employees to improve or manage their health is good for business resulting in increased attendance, performance and better engagement. Did you know that in 2014/15 just over four million days were lost due to workplace injuries but 23.3 million days were lost due to workrelated ill health? Stress, depression or

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I’VE LEARNED…

“THE most important thing I have learned is that it is OK to delegate.

I have been working at Osborne for 10 years and have often found it difficult to let go of a situation, feeling that the safest and quickest route to solve a problem was to do it myself. This has added unnecessary workloads and often intruded on my personal time. It took a lot to realise that it was not a weakness to delegate tasks.

“It has a positive impact in developing and empowering colleagues into making their own decisions as well as maintaining our own health and wellbeing, as it allows us to be less stressed and more productive. In addition, it makes us feel more like a team. We all have different skills and we can draw upon these as well as learning from each other.”

anxiety and musculoskeletal disorders accounted for the majority of days lost due to work-related ill health at 9.9 and 9.5 million days respectively. Yet less than half of UK employees believe they would be able to talk openly with their boss if they were suffering from stress.

Our challenge is to create the same sense of urgency and action with our Health and Wellbeing programmes as we continue to do with safety. We have some great initiatives such as Know Your Numbers and the employment of Occupational Health Nurses but this is not universal across the region. The good news is that I believe that companies operating in the Southern Region increasingly understand the importance of good health in the workplace and how vital it is if they are to deliver high levels of safety and performance.

STAYING CALM CULTURE CLUB IN A CRISIS THE importance of culture in saving lives was the theme of the most recent Southern Shield event.

It was opened by Steve Walters, Route Delivery Director Wessex and John Dowsett, Director of Infrastructure at Osborne. They shared what Everyone Home Safe Every Day meant for them and the successful reduction of IP Southern’s LTIFR (Lost Time Injury Frequency Rates).

There were presentations about safety culture and the lessons learned from a fatal incident as well as perceived barriers and how they have an effect on safety culture. Guest speaker Ken Woodward discussed his experience after suffering an accident at work which completely changed his life.

Janice Crawford, IP Southern Regional Director, stressed the importance of safe working and her personal commitment to the supply chain.

The next Southern Shield event will be held on 21 July at the Kia Oval in London and will have a health and wellbeing theme.

If someone around you suffers a seizure, here’s what to do…

Gemma Gay, Project Manager

HAVE WE GOT BREWS FOR YOU!

Written and designed by:

www.beetroot.co.uk

Spending time getting over to the welfare facility to get a hot drink, can now be a thing of the past thanks to a mobile tea trolley that is now available on some of our sites.

The design was trialled and was modified after feedback from users.

It was approved in January and is now in use.

As well as hot and cold water for drinks, the trolley can also accommodate a first aid kit and emergency eye wash station and be used on a standard rail trolley which is secured in place with toggle catches.

“It is a real enhancement of the facilities already in place and is particularly vital

WHEN Nad Campbell (above) spotted a teenaged girl suffering a severe epileptic fit, he was quick to put his first aid skills into action.

Early one morning, Costain Site Manager Nad finished work after a night shift and was eager to get home when he noticed a young girl on the ground and another beside her, clearly in distress. He pulled over to see if everything was alright.

The girl had collapsed on the floor, was having a fit and bleeding from the head.

“My first aid training came rushing back to me,” said Nad. “I made sure there was nothing around her that she could have hurt herself on and made her comfortable. As she was moving around a lot, I removed her necklace as well.

“I used one of my hi-vis jackets to apply light pressure and stem the flow of blood. Her friend was also quite distressed so I comforted her and called an ambulance.”

After the ambulance arrived and the two girls were taken to hospital, Nad continued his journey home and thought no more of it. It was only later that the girl’s father contacted Costain to thank Nad for his actions.

“I have had first aid training and it all just kicked in. I really think it should be mandatory for all railway employees, you don’t know what is going to happen,” said Nad.

to the welfare of people working out on the track in all weathers,” said Adrian Fricker, Safety Improvement Specialist, Infrastructure Projects.

“The original idea came from a Track Safety Alliance (TSA) conference while we were discussing fatigue.

“I think it encourages people to think about their own wellbeing, we have found that some operatives come to work without eating or drinking anything, which can lead to fatigue.

“The tea trolley allows people to take regular breaks safely without having to return to the main welfare facilities. We have had some really positive feedback from those who have already started to use it.”

EVERYONE HOME SAFE EVERY DAY

1 STAY CALM 2 LOOK AROUND – If they are not in a dangerous place, don’t move them. Move objects like furniture away from them.

