Network Rail regulation and performance

Environmental sustainability in industry

Whatever your position in the global warming debate, issues such as water pollution, soil contamination, depletion of energy resources and loss of space to dispose of waste just simply can not be ignored.

In the rail industry for example, a majority of companies in infrastructure and ATOCs are now looking to become accredited to ISO14001 or above. This means that people in the railway industry from managers and supervisors to front line staff are attending environmental awareness courses. Environmental impact training is now part of PTS certification and underlines, among other elements, the industry’s motto of ‘take out what you take in.’

So if the rail industry is leading the way, how can we influence neighbouring industries? Firstly, raising awareness of environmental issues in the workplace has a positive trickle-down effect. This means that workers take better practices home with them. We also have the opportunity to influence parallel industries and affect those involved with production, supply, consumers and disposal. Demanding higher standards from our business partners is not only a mandatory part of ISO14001, it is also a positive way to effect change.

Despite the goodwill demonstrated by many industrial organisations, the strongest drivers for environmental policy improvement remain legislation that imposes new duties and punitive fiscal measures. Increasingly, though, industry is beginning to realise that well-planned environmental management can result in significant cost savings. In many cases, these savings offset the cost of training and implementation. So, in effect, taking care of the environment makes good business sense.

Think of the small impact that energy efficiency can have on a single office. For example, simple measures like installing motion-sensor lighting and energy efficient light bulbs cuts down utility bills. Small adjustments to temperature control can reduce waste in a big way. These individual changes applied across an office, a plant, an organization or across an industry add up to big changes across the country.

But managing change and influencing ideas can often be a challenge. This is why it’s essential that environmental policy becomes part of every level of operation. Network Rail, for example, have taken the same approach with environmental policy as they have with health & safety.

‘The environment is not the responsibility of a specialist team working in a remote headquarters building,’ says Paul Plummer, director of planning and regulation at Network Rail. “It has to be something everyone believes they have responsibility for. So, just like safety, we have put the environment in the line, making it part of every team’s responsibility.”

One of the most effective ways to get buy-in from employees and business partners is to demonstrate why the ends justify the means. Demonstrate to employees the impact they have as individuals—both positive and negative—and you stand a better chance of getting the message through.

While over the past two decades, there has been significant progress made within industry to create a sustainable future, countless opportunities abound for industry to improve its impact on the world around us. That’s why it’s essential that, despite our industry’s improving track record, we must not become complacent about rail’s environmental friendliness. We must continue to strive towards technical and behavioural changes that will protect and improve our precious environment.

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