AugSept 25 Vital NL

Aug 2025

SAFETY NEWSLETTER vital.uk.com

Contents

Aug 2025 Welcome

Page 3

Work Safe, Home Safe / HSQE Team

Page 4

World Suicide Prevention Day

Page 5

New patrollers enhance safety and wellbeing on Scotland’s Railway

Page 6

Quick tips for working outside during summer

Page 7

Vital’s near-term science-based targets validated by the SBTi, reinforcing our commitment to a sustainable future

Page 8

Safety alerts

Page 10

Charities & support services

Page 11

Office locations

Page 12

Welcome Why Behaviours Matter Lessons from Recent Incidents Over the past few months, we have seen how small behavioural choices on site, whether it is a shortcut, unclear communication, or an assumption about access, can escalate into incidents with serious consequences.

These events remind us that safety is not only about the rules or the information detailed within our SSOW or site documentation. It is about the decisions we all make in the moment. Choosing to double check, to challenge, to stop and think.

Safety leadership is not defined by job title. It is about demonstrating safe choices, speaking up when something does not look right, and supporting those around you to work correctly.

Every member of our workforce has the ability to influence safety culture by modelling the right behaviours.

By focusing on the simple habits of checking, communicating, and challenging, we can prevent incidents before they occur.

As we move forward, let us commit to learning from recent events and applying those lessons in our daily work.

These behaviours protect not only your own safety but also the wellbeing and livelihoods of those working alongside you. A single misstep can lead to investigation, suspension, or in the worst cases, life changing injuries.

Small, positive behaviours add up to safer outcomes, stronger teams, and greater confidence in the way we deliver our projects.

Equally, a single safe choice can prevent these outcomes. The responsibility is shared by all of us, every shift.

If you ever feel unsure or need support, please reach out to one of the VHRL HSQE team.

Recent investigations across the industry have highlighted some recurring themes: communication not being clear enough, protection or access arrangements being assumed rather than confirmed, and people to taking shortcuts.

We are here to help you work safely and with confidence.

Adam Jones, Head of Safety

None of these decisions are made with the intention of creating harm, but the outcomes can be severe.

What may feel like saving a few minutes can quickly lead to an unsafe situation that affects an entire team, and put everyone at risk.

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Work safe, Home Safe What do we mean by Work Safe, Home Safe?

We mean that we are fit and prepared for work. We work safely with our colleagues and follow the rules. We go home in a safe condition, free from harm.

How do we go about it?

We follow 5 Brilliant Basics 1.Be fit and ready for work, physically and mentally 2.Always follow the rules – no short cuts 3.If unsure, Take Five, stop work and ask 4.If anything is unsafe, Take Five, stop work and report 5.Treat each day like Day 1, do not be complacent What are we doing behind the scenes to make us successful at what we do?

1.We put people at the centre of what we do 2.We analyse mistakes very rigorously 3.We try to create an open atmosphere where everyone can speak up 4.We are willing to fix what is wrong if it is under our control 5.We relentlessly pursue new work and new opportunities 6.We never give in to complacency

HSQE Team

My Idea How would you improve safety?

HSQE Director Gareth Morris, Morson International - Manchester Gareth.Morris@morson.com 07736 657 039

HSE Adviser and Safety Unit Keith Wright Keith.Wright@vital.uk.com 07717 306 775

Head of Safety Adam Jones Adam.Jones@vital.uk.com 07717 306 852

HSE Adviser and Safety Unit (South) Alex Wilson - Cardiff, Farnham, Milton Keynes (South) and Canning Town.

Alex.Wilson@vital.uk.com 07717 306 811

Health and Safety Accident and Investigation Lead Jane Hepburn Jane.Hepburn@vital.uk.com 07717 306 797

What are your ideas for innovation?

What would you change?

To be in with the chance to with £100 worth of gift vouchers, email us your ideas at: MYIDEA@VITAL.UK.COM

Health and Safety Champion Leon Richards Leon.Richards@vital.uk.com

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World Suicide Prevention Day Suicide is not inevitable. You can interrupt someone’s suicidal thoughts. You can save a life.

