June NL

Safety
Newsletter

Jun 2021

vital.uk.com

Contents

Jun 2021

Section Page 3
Introduction Page 4
Welcome Page 5
Your HSQE Team
Page 6-7
Close Call App Page 8-9

Hot Topic Page 10
Reporting Close Calls Page 11
Planning for Possession Safety
Page 12-13
Health and Wellbeing Page 14-15
Stay hydrated
Safety in the sun Page 16
Page 17
Compliance Page 18
Network Rail’s Worksafe Procedure Page 19
Your right to work in the UK - final
reminder

Driving
Accidents involving deer

CIRAS reporting

Offices
Alerts & Notices

Welcome

Group Director, Health, Safety, Quality Overall, the emergence from restrictions is
and Environmental Compliance, Gareth very welcome and will help add a sparkle
Morris to this summer. Promoting positive
behaviour is an extremely effective and
Welcome to our June Safety Newsletter. potent force to help those regain their trust
in mingling and reconnecting. One simple
As a rather damp May departs, thankfully, and effective thought we can share is:
so too do many lockdown restrictions. This tolerance and a kind word can go a very
welcome development is a strong sign that long way to help re-build the contacts with
all the sacrifices we have endured are ready those we have been apart from.
to pay a dividend. Stay Safe,
Gareth Morris
If you are able to enjoy a holiday or more
quality time with family and friends, it is likely 3
that you may encounter mixed reactions
from amongst those you meet.

It would not be surprising if some people
experience a level of anxiety over socialising
in close proximity to others, given that for
such a long period that this was not viable.
Others may go the other way and throw
themselves into full on party mode, which
would be understandable.

Many of us may fall between the two
positions, and choose to manage contacts
carefully, allowing confidence to build and
re-establish patterns of activity at a pace
with which we feel comfortable.

None of these approaches are “wrong”.
Everyone must feel free to choose what is
right for their circumstances, given the
official guidance for their location.

At Vital, we recommend a steady approach,
as this has been seen to offer the best
outcomes. Please be aware that the
Government guidelines currently in place at
work still require social distancing and
enhanced work and personal hygiene
measures.

HSQE My Idea
Team
How would you improve safety?
HSQE Director What are your ideas for
Gareth Morris, Morson innovation?
International - Manchester What would you change?
[email protected] To be in with the chance to with
07736 657 039 £100 worth of gift vouchers,
email us your ideas at:
HSE Adviser (Scotland) and
Close Call Champion [email protected]
Stephen McKay - Scotland and
Newcastle 4
[email protected]
07717 306 733

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

HSE Adviser and Safety Unit
(South)
Alex Wilson - Cardiff, Farnham,
Milton Keynes (South) and
Canning Town.
[email protected]
07717 306 811

Close Call App

Safety Matters

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 any time and
any place. 

Features Include:

Simple - Add the information to the
form provided and submit

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!

5

Reporting Close Calls

Would you recognise a Close Call if it stared you in the face? A Close Call can be made for
an unsafe condition that, if ignored, may cause an accident or harm.
Why should I make a Close Call?

You could prevent yourself or a colleague being injured
You are demonstrating positive behaviours of leadership, responsibility and care for others
(traits much needed in any walk of life)
Your intervention can help make the safety culture much stronger and worksites safer.
What happens when I submit a Close Call?
All of the Close Call apps work in much the same way. They are available to download for free
from the app stores and offer a simple template allowing you to input relevant detail. Once the
issue has been input, it sends detail to the Health and Safety department to record and action.
Detail of the Close Call is sent to a central point at Network Rail to action the Close Call.
What information should I include in a Close Call and why?
There is key data needed to be able to resolve a Close Call. This is best explained by referring to
the two examples below. The first Close Call can’t be progressed because crucial information is
missing. The second could, as the detail was there.
Please remember, taking the time to submit a Close Call is very much appreciated, if we have the
correct detail, action can be taken to resolve the concern.

6

7

Planning for
Possession Safety

Safety and accuracy should be an integral component and paramount concern of the possession
planning process. Recently, there has been a concerning trend of instances of worksites being
planned outside possessions. Additionally, a lack of understanding on both the roles and the
responsibilities of some planning and delivery staff has been identified.

Some incidents have caused such concern that this briefing is necessary to advise all operatives to
feel confident to question the arrangements that should keep you safe.

To illustrate the problem let us examine one high profile case.