3 NOTE THE TIME THE SEIZURE STARTED 4 STAY WITH THEM – If they don’t collapse but seem blank or confused, gently guide them away from any danger. Speak quietly and calmly.

5 CUSHION THEIR HEAD WITH SOMETHING SOFT IF THEY HAVE COLLAPSED 6 DON’T HOLD THEM DOWN 7 DON’T PUT ANYTHING IN THEIR MOUTH 8C HECK THE TIME AGAIN – If a convulsive (shaking) seizure doesn’t stop after five minutes, call for an ambulance.

9 AFTER THE SEIZURE HAS STOPPED – Put them in the recovery position and check their breathing is returning to normal. Check to see nothing is blocking their airway, such as food. If their breathing sounds difficult after the seizure has stopped, call for an ambulance.

10 STAY WITH THEM UNTIL THEY ARE FULLY RECOVERED You should dial 999 if: • It’s the first time someone has had a seizure.

• The seizure lasts for more than five minutes.

• The person doesn’t regain full consciousness, or a series of seizures without regaining consciousness.

ISSUE 08, JUNE 2016 THE SHIELD 3

LEA BRIDGE – UNDER CONSTRUCTION

BACK TO THE BRIDGE Local community joined the celebrations as Lea Bridge station reopened

AFTER 31 years, Lea Bridge station is once again open to the public.

Everything at the station in Leyton, East London has been brought up to modern standards, but the year-long works programme at the derelict site was much more complicated than just a station refurbishment.

“We almost had to start all over again as the station was so rundown,” said Matt Wilson, Project Manager,VolkerFitzpatrick.

“To bring it into use, we had to completely refurbish and extend the platforms to eight-car capacity.We also had to complete multi-discipline works including P-Way, signalling, overhead lines, demolishing the old bridge structure and installing a new structural steel overbridge and stairs.”

A new station entrance was also built from Argyle Way, with CCTV, PA, lighting and driver only operated (DOO) systems to service the station operation complete with a new power supply.

“Part of the workscope was to install ramps and lifts to service platforms one and two compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act. All passengers can now access the platforms and easily transit from one to another,” said Matt. “We also installed waiting shelters and benches for the wellbeing of station users.”

Lea Bridge now provides direct links to Stratford and Tottenham Hale. It was opened to great excitement on 16 May.

THE WORLD IN 1985 IN THE CHARTS

Wham! and Madonna topped the charts

ON TV

Eastenders was first broadcast

IN THE CINEMA

Back to the Future and Out of Africa

SAFETY FIRST

VolkerFitzpatrick completed the project on time and within budget with an exemplary health and safety record, the project won an International Safety Award with merit from the British Safety Council.

In the 100,000 man hours worked during the project, there were no accidents or incidents and more than 600 Close Calls were raised, which equals one Close Call for every 160 man hours. The management of the Close Call system and constant review of the issues raised allowed the team to proactively close the risks out.

“We went to local schools to promote the works that we were doing and gave presentations about the construction activities and site safety. We also did site tours and brought young people to the site to engage them with what we were doing on the project,” said Matt.

Besides engaging with the public and schools, the health and wellbeing of staff working on site was at the forefront in this project.

“We had regular visits from our occupational health nurse and our staff was also invited to take part in the Know Your Numbers assessments,” said Matt. “One of our chaps on site wasn’t aware that he actually had diabetes and has since gone on to get treatment, thanks to the assessment.

“We also had a communal fruit bowl on site at all times to encourage our staff to have healthier snacks and think about what they were eating.”

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

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THE SHIELD ISSUE 08, JUNE 2016

ON SITE

ON SITE

HEATH AND SAFETY

Despite tight deadlines and complex agreements with neighbours, the Blackheath substation site still has the health and wellbeing of staff at the top of the agenda

KATH RELPH – SHE ADVISOR Most important thing for health and wellbeing: “Communication. It is important to make people aware of the different health risks out there.”

Biggest improvement to health and wellbeing: “UKPNS has an employee assistance programme that is open to all the contractors who work with us, so if anyone needs to speak about something that is concerning them, they can.”

Biggest safety improvement: “This is the first site I have been involved with from the start. I was very impressed with the way this site was set up to make sure that staff stay safe, including having pedestrian walkways around the site.”

ANDY SMITH – SITE SUPERVISOR/COSS/ALO COORDINATOR Most important thing for health and wellbeing: “In some companies, the guys still worry that if they raise any concerns they will be punished. On this site, and at UKPNS, it is very different and they are encouraged to come forward with any concerns.”

