Providing a safe working environment is the number one priority at VolkerRail.
VolkerRail maintain a fully integrated safety management system that incorporates safety procedures, plans, work instructions and improvement initiatives. This system is tailored to the exacting needs of the railway engineering environment and ensures compliance with the Health and Safety at Work Act.
As part of the overall HSQE policy, it is VolkerRail Group policy to operate road vehicles in a safe, efficient and effective manner. The company maintain management arrangements within the safety management system to ensure continuous improvement in occupational road safety by, as far as reasonably practical, minimising road vehicle related risks to our employees and others who may be affected by our operations.
Facts that underline VolkerRail´s commitment to safety include:
- VolkerRail has achieved certification to the Occupational Health and Safety specification OHSAS 18001:2007
- As part of its Safety Management System, VolkerRail has formal procedures to ensure safe working practices throughout all its business operations.
- VolkerRail operates an integrated Safety, Quality and Environmental Policy. Related four-year plans use target setting and performance indicators to ensure continual improvement.
- Commitment to safety begins at the top of the organisation. The Group Safety & Compliance Director is a member of the company´s executive board.
- VolkerRail invested heavily to obtain a Railway Safety Case (RSC) and train operator´s licence. It was the first UK company (apart from organisations that were part of the former British Rail) to obtain an RSC enabling it to operate rail maintenance vehicles on the national network. Since a change in legislation VolkerRail now operates under a Safety Certificate issued by the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) to meet the requirements of The Railways and Other Guided Transport Systems (Safety) Regulations 2006 - ROGS.
- VolkerRail is an active member of the following industry forums/committees:
- Railway Infrastructure Safety Liaison Group (ISLG)
- Project Safety Leadership Group (PSLG)
- PSLG Safety Improvement Team (SIT)
- Civil Engineering Conference Group (CEC)
- Energy Standards Committee
- Rail Industry Association Council (RIA)
- S&T Engineering Forum (STEF)
- Train Operations & Management Standards Committee (TOM SC)
VolkerRail invests in a range of initiatives to maintain and improve its good safety record. These include:
- Audits by professional external auditors.
- Internal, cross-business HSQE audits.
- Risk and hazard workshops for employees.
- Project-specific risk identification and management plans.
- Site-specific safety instructions for all programmes of work.
- Employee training on a range of safety-related issues including accident prevention.
Good safety management practices are integral to everything we do within the VolkerRail Group. Safe delivery of our contracted works is our number one aim and the work to maintain a safe working environment is continuously led by our Safety Leadership Group (SLG). Our HSQE management system has been constantly developed over the years with year on year improvements demonstrated through independent audit.
Chris Hext, Group Safety & Compliance Director.
