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Southern Shield

Toolbox Talks

September 2019

Toolbox Talks

Toolbox Talks

1. How to give a toolbox talk

2. Air Fuses

3. Non-technical competencies

4. Learning and communication

5. Safe by design

6. Reverse parking

7. Gloves

8. Fleet Operators Registration Scheme (FORS)

9. Track access and isolation protocol

10. Door closers

11. Eye protection

12. Working at height

13. DC isolations (strapping)

14. Safety in sub-stations

15. Encouraging Close Calls

16. Respecting our neighbours

17. Why a secure site is important

18. Working with wet concrete

19. Driver Fatigue

20. Hypodermic Needles

21. Ramadan

22. Working in the sun

23. Increased risk of fires in hot weather

24. Fatigue awareness

25. Lyme Disease

26. Wasps

Contact us: [email protected] or go to our website www.southernshield.co.uk

Infrastructure Projects Southern

Toolbox Talk

How to give a toolbox talk

Why me!

Toolbox talks need to be given by experienced workers. People will pay more attention when talks are delivered by people they respect and trust

Most people underestimate the risks they take on the job. Getting people to think about the risks can make it more real

Everyone wants every member of their team to get home safely, every day. Your brief could prevent an accident or incident – but you will never know if it did!

How do I deliver a really good brief?

Toolbox talks are a useful way of keep health and safety at the forefront of your team’s minds and making them aware of the current risks and hazards. Your talk should be: Relevant. Make sure the brief is relevant. It should relate to the

worksite and work that is being undertaken Brief. Toolbox talks should be brief and focus on a single topic

In the right place. It should be delivered in a place and

environment where the audience can concentrate on your message Engaging. Engage with the audience by being interactive. Pose a

problem and ask for inputs or possible solutions Include stories. Tell a story to make the issue more real

Kept under control. Manage the meeting so that everyone is involved. Keep it focussed by keeping the discussions relevant

Continuously improve. Listen and act on feedback

Remind people that if at any time they consider they are working in an unsafe way, that puts themselves or others at risk, they should

stop work immediately and take a time out.

Effective communications

First impressions count.

Be enthusiastic and deliver

a clear message about the

importance of your topic

Know your audience. If

English is not their first

language then think

carefully about how to get

your message across

Keep it simple. Use short,

straightforward words and

phrases avoiding slang or

jargon

Show respect. Listen to

what your audience has to

say

Use the right tone of voice

Pace your delivery. Do not

rush

Use open questions that

people can’t just answer

‘yes’ or ‘no’ to

Remember that some

people may need more of

an explanation than

others. Do not be impatient

with them

Keep positive. Focus on

what people can do to

create a safe working

environment and not the

negatives

25 May 2016

mailto:[email protected]

Contact us: [email protected]


Toolbox Talk The Southern Shield Charter – Air Fuses

1. What does the Charter say about air fuses?

Air fuses are to be the first choice means of protection on all pneumatic systems in use on sites within the Southern Region. Where not reasonably practicable, the use of whip checks is also acceptable.

2. Discuss the advantages to using air fuses The purpose of air fuses is to cut off the air flow through a ruptured hose to prevent hose whipping injuries. Advantages include:

• They protect personnel, machinery and plant

• They are reliable and tamperproof

• They are light weight and compact

• They can be pre-fitted to equipment, therefore removing any additional site requirements for set up.

Remember – everyone deserves to get home safe every day so check that all your pneumatic systems have air fuses

fitted

What is Southern

Shield? • Southern Shield was set up as a collaborative forum to improve the way that IP Southern (Network Rail) and its supply chain address safety issues. • As part of Southern Shield, the Safety Leadership Team was established to change the attitudes and behaviours that are preventing us from have a safety culture that does not tolerate worker injury. • A Steering Group was also established to agree and take forward safety initiatives through a number of Working Groups. • Agreed safety initiatives are added to the ‘Charter’ and these must be implemented on all Southern Region sites.

27 November 2015



Toolbox Talk The Southern Shield Charter – Non-technical Competencies

1. What does the Charter say about non-technical competencies?

All Contractors will ensure leadership and communication competencies of safety critical staff through one-to-one assessments.

2. Why was this introduced? Close Calls and incident investigations show that COSS’s with stronger communication and leadership skills are better able to prevent misunderstandings that could lead to serious incidents when working on the track.

3. What other benefits are there? • Effective communication helps employees work together

harmoniously. The result of a team that works together is high productivity, integrity and responsibility

• Employees know their roles on the team and Managers are able to correct employees' mistakes without creating a hostile work environment

• A manager who openly communicates with his team can build positive relationships and improve employee morale

• Good leaders provide motivation and inspiration for a group.

What is Southern


27 November 2015



Toolbox Talk The Southern Shield Charter – Learning & Communication

1. What does the Charter say about learning and communication?

Principle Contractors will issue a safety alert within their organisation when significant accidents or incidents occur. This alert will be cascaded by the IP Southern Communications Team to the supply chain for onward communication. Send to [email protected]

2. Discuss what a safety alert is and why we send them?

• A Safety Alert is a short guidance note that highlights an incident or unsafe practice.