Biggest improvement to health and wellbeing: “I have a weekly meeting with our staff and they can voice any problems to me. I then go on to report their concerns to the management anonymously, which makes a huge difference to the wellbeing of staff.”

Biggest safety improvement: “We have distributed small cards which remind staff of the hazards, emergency numbers and a grid reference should the worse happen. They are so easy to make and I would love to see them on every site.”

aLWAYS BE SURE THE REQUIRED PL

ISSUE 08, JUNE 2016 THE SHIELD 5

E

Safety in numbers

AVTAR KUNDI – CRANE LIFT SUPERVISOR Most important thing for health and wellbeing: “I work for contractor Blu-3 and I make sure that I look the crane operative in the eye before we start work. I won’t work with that person if I don’t think they are fit for work.”

Biggest improvement to health and wellbeing: “We are very well looked after on this site. Particularly now the warm weather is here, we are regularly briefed about dehydration and it is great to have sunblock available all around the site.”

Biggest safety improvement: “The best thing I have seen for a while is the cut-out button on the crane. If there is even the smallest of problems, you can press the button and the machine will stop completely. I think communication is also important, and working together as a team.”

Know Your Numbers health assessments took place across the Southern Region, of those surveyed …*

25%

GRAEME DURDEN – PROJECT ENGINEER Most important thing for health and wellbeing: “Inclusiveness. No one is ignored at this site, all opinions are taken into account. If we include people then we take their wellbeing into consideration, if they are ignored it can affect progress, health and safety and beyond.”

Biggest improvement to health and wellbeing: “Having sunblock on site is one of the best things – skin protection is taken seriously.”

Biggest safety improvement: “The PPE that we insist everyone wears on site. There are so many potential hazards, and there is an acceptance that PPE will be worn, nobody even questions it.”

were obese or extremely obese according to BMI measurements

40% had warning levels of cholesterol

11% were referred to their GP because of their high levels of cholesterol Tips to reduce BMI Reduce your calorie intake

PROJECT BRIEF

WORKERS from UKPNS and their subcontractors have been on site since December last year excavating and building a new 33KV traction substation by road access.

This is part of the Kent Power Supply Enhancement Programme to allow for longer 12-car trains and more frequent trains to run along the line.

“As the railway lines are in permanent use, we can only access from the road and we have been in negotiations with our neighbours to make this work,” said Network Rail Project Manager Simon

Holman. “Although we have a number of strict licence agreements in place, including the number of lorries we can bring to site each day, our working hours and noise restrictions, we have built up a strong working relationship with them which allows us to get along and get our work done. By respecting them and involving them, they have made our jobs a lot easier.”

As the discussions on the licence agreements went on longer than expected, work didn’t start at the substation until December.

Simon added: “With the darker mornings and

LANS AND PERMITS ARE IN PLACE

evenings, as well as the bad weather, accidents were more likely to happen. We ensured that, where needed, our staff were working under spotlights and had safe walking routes around the site.

“Similarly, now the warmer weather is upon us, we have bottles of sunblock and sun lotion around the site to protect our staff. This came up from a weekly meeting that our operatives have where they raise any concerns they may have, which I think makes a massive difference to the wellbeing of our staff.”

Reduce sugar and processed foods in your diet Eat fresh, whole foods *Health assessments were offered to just over 2,000 people, of which 66% took up the opportunity.

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THE SHIELD ISSUE 08, JUNE 2016

BAD VIBRATIONS

Area of numbness and pain (shaded)

ONE OF THE MOST SERIOUS HEALTH PROBLEMS THAT STAFF CAN FACE AT WORK IS HAVS (HAND ARM VIBRATION SYNDROME) HAVS occurs from regular and frequent exposure to vibrating equipment. It damages the nerves and constricts the blood vessels in the hands. Acute effects include pins and needles, muscle cramps and numbness. Chronic effects can include carpal tunnel syndrome and white fingers.

Construction Manager Jim Owen said: “If we can avoid using vibrating equipment or substitute use with safer alternatives then that’s great. But if not, let’s get the planning right in the first instance by ensuring we have selected the right tool for the job with the lowest vibration magnitude.

Make sure cutting tools are kept sharp so that they remain efficient and enough resource has been allocated to reduce trigger times on the equipment.”

To help prevent HAVS, staff should be aware of the vibration magnitude of the equipment they are using, or how long they can safely use it for.

