HSE Newsletter Issue 71 021118

HSE NEWSLETTER

ISSUE 71 NOVEMBER 2018
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IN THIS ISSUE

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Welcome from our Health and Safety Manager
RailStaff Awards November 2018
Destination Florida
Trespass and vandalism new livery
Hot topic - Diabetes
Competition reminder 
5 minutes with 
HSE ambassadors
Safety award nominations and winner
Top 10 close calls
Site pollution
Interaction with the public and site access
Arriving late for Alere Healthcare appointments
Driver updates
PPE compliance
Lifesaving rules
Osborne STOP Think! October 2018
Cold and flu
Close calls on Colas sites
Use of ladders 

WELCOME

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WELCOME FROM HEALTH AND

SAFETY MANAGER,

MARK BARRETT

Hello and welcome to issue 71 of our HSE Newsletter. As you can imagine, it
has been a busy October with all 3 of our safety units being out and about
across the length and breadth of the country. Their main purpose is to carry
out face to face briefings to Vital workers and it is great to see that our offices
and clients are utilising the vehicles to their full capacity. Vital workers, the
HSE advisor for the South, Jalal Ahmed and the safety unit recently attended a
Southern Shield safety event hosted by Osborne held at Guildford Rugby Club
which was a great success. Tours and discussions were held in the safety unit
for which we received positive feedback from all who attended. Thank you to
all at Osborne for taking the time to come and have a look at the safety unit.

14th of November is World Diabetes Day. The purpose of this one day is to raise
awareness of a condition that millions of people all around the world live with
every day and Vital intend to fully support this by making it our hot topic for
this month. There will be some useful information included in the newsletter
so please take the time to read this. We also intend to cover other health and
wellbeing subjects such as blood pressure, diet and nutrition in further issues
in order to give you all the information that you need to enable you to
maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Finally, I would like to personally thank all of our workers who have been
sending in Close Calls and Safety Tours. Not only have the numbers increased
this month, but the quality of the Close Calls we are receiving has vastly
improved. These, along with the Safety Tours, help to make the workplace a
safer place for all. Keep up the good work and I hope to see you all at some
p o i n t s oToSnA. t e a m a n d A n d y

Kelly, Rail Manager 
Mark Barrett
H&S Manager       

5 MINUES WITH

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JALAL AHMED,

HSE ADVISER SOUTH

Describe what you do in 10 words or less
I encourage good safety practice within the rail industry.

What part(s) of your job do you enjoy the most?
I enjoy the railway as a whole as I get to interact with a
diverse workforce. My new role means that I can get to lots
of different sites where I get to see a lot of our workers and
clients alike.

What is your proudest achievement so far?
My proudest achievement is being selected as the HSE Adviser for the South. I
have always had an interest in this field and I look forward to sharing  my
knowledge and experiences with the workforce.

If you hadn’t gone down your chosen career path, what would you be doing?
If I hadn’t been on the railway then I would have carried on working within
the catering industry.  

What do you do in your spare time?
During my spare time I enjoy spending time with my kids, going to the gym
and generally keeping fit. 

HSE AMBASSADORS

You may have seen in previous issues of the newsletter that we have been
asking for volunteers to be our HSE ambassadors. We now have those
volunteers and are delighted to announce that our first course will take place
in Manchester 01 Nov 2018, with other courses planned for the South in the
near future. The ambassadors will be qualified in IOSH Managing Safely and
will be a safety point of contact for all our workers across the country. They
w i l l b e pTaSsAs itnega mo naan dv aAr inedt yy o f h e a l t h a n d s a f e t y i n f o r m a t i o n a s w e l l a s C l o s e
C a l l p r oKc eedl l uy ,r eRsa ial nMdaontahgeerr  i s s u e s s u c h a s h e a l t h a n d w e l l b e i n g .

Once qualified, we will publish their contact details. Thanks again for all
those who volunteered. If you are interested in being a HSE Ambassador, then
please contact the health and safety manager, Mark Barrett, as soon as
possible.