Slochd Possession Incident Background
The Slochd possession irregularity, on 22nd April 2020, contained the following issues:

The planned possession didn’t cover the planned worksite mileages
A worksite was taken over two miles outside the possession limits
3 members of staff were working with an RRV on an open and unprotected line
The error went through the whole planning process unnoticed until the signaller received a
SPAD alarm
Planning issue not identified at T-5w / T-10 planning meetings
The initial planning error was made at T-7 weeks
Not identified / questioned during ‘019 lifecycle (planners, PICs, RM’s)
No pre-possession (PICOP) meeting.
Not identified on the night during pre-possession checks/conversations with delivery staff

This incident raises key questions

How serious was it? As serious as it gets

Could this happen in your area? Yes

What can I do to keep myself safe? Always check the detail on your SWP if you

have any questions on worksite limits raise

them immediately.

Do not assume that detail must be OK because you are issued with a Safe Work Pack (SWP).

Check, question and test the detail.

8

How does a possession issue occur?
The Swiss cheese model (below) shows slices representing barriers (or processes and systems). The
holes in the cheese represent any weaknesses within those processes or systems. When all the holes
line up that’s when an error can slip through every stage in the process.

In relation to the Slochd incident, the
initial error was when the worksite
was linked to a possession that didn’t
cover the worksite mileages. This
happened during the validation
process at the top, it slipped through
the holes (weaknesses) at every
stage, resulting in a possession
safety incident!

Learning from events
Key Messages;

1.Never assume safety is someone
else's responsibility

2.Always do the necessary checks
to ensure the plan is safe and the
paperwork is correct

3.If you think something is unsafe,
then stop immediately and report
it. Do not do something you are
unsure of.

You are encouraged to speak up, ask
questions or raise concerns.

REMEMBER – Take 5 for Safety to get
Everyone Home Safe Every Day

9

Stay hydrated

Under heat stress conditions, dehydration can seriously affect
your ability to function safely.

Our brains are about 70% water (while our bodies are generally
about 50–75%) so It’s not actually that surprising that our water
intake has such a big effect on our performance. In fact, according
to research, 2% dehydration can influence one’s mood, lead to
fatigue and considerably reduce alertness.

Dehydration effects can be minimised by frequently drinking cool
water (rather than tea, coffee or carbonated drinks) in small
volumes to compensate for water and metabolite losses due to
sweating. Thirst is not a good indicator of dehydration – rather it
should be considered an early indicator that you are starting to
suffer from the effects of dehydration.

When working hard or at a high rate in heat stress conditions
employees should consume around 250ml (half a pint) every 15
minutes. This approach may not be practical due to the nature of
the task, eg wearing PPE that restricts the ability to drink or working
in industries where hygiene requirements prevent the consumption
of food or drink. In these circumstances an alternative approach is
drinking 500ml of water per hour before work commences and
encouraging the drinking of 500ml of water during their rest periods.

This may meet your water demands during the work period but if
water loss is significantly greater, then water intake should increase
proportionately. Also even if you replenish the lost sweat with equal
amounts of water, you may still be susceptible to dehydration due
to salt losses caused by excessive sweating. If you are exposed to
heat stress conditions, you should make sure you are adequately
hydrated before you come to work.

What should I do if I become dehydrated?
If you think you may be dehydrated, start by drinking more fluid. For
mild dehydration, drinking water or other drinks may be all that you
need to do.
If you have more severe dehydration because of diarrhoea or
vomiting, you’ll lose important salts and sugars from your body as
well as water. If you’re older or have other health conditions, your
doctor or nurse may suggest you use oral rehydration therapy. This
is usually a powder containing sugar and salts that you mix with
water. If you think you may have severe dehydration, speak to your
pharmacist straightaway.

10

Safety in the sun

What is the problem?
Too much sunlight is harmful to your skin. A tan is a sign that the skin has been damaged. The
damage is caused by ultraviolet (UV) rays in sunlight.
Who is at risk?
When work keeps you outdoors for a long time your skin could be exposed to more sun than is
healthy for you. If you have naturally brown or black skin, you are less at risk of skin cancer,
although cases do occur. Therefore, when the sunlight is intense, it would be sensible if you also
followed the guidance below to protect yourself. You should take particular care if you have:

fair or freckled skin that doesn’t tan, or goes red or burns before it tans
red or fair hair and light coloured eyes
a large number of moles.
What are the harmful effects?
In the short term, even mild reddening of the skin from sun exposure is a sign of damage.
Sunburn can blister the skin and make it peel.
Longer term problems can arise. Too much sun speeds up ageing of the skin, making it leathery,
mottled and wrinkled. The most serious effect is an increased chance of developing skin cancer.
What can you do to protect yourself?
Keep your top on
Wear a hat with a brim or a flap that covers the ears and the back of the neck
Stay in the shade whenever possible, during your breaks and especially at lunch time
Use a high factor sunscreen of at least SPF30 on any exposed skin
Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration
Check your skin regularly for any unusual moles or spots. See a doctor promptly if you find
anything that is changing in shape, size or colour, itching or bleeding

11

YOUR RIGHT TO
WORK IN THE UK -
DEADLINE 30th June

YOUR RIGHT TO WORK IN THE UK – The deadline for applying to the EU Settlement
Scheme is 30th June 2021

What is changing?
If you’re an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen and plan to continue to live and work in the UK after 30 June
2021 you and your family will need to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme. If your application is
successful, you’ll get either settled or pre-settled status. The following article gives a brief
overview of the scheme including gov.uk website details and phone number where you can get
further information and help if required.