Tool manufacturers and hire stations can provide the details for each tool to enable you to work this out.

“Persons planning to carry out work involving vibration risk must ensure that a suitable and

sufficient written vibration assessment has been carried out in order to determine the relevant exposure limits and action values.This information may be recorded within the task brief or works package plan which are prepared for the works,” said Jim.

What are the signs to look out for? ● Tingling and numbness in the fingers. In the

cold and wet, fingers go white, then blue, then red and are painful. ● You can’t feel things with your fingers (you’ll have difficulty picking up small objects, such as screws or nails). ● Pain, tingling and numbness in your hands, wrists and arms which may stop you sleeping. ● Loss of strength in hands.

IT’S ALL IN THE NUMBERS Median nerve Ligament

Cross section Tendon sheath

Carpal tunnel

Tendons

WHITE FINGERS

What can I do?

● Learn to recognise the symptoms. ● Report symptoms to your employer. ● Tell your doctor about any symptoms. ● Ask your health and safety representative

for advice.

● Use control measure to reduce the risk.

GETTING A BIT FIT WITH an Amazon voucher in his pocket won after he submitted an Improvement Opportunity, Chris Baker decided to invest in his health and wellbeing.

Chris, who is a Telehander Operator at Avon and Stour, bought a FitBit to track the steps he took every day as well as the amount of sleep he got daily. A FitBit is a wearable device that helps keep track of your health and fitness.

“My wife had just got one,” said Chris. “So I decided to get one as well. It is like wearing a wrist watch and I have been able to keep an eye on how much I am moving each day.

“It has been helpful when I have been working nights as I have been able to monitor the amount of sleep I am getting during the day. It has made me think more about my general health and wellbeing.”

● Be more active – aim for 30 minutes exercise a day

over a five day period.

● Eat a higher fibre diet. ● Eat more unsaturated fats – found in unsalted nuts

and oily fish.

SMALL CHANGES MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE By swapping a high street bakery bacon roll for a 40g serving of porridge oats, you can save 152 calories.

● Use foods with added plant stanols and sterols, which

mimic cholesterol and is found in plants.

TO BURN 100 CALORIES, IT TAKES:

● 26 minutes of walking ● 11 minutes of jogging ● 8 minutes of swimming ● 13 minutes of cycling

SAV CAL E 152 ORIE S

Breakfast

By making a few lifestyle changes Site Manager Dave Brooks was able to lower his cholesterol as well as losing a bit of weight.

“When I started with Costain, I had a health assessment and I must admit that I had put on a bit of weight,” said Dave.

“The check showed that my cholesterol was higher than I would have liked and I already have a hereditary blood pressure issue that I take medication for, so I didn’t want to start taking any more medication.

“I asked the occupational health nurse what was the best way forward and he recommended a few lifestyle changes. I started to eat healthier and exercise more, buying a second hand cross trainer.”

High cholesterol itself doesn’t usually cause any symptoms but it does increase your risk of serious health conditions. It is a big risk factor for heart disease and you can have a greater chance of suffering a heart attack or a stroke particularly if you are a smoker, have high blood pressure, are overweight or have diabetes among others.

You can help to reduce cholesterol by maintaining a healthy, balanced diet and cutting down on trans and saturated fats.

“I have lost two stone and have got my cholesterol down – it is now at an acceptable level,” added Dave. “People have commented on how well I look and I feel much better in myself. In our industry, we tend not to think about these things, but they can creep up on you.”

Tips to lower cholesterol

BALANCING ACT WE all make choices about what food we eat – often based on convenience or simply what we fancy. But a healthy, balanced diet is important in maintaining overall good health as well as a healthy weight.

The key to a healthy diet is to eat the right amount of calories for how active you are and to eat a wide range of food to ensure you are getting a balanced diet.

We also need to know where our nutrients come from.

A lot of information can be found on food labels, which often show the calories, fat, saturates, sugar and salt in the food product.

A percentage of an adult’s recommended daily intake is often included – or a guide of what can be consumed daily.

Of course, recommended daily allowance (RDA) is a guide only – if you are on site doing manual tasks you will be burning more calories than someone at a desk.

HEALTH CHECK

Lunch

By swapping a pre-packaged supermarket chicken and mayonnaise sandwich for a grilled chicken wrap you can save 110 calories and by swapping a Snickers bar with a strawberry yoghurt bar (two slices) you can save 104 calories.

90 people didRAIL not getLIVES– home safepage last year 8

INDUCTING FOR THE FUTURE THE Industry Common Induction (ICI), which provides staff with a health and safety induction, was made mandatory for all Network Rail Infrastructure Projects from 1 June.