This World Suicide Prevention Day, Wednesday 10 September, we’re helping to share Samaritans one important message: If you think someone might be suicidal, take action, interrupt their thoughts and show them you care.

Every 90 minutes, someone in the UK or Ireland dies by suicide and 1 in 4 of us has had suicidal thoughts.

Suicidal thoughts can be interrupted We surveyed people with lived experience of suicide and the majority told us that their suicidal thoughts have been interrupted.

60% said their suicidal thoughts had been interrupted by someone close to them, like a friend or family member.

14% said their suicidal thoughts had been interrupted by a stranger or someone they didn’t know.

Anyone can interrupt someone’s suicidal thoughts Small interruptions you make and actions you take could help someone who is suicidal.

You don’t have to be an expert to save someone’s life.

In response to a survey carried out by Samaritans, many people with lived experience recalled times when those close to them, such as family members or friends, had interrupted their suicidal thoughts.

“A close work friend said they had noticed I was looking quite down and they were worried that I might be at risk of suicide again. It made my thoughts pause.”

Others talked about times when people they were less close to, even total strangers, interrupted their suicidal thoughts.

“What stayed with me? A total stranger cared enough to speak kindly to me at a time when I was at my lowest.”

You don’t have to be an expert or know the exact ‘right’ thing to say. Being there and showing that you care can make all the difference. Try to listen with empathy and without judgement to help the person open up about how they’re feeling, and don’t be afraid to ask someone if they’re feeling suicidal.

Be there for them in the moment If you’re worried about someone, stay with them and let them know you're there for them.

Listen without judgement Conversations about mental health and suicide can feel daunting, but when someone is burdened with carrying around worries and difficult thoughts, having someone there to listen can make all the difference.

Show that you really care Asking how someone is feeling shows that you really care. You don’t have to be an expert to help someone when they’re feeling suicidal. By simply asking how they’re feeling you can show them that they’re not alone and that someone cares.

Let’s prevent suicide today. Because tomorrow’s too late.

Need support? Call 116 123 to speak to a Samaritan Source: Samaritans

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New patrollers enhance safety and wellbeing on Scotland’s Railway A new Vital Team is being introduced to strengthen our safeguarding patrollers across central Scotland. The team will be deployed at stations identified as priority locations, with a focus on enhancing safety, supporting vulnerable individuals, and promoting wellbeing. This initiative reflects our continued commitment to ensuring that stations remain safe, welcoming, and supportive environments for all passengers.

The team, introduced by Network Rail Scotland and provided by Vital, is specially trained to respond to a range of situations including mental health crises, trespassing, and antisocial behaviour. These incidents not only pose a serious risk to those involved but can also lead to disruption across the rail network.

Patrollers have already been introduced at a station in Glasgow. Since October 2024, their presence has helped reduce incidents at the station by 40%, boosted train performance significantly, and improved the overall passenger experience.

Neil Cook, route crime manager at Network Rail Scotland, said: “The introduction of this new team is an important step in how we care for people across our railway, giving us greater flexibility to respond quickly and effectively to situations where support is needed most.

“Our safeguarding patrollers are trained to recognise when someone may be in distress and to step in calmly and with empathy. Their presence can make a real difference, not only by helping to prevent incidents from escalating, but also creating a more welcoming and supportive environment at our stations.

“We want everyone who uses the railway to feel safe, respected and looked after, and this team plays a significant role in helping us achieve that.”

The safeguarding team will operate across key locations and be able to respond quickly to areas experiencing increased incidents or requiring additional support. As well as providing a frontline presence, they’ll work closely with the British Transport Police and other relevant organisations such as the Samaritans to ensure a coordinated response where more specialist intervention may be required.

Danielle Rowley, head of policy and communications at Samaritans Scotland, said: “One aspect of our vision is that everyone in Scotland is able to access the right help and support when needed, and we work closely with Network Rail to assist people who may be vulnerable and in need of help.

“It’s important to have trained personnel who can recognise when someone may be in distress and be able to offer the right support. We’re glad to see the implementation of new patrollers at key stations as a positive step towards ensuring people can receive help where and when they need it most.”