NEWS

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RAILSTAFF AWARDS 2018 FINALISTS  

We are delighted to announce that
after being nominated, we are now
finalists in the category "Rail Safety
Person or Team of the Year" at the
RailStaff Awards! Our trespass and
vandalism patrollers are the team who
are up to win the award! The winner
will be announced on Thursday 29th
November at The NEC, in Birmingham.
Good luck to our TVPs and all finalists! 
  

DESTINATION FLORIDA

Destination Florida is a charity that specialise in organising sunshine
holidays to Florida for children between the ages of seven to fifteen who
have missed out on the fun and laughter of childhood due to illness. The
holidays are a week long and are meticulously organised with a full
medical team of experienced doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and carers
enabling the children to be given their normal medical treatment, yet still
enjoying a holiday of a lifetime.

Morson Vital provide crucial
financial donations to help
support the charity to take
75 children on a biennial
trip to Florida. Group
members of staff also
volunteer and help the
carers and medical staff on
t h e t r i p .T ST hAi st eyaema r sa nt rdi pA n d y
t a k e s p lKaeclel yo, nR atihl eM2annda g e r  
November. We hope all the
children and families have
an unforgettable holiday
and make lots of special
memories.

NEWS

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TRESPASS AND VANDALISM NEW LIVERY

To support the outstanding work of
our patrollers, we recently rolled a new
fleet of vehicles equipped with the
necessary equipment to aid what they
do. The 20 new Peugeot Partner 5
Seater Crew Vans have been specially
designed in partnership with Network
Rail and contain a first aid kit, fire
extinguisher, detonator box and
holder, and more. Visually, they
provide a similar look and feel to a
Police vehicle, complete with flashing
sirens and checkered flags to ensure
they are instantly identifiable to the
public, whilst ultimately providing a
safe location for anyone who is
vulnerable whilst waiting for
additional support from the BTP.

We cannot praise our team of
patrollers highly enough for the
superb work they do every single day
and look forward to growing our
network of patrol staff and supporting
the wider work of Network Rail and
BTP in keeping people safe.

  

TSA team and Andy
Kelly, Rail Manager 

HOT TOPIC

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DIABETES 

Diabetes is a lifelong condition that causes a person's blood sugar (Glucose)
level to become too high because the body can not use it properly.  

There are 2 main types of diabetes:

Type 1 Diabetes - happens when your body can't produce enough of a hormone
called insulin which controls blood glucose. You need daily injections of insulin
to keep your blood glucose levels under control. Managing type 1 diabetes can
take time to get used to, but you can still do all the things you enjoy.  Type 1
diabetes isn't linked with age or being overweight – this is type 2 diabetes.
  
Getting Treatment for Type 1 Diabetes
Your GP will do a urine test and might check your blood glucose (sugar) level. If
they think you might have diabetes, they will advise you to go to hospital
straight away for an assessment.
You'll stay in hospital until you get the blood test results. This is usually the
same day. If you are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, a diabetes nurse will show
you the things you need to do to start managing it, such as testing your own
blood glucose and how to inject insulin.

Type 2 Diabetes - the body doesn't produce enough insulin, or the body's cells
don't react to insulin. Type 2 diabetes is far more common than type 1. In the
UK, around 90% of all adults with diabetes have type 2.

Getting Treatment for Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is often diagnosed following blood or urine tests for something
else. However, you should see your GP straight away if you have any symptoms
of diabetes.

Common symptoms Diabetes are:

TSA team and Andy •  losing weight without trying
•  thrush that keeps coming back
•   f e eKl ienl lgy , vReari ly Mt ha ni rasgteyr  
•  peeing more than usual, •  blurred vision
•  cuts and grazes that aren't healing
particularly at night

•  feeling very tired

HOT TOPIC

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TSA team and Andy
Kelly, Rail Manager 

HOT TOPIC

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How to reduce the risk of Diabetes

There are a number of factors that can increase your
chance of developing type 2 diabetes, so by taking

simple steps, you can lower your chances of getting it:

1. Lose Weight
2. Increase your exercise level

3. Stop smoking
4. Eat healthily
5. Cut back on alcohol
6. Cut Sugar and Refined Carbs from Your Diet
7. Work Out Regularly
8. Drink more water
9. Watch Portion Sizes
10. Eat a High-Fibre Diet

TSA team and Andy
Kelly, Rail Manager 
If you want more information on diabetes
and getting help please visit 
https://www.diabetes.org.uk/

COMPETITION

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TSA team and Andy
Kelly, Rail Manager 

SAFETY AWARD
NOMINATIONS

SEAN HUTTON, SCOTLAND

SEAN HAS SHOWN GREAT AWARENESS DURING OCTOBER REGARDING
SAFETY AND HAS LOGGED A LOT OF CLOSE CALLS VIA THE MORSON
CLOSE CALL APP WHICH, IN TURN, HAVE HAD A POSITIVE EFFECT ON
SAFETY IN AND AROUND THE WORK PLACE. HIS ATTITUDE HAS ALSO
HAD A POSITIVE EFFECT ON THOSE AROUND SEAN WHILST ON SITE.

MATT MAGEEAN, T&V PATROLLER

MATT WAS CARRYING OUT A ROUTINE PATROL AT A VEHICLE
ACCESS IN LEEDS. AT THE ACCESS, MATT FOUND A YOUNG
SUICIDAL MALE. MATT MANAGED TO TALK TO THE INDIVIDUAL
AND AS A RESULT, HE WAS GIVEN THE HELP HE REQUIRED. IF
MATT HAD NOT INTERVENED, THEN THE YOUNG MAN MAY
HAVE BECOME ANOTHER VICTIM OF SUICIDE ON THE
RAILWAY.

WINNERS!

LEON WILLIAMS AND JOSH BUTLER, CARDIFF

LEON AND JOSH WORK TOGETHER ON AMEY SITES IN
THE SOUTH WEST. BOTH HAVE PLACED NUMEROUS
CLOSE CALLS VIA THE MORSON CLOSE CALL APP. THEIR
CLOSE CALLS HAVE LED TO SEVERAL INTERVENTIONS ON
SITE AND AS A RESULT, UNAUTHORISED PERSONNEL
HAVE BEEN DENIED ACCESS TO SITE BECAUSE OF
INCORRECT PAPERWORK, THE WORKSAFE POLICY HAS
BEEN ENFORCED AND SAFE SYSTEMS OF WORK HAVE
BEEN CHALLENGED AND AMENDED ON SITE.

THANK YOU AGAIN TO LEON AND JOSH FOR THEIR HARD
WORK AND SAFETY SUPPORT

TOP 10 CLOSE
CALLS

Special mentions for the folliowing also raising close calls; Luke
Piggott (Doncaster), Aaron Hope (Canning Town), Carol Dwyer
(Farnham), Alun Philips (Cardiff), Jake Doran-Hughes (Cardiff), Mitch
Selby (Canning Town), Jane Hepburn (HSE), Stephen McKay (HSE)

SITE POLLUTION 

Remember the following regarding site pollution and ensure:
• It can be washed into watercourses and drains when mixed with       
  water.
• Keep hard standing areas clean and try to prevent runaway.
• Only use designated settlement systems.
• Notify your manager if you think there is a risk.

INTERACTION WITH THE PUBLIC AND

SITE ACCESS 

When working in and around residential/public areas, all Vital
operatives are to be respectful of their surroundings, especially where
site accesses are located in residential areas.

Please remember the following when working in such areas:

• Be respectful to the local residents at all times, and avoid any           
  confrontation.
• Whilst on site, do not shout or swear.
• Avoid light pollution affecting local residents – position site lighting 
  away from property and use screens where practical.
• Locate generators and compressors away from residential property. 
• Use noise screens where practical.
• Turn equipment, plant and vehicles off when not in use.
• Do not leave vehicles idling or with radios playing.
• Only park vehicles in designated areas and do not obstruct the           
  public.
• Do not litter - keep it until you can dispose of it properly.
• If you smoke, think of other people around you - use designated         
  areas.
• Be aware that large groups can be seen as intimidating.
• Do not obstruct public walkways or access areas. Be polite and           
  helpful.