The aim is to reduce the amount of time and variability in briefings to improve safety and performance benefits.

It covers safety procedures and risks common across the rail industry and is universal for staff working in construction sites, rail depots and station maintenance.

ISSUE 08, JUNE 2016 THE SHIELD 7

TOP TEN TIPS:

THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY

SUN PROTECTION

A TIDY SITE MEANS A SAFER SITE BUT GETTING THINGS WRONG CAN BE DIRTY AND DANGEROUS

TIDY SITES don’t just happen by accident – they take time and planning to get it right.

The very first edition of The Shield focused on a bridge replacement at South Norwood, where contractor GRAHAM Construction showed off some great examples of what to see on a tidy and safe site.

Their seven signs of a tidy site were: • Designated briefing areas.

• Site task briefing sheets.

• Walkways – clearly marked pedestrian areas for colleagues and visitors.

• Vehicle segregation – clearly marked areas for vehicles.

• Dedicated mobile phone areas.

• Secure stores.

• Waste separation.

But they are not alone and other sites across the Southern Region have earned praise for keeping things ship shape.

What not to do

Cup winners

Sidcup Station Footbridge Replacement site was set up so well that it received an exceptional rating for the South East Tidy Site Campaign.

The site was set up at the beginning of May ahead of works starting to fabricate and an install a new footbridge and the removal of the old one.

All works need to be carried out with minimal disruption to the running of the station and its users.

True grit

Another great example is Thorndell Viaduct – not just a tidy and safe site but an efficient one too.

A real effort was made during site set-up to ensure

Not every site is as tidy as it should be.

A recent Network Rail visit to a site in Surrey found poor welfare facilities and housekeeping.

The noticeboard was illegible, rubbish bins

that staff understood that nothing is as important as safety.

Early on in the project, fine grit that was placed on the walkway to reduce trip hazards produced dust in the welfare cabin; so it was decided to blacktop the walkways. Despite an initial cost, this resulted in better access and less sweeping of the cabin – making it tidier and safer.

Clearing the way

Sometimes it’s not about how the site is set up but how it is left behind.

McNicholas staff were removing and replacing conductor rails on the Hastings to Eastbourne line and finished work at Bellingham early. There was a large amount of additional rail that had left by another contractor on the track and it was decided to clear it.

were not secured (which could attract rats) the F10 on site only had one page and the troughing route was restricting access to the fire point.

As well as being untidy, all these issues could

More than 23 tonnes of material was cleared in two hours. This improves the look of the area for residents and customers, removing hazards and generating money in scrap metal rebates that goes directly back into the maintenance of Network Rail’s infrastructure.

Let your voice be heard

There are factors that can lead to sites not being set up well, including uncertainty in project progression and insufficient/unsuitable land. Other reasons could be constraints from other projects, teams dealing with critical issues elsewhere and not being able to plan for future works.

If conditions are not ideal, then it is important to be able to speak up, so actions can be taken and sites can be supported.

have led to health issues or even serious injury An untidy site can also contributes to slips, trips and falls as people are more like to fall or trip on items left lying around.

SUMMER is here, bringing sun (hopefully!) and warmer temperatures throughout the day. Most of the workforce spend most of their time working outside and if they aren’t aware of how to stay protected in the hot weather, can be at risk from sunburn, or heat exhaustion.

At Effingham Junction, Osborne has placed a UV Aware board, in the canteen for all to see. The Met Office gives the site a UV level based on the number on the board which determines what level of sunscreen is needed, found in a dispenser next to the board (pictured above).

1

UV RAYS – Remember that UV rays bounce off sand, snow, concrete and water. So look after your eyes and face.

2

STRONG – The sun is strongest between the hours of 11am and 3pm, but you should be aware of it throughout the day. You can burn when you least expect it.

3

COVER – Cover up with suitable clothing and UV eye protection.

4

SUNSCREEN – Wear at least SPF15 sunscreen whenever you are outdoors.

5

APPLIED – Make sure sunscreen is applied liberally and evenly over all exposed areas, including the face, neck, ears and hands.

6

REAPPLIED – Remember to reapply sunscreen every two hours, even more when sweating or working with water.

7 8

AVOID – Avoid looking directly at the sun.

HYDRATE – Remain hydrated throughout the day. Thirst is a sign your body is already dehydrated.

9

TO THE RESCUE AFTER sustaining an injury, Structures Examiner Lee Griffiths has nothing but praise for the way he was treated by his colleagues.