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Quick tips for working outside during summer Working outdoors in summer brings extra health and safety risks. Most problems can be avoided with simple precautions, but knowing how to respond quickly is important.

Ticks – These small insects live in grass and vegetation and sometimes carry Lyme disease. They attach to the skin, often in warm areas like behind knees or underarms. After outdoor work, check your body and clothing carefully. If you find a tick, remove it slowly with tweezers or a removal tool, clean the area, and monitor for a red bullseye rash or flu-like symptoms. Seek medical help if these occur.

Protective clothing helps reduce risk.

Wasps – Active in warm months, especially around food, drink, and rubbish. A sting is painful but usually clears up with washing, cooling, and antihistamines.

However, allergic reactions are serious: swelling of face or mouth, breathing problems, or dizziness require a 999 call. Prevent stings by keeping food covered and reporting wasp activity.

Adders – The UK’s only venomous snake. They are shy but may bite if disturbed. Bites cause swelling and pain and need urgent hospital treatment. Call 999 immediately, keep the person calm and still, and remove tight items near the bite. Do not cut, suck, or tourniquet the wound. Adders are legally protected— never harm or handle them. Stay safe by watching where you step and avoiding undergrowth with your hands.

Sun and UV Protection – UV rays damage skin even on cloudy days and increase cancer risk over time.

Apply SPF 30+ sunscreen (UVA and UVB) every two hours, especially to exposed areas like neck, ears, and arms. Hard hats and safety glasses help but don’t replace protection. Keeping sun cream handy is important for long shifts.

Hydration and Heat – Working in PPE increases dehydration risk. Drink water regularly, not just when thirsty. Check urine colour as a guide—pale is healthy, dark means you need more fluids. Avoid energy and high-caffeine drinks.

Heat Illness – Early signs of heat exhaustion include heavy sweating, faintness, headaches, cramps, or nausea. Move to shade, loosen clothing, cool down, and sip water. If untreated, this can develop into heat stroke, which is life-threatening. Warning signs include confusion, collapse, or very hot dry skin—call 999 immediately.

Look Out for Each Other Watch colleagues for confusion, unsteadiness, flushed skin.

Plan tasks around hottest parts of the day when possible.

Use shade/mess rooms for breaks.

Apply sun cream before going outside.

Keep hydrated and encourage your team to do the same.

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Vital’s near-term science-based targets validated by the SBTi, reinforcing our commitment to a sustainable future We are proud to announce that Vital Human Resources Ltd has reached a major sustainability milestone. Our near-term targets have officially been validated by the Science Based Target initiative (SBTi).

This validation reflects our deep commitment to meaningful climate action and aligns us with global efforts to keep temperature rise below the critical 1.5°C threshold. According to the latest IPCC report - described by the UN as “code red for humanity” - staying within this limit is still possible, but it demands urgent and substantial reductions in emissions.

With this validation, Vital joins a growing number of over 8000 organisations committed to science-based emissions reductions that support global climate targets.

What this means for Vital SBTi Services has classified Vital’s scope 1 and 2 target ambition in conformance with the SBTi Standards and Guidance. This means, we’ve committed to set near-term company-wide emission reductions in line with climate science with the SBTi. To gain SBTi approval, Vital conducted a comprehensive carbon inventory over the past year, evaluating emissions across all scopes and subcategories in line with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. This allowed us to establish a clear and accurate emissions baseline. From there, we identified our highest-emitting areas and explored actionable strategies to reduce them. Using these insights, and with support from the SBTi targetsetting tool, we were able to set science-based targets aligned with climate goals. This structured, data-driven approach led to the validation of our near-term targets by the SBTi. Vital’s approved near-terms science-based targets: Reduce absolute Scope 1 emissions by 58.8% by 2034 from a 2023 baseline Increase sourcing of renewable electricity to 100% by 2030 Reduce absolute Scope 3 emissions by 35% by 2034 from a 2023 base year

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Josh Stodel, PISEP REnvP, Sustainability Manager at Vital, said: "At Vital, sustainability means acting today without compromising tomorrow. We go beyond compliance, with environmental care at the core of our zero-harm goal. The validation of our near-term science-based targets by the SBTi is a significant milestone and marks a key step in our commitment to real climate action."

