01.01.07
Vital focus on safety
Vital Rail is a subsidiary of Vital Services Group and provider of engineering support, technical and safety training services to the rail industry.
As part of Vital Rail’s continuing ‘commitment to safety’ programme, rail workers have been given access to Network Rail’s ‘Safety 365’ trucks. These bright orange vehicles act as mobile classrooms allowing Vital to deliver safety messages straight to the workplace throughout the country.
Paul Kelly, SQE director of Vital Rail, said: “We are committed to reinforcing the importance of safe working practices and a safety culture amongst people working on the rail network. The trucks will assist us in speaking directly to our workforce, reinforcing safety communications and offering a platform for site personnel to share their views.”
Vital Rail works consistently to promote and improve safe working on the railway and firmly believes that prevention is better than cure.
This approach is demonstrated by Vital Rail’s commitment to using ATWS extensively to protect its own, and clients’, staff.
Chan Sarai, operations director (Midlands), said, “The methods to ensure the safety of those working on the track have hardly changed in 150 years. The traditional flag, horn and whistle are still the most common means of protection, but are ineffective in the dark or in poor visibility.
ATWS works equally well in these conditions and takes human error out of train detection. Without doubt, ATWS offers the best possible workforce protection“.
Vital Rail is one of the largest suppliers of ATWS in the UK, providing project management and design with fully trained installation teams, operators and equipment.
Vital has recently supplied, installed and continues to operate several ATWS sets on the West Coast Route Modernisation and Cross Country Route Modernisation projects and has identified key areas where ATWS equipment has proved invaluable:
? facilitates working in tunnels and stations
? protection of long period fixed location worksites, for example, on bridge constructions or installation of retaining walls
? provision of staff crossings on various hazardous locations on the WCRM to allow access across open lines to worksites on blocked lines, where previously access had to be gained from authorised access points often several miles from the worksite
? provision of ATWS protection to enable work to be undertaken in daylight hours in red zone prohibited and restricted areas where works have previously been delayed whilst awaiting daylight hour possessions
ATWS makes a significant contribution in terms of both safety and morale, protecting staff and trains for central working, in addition to key productivity gains, as ATWS manager Graham Gillan says, “In Europe, there are reports of 30 percent productivity gains on troughing works, compared to the old flag, whistle and horn method. It’s a win-win situation. ATWS protection has allowed us to accommodate a continuous 24/7 method of protection which will allow work to be undertaken over large areas by multiple workgroups simultaneously, safely and productively. “
Vital Services Group also boasts a unique external works division which includes, amongst other disciplines, a specialist consultancy surveying and rail engineering project management service,
The team of specialists provides expertise and a total management service to outside parties wishing to undertake work on or adjacent to the railway. An impressive client list includes U.K. bluechip companies such as United Utilities, EDF Energy, National Grid, Nacap Land and Marine, Peel Holdings, Urenco and Scottish Power.
Jeff Maitland, director of external works, explains what makes his division unique to the industry. "We are not just rail specialists. Our strength lies in our understanding of, and ability to interface with, a wide range of organizations such as safety critical public utilities, and even high security critical nuclear companies such as Urenco.
This means we can offer true project management as our consultancy service incorporates all legislative and safety concerns particular to these organisations and all work is undertaken using state of the art technology. It's a powerful and attractive proposition."
The recent and successfully completed National Grid/Nacap project involved the laying of a nationally strategic 1220mm high pressure gas main beneath the railway at various locations across south Wales. The Urenco scheme enabled life-expired emergency water supplies and attendant cables to be rerouted by open-cut excavation under electrified running lines, thus removing risk and ongoing maintenance."
Tell us what you think – have your say below, or email us directly at [email protected]