ARRIVING LATE FOR ALERE HEALTHCARE

APPOINTMENTS

VHRL workers are reminded that when attending appointments with
Alere Healthcare, they should arrive 15 minutes early to complete a
short questionnaire, without which the medical cannot proceed.
With effect from the 1st November, workers arriving late for the
confirmed appointment time and who cannot be otherwise
accommodated within the clinic, will be turned away and required to
make a new appointment on a different clinic day. If you think that
you may be late for the appointment, then contact the respective
clinic as soon as possible.

DRIVER CHECKS 

IT IS THE DRIVERS RESPONSIBILITY TO CARRY OUT DAILY CHECKS
ON THE VEHICLE THEY DRIVE

• Engine oil level
• Water level
• Lights
• Windscreen
• Wipers and washers
• Tyre tread are above 2mm and pressures are correct
• Brake pedal and handbrake
• Steering wheel and horn
• ALL seat belts and Locks
• General road worthiness and bodywork
• Service schedule is adhered to

WHERE REQUIRED AND IF ANY ISSUES THEN PLEASE  CONTACT 
VHRL FLEET DEPARTMENT [email protected] 

COMPANY VEHICLES WITH ADBLUE

• To protect our environment by reducing exhaust emissions, most         
  company vehicles both cars and vans are now fitted with an Adblue     
  tank which will require topping up periodically.
• The frequency of this depends on your driving style and vehicle           
  loading
• The location of the Adblue tank filler can be found by referring to the 
  vehicle handbook or by contacting either VHRL Fleet Department or     
  the vehicle supplier.
• PLEASE TOP UP ADBLUE when advised by the dashboard display, as     
  ignoring this will cause the engine technology system to reduce           
  engine performance and eventually stop the engine from re-starting.

SMOKING IN COMPANY VEHICLES

Smoking is NOT permitted in any company vehicle by either the driver
or any of the passengers. This includes (but not exclusive to) smoking
cigarettes, cigars, pipes and e-cigarettes. This policy not only ensures
we are compliant with the law, but also ensures we are complying with
the requirements of the hire company who leases the vehicles to us.

Drivers must ensure that a NO SMOKING sign is clearly on display and
positioned within your vehicle for all passengers to see at all times. 

If your vehicle does not have no smoking sign, please contact the fleet
department who will provide you with one. 

PPE COMPLIANCE

We want to remind all staff about mandatory PPE and that we
expect everyone throughout the Group to be wearing the
necessary equipment, and for it to be in good working condition,
every time you step on site.

The following PPE is mandatory on site as a Morson and Vital
employee:

• Blue or white safety hardhat, dependent on PTS status
• Approved safety boots
• Orange hi-visibility clothing displaying Vital logo
• Safety glasses
• Cut 5 gloves

Depending on the task, the following PPE may also apply:

• Goggles
• Spats
• Dust mask (must be face fit tested)
• Vapour mask
• Ear defenders
• HAVS monitoring equipment

LIFE SAVING RULES

Vital’s vision and commitment to safety are supported by the
Lifesaving Rules which tackle the ten most common causes of injury
and loss of life on the railway.  We should all know these but please
take the time to have a look and refresh your memory. By following
these rules, we should all get home safe every day. A copy of the Life
Saving Rules Poster is attached to this newsletter

OSBORNE STOP THINK! CASCADE

Please find below your link to the October 2018
STOP Think! from Osborne
https://view.publitas.com/osborne/osborne-stop-
think-cascade-october-2018-edition/page/1

COLD AND FLU

A lot of us will get a cold this autumn or winter and some of us will
get the flu. If these viruses do affect you, you need to take care and
look after yourself.

Colds and flu are caused by viruses. There are more than 200
common cold viruses and three types of flu virus with many different
strains, so they can be hard to avoid.

The viruses can be spread through droplets that are coughed and
sneezed out by an infected person. They can also be transferred via a
person’s finger or surfaces, such as door handles, if there are infected
droplets on them.