About the SBTi The SBTi is a corporate climate action organisation that enables companies and financial institutions worldwide to play their part in combating the climate crisis. In 2021, the SBTi launched the first ever science-based NetZero Standard to address the inconsistencies in net-zero targets, and allow companies to decarbonise at the pace and scale required to align with the goals of the Paris Agreement and maintain the 1.5°C target.

The SBTi establishes and promotes best practices for setting science-based emissions targets, and independently verifies companies' goals. This empowers organisations like Vital to align our emissions reduction targets with the latest climate science.

Through its comprehensive framework, the SBTi supports committed companies in setting clear, credible, and transparent net-zero targets that are aligned with the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C. The SBTi operates as a registered charity, with a dedicated subsidiary responsible for delivering target validation services. Its founding partners include CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, the World Resources Institute (WRI), and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

This achievement reinforces our ongoing efforts to operate responsibly, reduce our environmental impact, and contribute to a more sustainable and resilient future for everyone.

For more information, visit the SBTi website: https://sciencebasedtargets.org/

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Charities & support services If you or someone you know is struggling, there are many organisations that offer free, confidential support: Andy’s Man Club – A men’s mental health support group providing peer-to-peer conversations in a safe space.

Lighthouse Charity – Supporting the mental health and well-being of construction and rail workers. Call UK: 0345 605 1956, ROI: 1800 939 122, or text HARD HAT to 85258 (UK) or 50808 (ROI).

Samaritans – 24/7 helpline offering emotional support for those in distress: Call 116 123.

Mind – Mental health charity providing advice and support for those experiencing difficulties. Get urgent help CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) – Focused on suicide prevention, particularly in men: Call 0800 58 58 58.

Rethink Mental Illness – Offering advice, services, and support groups for those living with mental illness.

Mental health matters just as much as physical health. If you are struggling, know that help is available, and you are not alone. Take the first step—talk to someone, reach out to a support group, or seek professional advice. Small steps can lead to big changes in your well-being.

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Office Locations Manchester (Head Office) T: 0161 836 7000 E: HeadOffice@vital.uk.com

Abercynon T: 01443 809 950 E: Abercynon@vital.uk.com

Ashford T: 01233 344 6443 E: Ashford@vital.uk.com

The Mill, South Hall Street, off Ordsall Lane, Salford, Manchester, M5 4TP

G16/17 Ty Cynon, Navigation Park, Abercynon, CF45 4SN

Eurogate Business Park Ashford TN24 8XW

Bellshill T: 01698 840 950 E: BellshillRail@vital.uk.com

Birmingham T: 0121 809 3010 E: birminghamrail@vital.uk.com

10 James Street, Righead Industrial Estate, Bellshill, Lanarkshire ML4 3LU

Olton Wharf 7-9 Richard Road Solihull West Midlands B92 7RN

Derby T: 01332 982 470 E: Derby@vital.uk.com

Doncaster T: 01302 244450 E: Doncasterrail@vital.uk.com

Doncaster DNR T: 01302 496 550 E: ThorpeHouse@vital.uk.com

Ground Floor, Room 30 Derwent House, RTC Business Park, Derby, DE24 8UP

First Floor Offices, Carr House, Heavens Walk, Doncaster, DN4 5HZ

Thorpe House, Sidings Court Lakeside, Doncaster DN4 5HZ

Farnham T: 01252 964 020 E: Farnham@vital.uk.com

London T: 0203 963 5080 E: CanningTown@vital.uk.com

Unit 10, Guildford Road Trading Estate, Farnham, Surrey, GU9 9PZ

Unit 10, Canning Town Business Park, Stephenson Street, London, E16 4SA

Crewe T: 01270 906 130 E: Crewe@vital.uk.com 6 Solway Court Crewe Business Park Crewe, Cheshire, CW1 6LD

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