Apply to the EU Settlement Scheme (settled and pre-settled status)
The rights and status of EU, EEA and Swiss citizens living in the UK by 31 December 2020 will remain
the same until 30 June 2021. The EEA includes the EU countries and also Iceland, Liechtenstein and
Norway. If you apply to the EU Settlement Scheme successfully, you’ll be able to continue living
and working in the UK after 30 June 2021. You’ll be given either:

settled status: or
pre-settled status
You will not be asked to choose what status you are applying for. The status you get depends on
how long you’ve been living in the UK when you apply. Your rights will be different depending on
which status you get and when you started living in the UK..

Settled status
You’ll usually get settled status if you’ve lived in the UK for a continuous 5-year period (known as
‘continuous residence’). Five years’ continuous residence means that for 5 years in a row you’ve
been in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for at least 6 months in any 12-month
period. There are exceptions to this so if you need further information please use the contact
details in this article. You can stay in the UK as long as you like if you get settled status. You’ll also
be able to apply for British citizenship if you’re eligible.

Pre-settled status
If you do not have 5 years’ continuous residence when you apply, you’ll usually get pre-settled
status. You must have started living in the UK by 31 December 2020 unless you are applying as
the existing close family member of an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen who started living here by then. You
can stay in the UK for a further 5 years from the date you get pre-settled status.
You can then apply to change this to settled status once you’ve got 5 years’ continuous
residence. You must do this before your pre-settled status expires.
If you’ll reach 5 years’ continuous residence at some point by 30 June 2021, you can choose to
wait to apply until you reach 5 years’ continuous residence. This means that if your application is
successful, you’ll get settled status without having to apply for pre-settled status first.

For more information please visit: https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-
families/whatsettled-and-presettled-status-means

12

The deadline for applications is 30 June 2021

When do I apply?
The EU Settlement Scheme is open. You can apply now.
Fees
It’s free to apply to the scheme.
Get help
Ask a question on-line: https://eu-settled-status-enquiries.service.gov.uk/start
You can also get help over the phone: Telephone: 0300 123 7379
Checklist

1.Check if you need to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme
2.Find out what status you will get under the scheme
3.Check what you will need to apply
4. Apply
What are we doing as a business?
Vital Human Resources Ltd (VHRL) part of Morson Group is bringing awareness of the EU
Settlement Scheme to our workers. We are not asking EU nationals to apply for the scheme as
there is no legal requirement at present.
To get a full understanding of the EU Settlement Scheme please refer to the gov.uk
website: https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families

13

Network Rail’s
Worksafe Procedure

Vital fully supports and endorses Network Rail’s Worksafe Procedure that gives any worker the absolute
right to raise a concern and refuse to carry out work if they feel there is risk of an incident or accident
occurring and not be put under pressure to return to work until the matter has been addressed.

IS IT SAFE?

SPEAKING OUT WHEN SOMETHING IS UNSAFE

If you do not feel something is safe, or the risks are not appropriately mitigated for the task, remember
to evoke the Worksafe Procedure. This could be for anything you feel is unsafe, for instance a few
which have been invoked recently are due to unsafe underfoot conditions, incorrect plans being
issued, or working too close to the live conductor rail.

1. Stop work, move to a position of safety, and immediately contact the PIC (Person in Charge).
2. The PIC shall, in discussion with the person raising the concern, assess the situation and
determine the course of action required.
3. If agreement is reached the work shall restart subject to a suitable risk assessment.
4. Work shall not restart until all parties agree that the concern has been addressed and it is safe
to do so.
5. If agreement cannot be reached the Worksafe procedure should be applied and logged with
Network Rail Route Control by the responsible manager on site.