Cold symptoms: 
• Coughing, sneezing, blocked nose 
• Sore throat, headache, slight           
  temperature 

If these are the only symptoms you have, it’s unlikely that your GP
will be able to do anything. Instead, visit your local pharmacy to get
advice on how to manage the symptoms and buy over the counter
medicine. Remember to rest and eat well.

When to see a doctor:

• If you have a chronic condition (e.g. asthma, diabetes, heart             
  disease).
• If you have a very high temperature and feel ill (e.g. severe               
headache or abdominal pain).

CLOSE CALLS ON COLAS SITES 

Colas also have an app for submitting Close
Calls, which is known as CARL:
Call, Action, Report, Learn
 
The app is easy to download and use. Vital
personnel are encouraged to download this
app so that we can raise Close Calls which will
in turn, improve overall safety.
 
If you cannot download the app then please
raise Close Calls to
[email protected]

Do you know that you can also use the CARL
app to complete site safety tours and safety
conversations?

Vital workers on Colas sites are encouraged to
use this part of the app. If you need
assistance, then contact the H&S Manager,
Mark Barrett

Having IT problems with CARL?  Colas are
happy to help you with this.

Feel free to contact them
[email protected].

USE OF LADDERS

When using ladders, there are some basic rules to follow which are:

• 1 in 4 rule - So for very 4m up base of the ladder should be 1m out   
  (rough angle of 75 degrees).
• Always maintain 3 points of contact.
• Extend ladder above the working platform by 1m (at least x3 rungs).
• Ladder must always be in date (maintenance) and fit for purpose.
• Ladder must be checked before use.
• Ladders can be used for low risk and short duration tasks                 
  (approximately 30mins at a time).
• Never encroach in the exclusion zone of live overhead electric         
  cables (OLE).
• Always secure the foot of the ladder (or get help from someone).

SAFETY MATTERS

THE CLOSE CALL APP

Created specifically for our workforce; a multi platform mobile
app that has been designed for users to ensure they can report a
close call at anytime and any place.

FEATURES INCLUDE REPORT A CLOSE CALL
0161 836 7200
SIMPLE - Add the information to the
form provided and submit www.closecallnow.com

DIRECT - All close calls reported
through the app are sent instantly to
our Health and Safety mailbox

PHOTOGRAPH - Upload supporting
images

OFFLINE - No network connection
required - use the app anywhere

SAFETY MATTERS
THE CLOSE CALL REPORTING APP

Available to download NOW!

MY IDEA

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Here at Vital, we are always keen to know the thoughts of our
workforce. We urge our employees to think freely and
innovatively so we can provide safe solutions for any problems
that arise on the infrastructure. Now, we are making it even
more simple for you to get your thoughts and ideas heard!

It’s your chance to help us improve and be in with the chance to
win £100 of gift vouchers if your suggestion is put into practice!

Simply go to our website to email us at [email protected]
with your suggestions for improving safety or ideas for
innovation.

YOUR HSQE TEAM

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Health and Safety Manager and Close Call
Champion
Mark.Barrett- The Mill
[email protected]
0161 836 7053 / 07717 306 817

HSE Adviser and Close Call Champion
Stephen McKay - Scotland and Newcastle
Stephen. [email protected]
07717 306 733

HSE Adviser and Safety Unit (North)
Jane Hepburn – Manchester, Solutions, Milton
Keynes (North) Doncaster & Market Rasen
[email protected]
07717 306 797

HSE Adviser and Safety Unit (South)
Jalal Ahmed - Cardiff, Farnham MK (South) and
Canning Town.  
[email protected]
07717 306 811

SAFETY ALERTS

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Winter Newsletter.
Close Calls on Amey sites.
Life Saving Rules Poster.
CIRAS Membership Matters Issue 4.
Fatal Accident – Fall From Height.
Management of Rail Movements Over Points.
Lessons Learnt – Possession Overrun.
SWL Supply Chain Update – Letter from
Network Rail.
Lessons Learnt – Trapped Fingers.
Potentially Hazardous Signal Gantry Access
Ladder
Energisation Notices - Scotland
PARR Safety Alert - Underfoot Trip Hazard