Lee, who works for Amey, was on timber decking supported by scaffolding examining a bridge, and was kneeling down writing some notes.

“When I stood up, my leg went to one side and I ended up sat back down on the deck,” said Lee. “I just couldn’t put any weight on it. I managed to use the hand rails to get the short distance back to the office to inform someone of my injury.”

Russell Rosenau, a Site Supervisor at the Avon and Stour works in Dorset, drove Lee to the hospital to get him checked out.

“I had severely strained a ligament in my knee and the doctor told me that it could happen to anyone at any time,” said Lee. “Russell then drove me back to my hotel, staying beyond his shift to make sure I was OK. “They all kept in contact to make sure I was alright and I would just like to say thank you for all their help. Everything is on the mend and I have been recovering at home, writing up reports.”

EVERYONE HOME SAFE EVERY DAY

Any stories? Email theworks@networkrail.co.uk

EAT – Although you can have less of an appetite in the heat, don’t forget to eat. Cold food such as fruit and salad contain water.

10

QUICKER – Don’t leave food out in the sun. Bugs multiply quicker in the heat and increase the risk of food poisoning.

If you are observing Ramadan and are fasting, remember that you must stop work immediately and tell your supervisor if you feel unwell or are unable to carry out your work safely.

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THE SHIELD ISSUE 08, JUNE 2016

RAIL LIVES Awa’s more mobile thanks to safety conscious colleagues

PEOPLE POWER A POWERED wheelchair is helping Awa Jagne get around a bit easier, thanks to the fundraising efforts of her colleagues.

Document Controller Awa is 17 and joined contractor CPMS at Stratford around three months ago on a part-time basis alongside her studies at a local sixth form college.

Awa has cerebral palsy and although she was able to get around in her manual wheelchair, her line manager Mat Baine and colleagues wanted to raise funds to buy her a powered wheelchair to help her to get around a bit easier.

When VolkerFitzpatrick Site Supervisor Alex

Wason Jr received an email about fundraising to buy the powered wheelchair, he saw an opportunity not only to help a colleague, but also to address a serious safety issue.

Alex had noticed some problems with nonspecific Network Rail PPE, particularly beanies and hoods, that pose a safety risk.

“It is part of my job to ask staff to remove anything that isn’t approved by Network Rail but I do understand that my colleagues are just trying to keep warm while they are working,” said Alex. “I wanted to offer them some alternatives and then I got to thinking about Awa.” Alex bought some Network Rail-approved

GLASS ACTS MARK NICHOLS, CENTRE, RECEIVES HIS AWARD

COSS Mark Nichols received his glasses following an incident where an ambulance was required to attend when another member of staff fell ill.

Mark and his colleague Josh contacted the emergency services and kept the communications between the casualty and the ambulance staff clear and precise ensuring

L-R: SEAN DUNDON, AWA JAGNE AND ALEX WASON JR

balaclavas and then sold them to the staff on site with the proceeds going towards the fund for Awa’s wheelchair.

This wasn’t all Alex did. He was doing demolition work at Hackney Wick where a huge number of yellow bricks were no longer needed.

“There was a pallet-full of these bricks, so I spent my lunch break cleaning them up and was able to sell them on, which I was able to add to the fund,” said Alex.

Thanks to Alex, and all those who have raised money, Awa now has a new powered wheelchair that has made her working and personal life

In each issue we hand over a pair of Bollé safety glasses to colleagues who have made an outstanding contribution to safety.

a positive outcome. This was reported in April’s edition of The Shield.

Andrew De Silva, NWR Construction Manager, attended and was impressed that McNicholas showed their appreciation to the guys on the ground and how important training is to keep the railway safe and making sure all employees get home safe.

easier. “The wheelchair has given me more freedom,” said Awa. “I don’t get tired now and it helps me get around college easily without having to be accompanied. It also lets me get around Westfield shopping centre easily, so I can do more shopping!”

Alex said: “It’s great to have helped, I just wish I could have done more. Awa is a really lovely girl and I am just glad that I was able to help.”

Awa added: “I just want to say a big thank you to everyone for going out of their way and using their personal time to raise money to make a difference.”

SHIELD ONLINE THE Southern Shield has a brand new website, containing a wealth of information to keep you up to date and get you home safe every day.

As well as the latest safety bulletins, Toolbox Talks and details of upcoming events, you’ll find an online version of The Shield newspaper. Visit southernshield.co.uk and see for yourself.

www.southernshield.co.uk

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