14

Some recent examples where Network Rail’s
Worksafe Procedure has been used

15

Accidents involving
deer

Deer, on the roads, present a greater risk than other roadkill incidents because of their large size. This
year, across the Morson Group, we have had a number of incidents involving deer and other large
animals hitting our vehicles. These incidents have caused serious amounts of damage to vehicles
including having one van written off. Thankfully, none of our colleagues were seriously injured. Sadly,
most of the animals were not so lucky.
Deer collisions tend to peak at this time of year as the animals search for new territories. Highest risk
times are around dusk when they feed and then at dawn. We urge drivers to check their speed and
stay alert especially when they see deer warning signs or are travelling through a heavily wooded or
forested stretch of road. The picture (below) shows what happens when a small deer hits a vehicle,
Imagine what would it might look like if it was a full-size stag. Take care!

Advice for drivers
Stay alert to deer in areas with signs and on roads
through woods and forests
If you know of areas where accidents with deer have
occurred, please be more aware whilst on these road
Dip headlights when seeing a deer as the animal may
freeze on the spot instead of leaving the road
Look for other deer, as they often gather and travel in
herds
Only brake sharply and stop if there is no danger of
being hit by following traffic
Try not to suddenly swerve to avoid hitting a deer
without checking that your intended direction is clear.

16

CIRAS reporting

CIRAS - a confidential reporting service

CIRAS is an organisation offering a confidential reporting service where safety
concerns can be raised. Our Group support this important service through
membership and active participation.

CIRAS partners with the GB mainline railway industry and has seen significant
improvement in safety performance over the past two decades. Their confidential
reporting service cuts across organisational boundaries and continues to be an
integral part of Rail’s safety management system.

CIRAS will take calls on a wide range of concerns affecting the health, wellbeing and
safety of staff, passengers or the public. From rules non-compliance and
equipment issues through to fatigue, security and working conditions – these are all
early indicators of potential harm. The concerns raised through the hotline often
have common themes, allowing the industry to benefit from shared learning and
good practice.

If you have a rail safety concern that
you feel unable to raise with your own
employer, call CIRAS now on:
Report hotline: 0800 4 101 101
Report textline: 07507 285 887
CIRAS’s quarterly magazine, Frontline
Matters, is available to download for
free below:

frontline-matters-issue-10.pdf (windows.net)

17

Office Locations

Manchester (Head Office) Abercynon Bellshill
T: 0161 836 7000 T: 01443 809 950 T: 01698 840 950
E: [email protected] E: [email protected] E: [email protected]

The Mill, G16/17 Ty Cynon, Dalziel House, Ground Floor,
South Hall Street, Navigation Park, Strathclyde Business Park,
off Ordsall Lane, Abercynon, Lark Way, Bellshill,
Salford, Manchester, CF45 4SN Lanarkshire,
M5 4TP ML4 3RB

Cardiff Birmingham  Crewe
T: 029 2083 9955 T: 0121 809 3010 T: 01270 906 130
E: [email protected] E: [email protected] E: [email protected]

The Laurels, F03 First Floor, Office 2 The Dairy,
Heol Y Rhosog, Fairgate House, Crewe Hall Farm, Old Park
Springmeadows Business Park, 205 Kings Road, Road,
Rumney, Tyseley, Crewe,
Cardiff, Birmingham, Cheshire,
CF3 2EW B11 2AA CW1 5UE

Doncaster Farnham Market Rasen
T: 01302 244450 T: 01252 964 020 T: 01302 308 080
E: [email protected] E: [email protected] E: [email protected]

First Floor Offices, Unit 10, Unit 2,
Carr House, Guildford Road Trading Estate, Gallamore Lane Ind. Estate,
Heavens Walk, Farnham, Market Rasen,
Doncaster, Surrey, LN8 3HZ
DN4 5HZ GU9 9PZ

Milton Keynes Newcastle London
T: 01908 015020 T: 0191 300 0433 T: 0203 963 5080
E: [email protected] E: [email protected] E: [email protected]

Suite 532, Spaceworks, Unit 10,
Elder House, Benton Park Road, Canning Town Business Park,
Elder Gate, Newcastle upon Tyne, Stephenson Street,
Milton Keynes, Tyne & Wear, London,
MK9 1LR NE7 7LX E16 4SA

18

Alerts & Notices

External Alerts & Notices
Network Rail - Lessons Learnt - Severe Finger injury during
re-sleepering activities
Network Rail - Interrupter Cable Bulletin
Network Rail - Life Saving Rules poster
Network Rail - Safety Alert - Contact with Overhead Line
Equipment (OLE) – serious injury
Network Rail - Safety Advice - Lifesaving rules – Test before
touch on 25kV OLE
Network Rail - Safety Advice - Safe isolations
Network Rail - Safety Advice - On Track Plant machine /
crane controllers
Network Rail - Shared Learning - Slochd possession
irregularity
Southern Capital Delivery Home Safe
Southern Shield - Personal Protective Equipment Guide
25 kV ac overhead line equipment

19

Safety vital.uk.com
Newsletter

Jun 2021