• We send them out to quickly alert people about an issue and to try and prevent a similar incident happening elsewhere. They may contain some immediate actions to be taken

• When someone has learn a valuable lesson from an incident then we also want to spread best practice

Remember – we need to encourage open and honest reporting of incidents so that everyone can get home safe

every day

What is Southern


27 November 2015




Toolbox Talk The Southern Shield Charter – Safe by Design

1. What does the Charter say about Safe by Design?

Annotation of design drawings are to show significant risks including Lifesaving Rules on the design drawings. All designers must use an aide memoire for risk assessing the design.

2. Brief what safe by design means In an HSE study, it was found that in 43 per cent of the construction accidents studied, designers failed to address hazards that led to the accident. Therefore, there is great potential for safety to be improved through better project design if designers "design out" health and safety risks during the development phase of a project. Throughout the life of a piece of equipment or a structure, this should make things easier and safer to install, operate, maintain and finally dispose of.

3. Discuss some typical examples of something that could be ‘safer by design’

Start with a couple of example from the list below and then ask the team to think of other examples.

• Removing drilling, grinding and cutting processes • Off-site assembly • Increased use of mechanisation

What is Southern


27 November 2015


• Providing structures with scaffolding fixture points for future maintenance

• Locating equipment cabinets greater than three metres from the line with no requirement to go “on or near the line”

• Identifying access route for heavy materials within a building at the design stage to enable use of mechanised plant

• Using products such as lightweight TroTred troughing

4. Why do we include the Lifesaving Rules on design drawings?

By including the Lifesaving Rules on design drawings, the designer can highlight where the major risks are as these drawings are often used on site. You can help by being familiar with the Lifesaving Rules.

If you want a copy of this poster, please contact [email protected]

Remember – everyone deserves to go home safe every day so if you think a design/construction is unsafe stop work

immediately and discuss it with your supervisor

Our Lifesaving

Rules 1. Leaving home • Never work or drive while

under the influence of drugs or alcohol

2. On the road • Never use a hand-held or

hands-free phone, or programme any other mobile device, while driving

• Always obey the speed limit and wear a seat belt

3. Arriving at work • Always use equipment that

is fit for its intended purpose

• Never undertake any job unless you have been trained and assessed as competent

• Always be sure the required plans and permits are in place, before you start a job or go on or near the line

4. At site • Never enter the agreed

exclusion zone, unless directed to by the person in charge.

• Always test before applying earths or straps

• Never assume equipment is isolated – always test before touch

• Always use a safety harness when working at height, unless other protection is in place




Toolbox Talk The Southern Shield Charter – Reverse Parking

1. What does the Charter say about reverse parking?

Reverse parking is to be undertaken on all worksites and offices. The Principle of ‘First Move Forward’ to be adopted across the Southern Region.

2. Discuss the reasons why it is safer to reverse park

• When arriving into a car park, drivers can see the path that they need to take to reverse into a parking space

• Pedestrians are more likely to stay clear of the car when it starts to reverse into a parking space

• However, when reversing out of a space, your field of view is severely limited...and could cause you not to see oncoming vehicles

• And pedestrians, particularly children, are also much less

aware that the car will move and so may walk behind it

• Whereas, moving forward out of the parking space gives you a much clearer field of view to see both pedestrians and other vehicles

Remember – everyone deserves to get home safe every day so always reverse park

What is Southern


27 November 2015



Toolbox Talk The Southern Shield Charter – Gloves

1. What does the Charter say about gloves? EN388 Cut Index 5 gloves to be issued to all site teams to improve cut resistance for general purpose gloves. This does not remove the requirement to risk assess appropriate PPE for specific tasks that require a more specialist glove.

2. Discuss the reasons why you should wear Cut 5 gloves

• Did you know that hands are the most commonly injured part of the body?

• Cut 5 level gloves provide much better protection against the most common cut injuries than general all-purpose gloves, whilst still maintaining good dexterity for manual handling tasks.

• In the 6 months before cut 5 gloves were introduced there were 23 hand, finger and thumb injuries. In the following six months there were 12, a reduction of almost 50%.

3. What do we do when Cut 5 gloves are not appropriate for the task?

In these circumstances, advice should be sought from your supervisor or health & safety representative and a suitable risk assessment completed to identify the appropriate hand protection. Remember - wearing gloves is the last line of defence against

injury. Where ever possible, use mechanical means to lift loads and minimise direct contact.

What is Southern


27 November 2015



Toolbox Talk The Southern Shield Charter – FORS

1. What does the Charter say about the Fleet Operators Recognition Scheme (FORS)?

Principal Contractors and supply chain - FORS to be applied inside and outside of London with a view to achieving Bronze level by the end of April 2016, Silver by the end of April 2017 and Gold by the end of 2018. All new suppliers are to be FORS registered.

2. What is FORS? FORS is an over-arching scheme that encompasses all aspects of safety, fuel efficiency, economical operations and vehicle emissions. FORS is a voluntary scheme that helps improve operators’ performance in each of these areas.

3. Discuss how vehicle movements can be made be safer on your site?

• Do you have a good traffic management plan? • Have drive-through one-way systems been used wherever

possible to reduce the need for reversing? • Where reversing areas are needed, are they marked to be

clear to both drivers and pedestrians? • Are non-essential personnel excluded from areas where

reversing occurs? • If the risk assessment shows site controls cannot be improved

further and you need a banksman to direct reversing vehicles, are they adequately trained and visible?

• Do you stop any vehicle movements which you think are unsafe or that are breaking the rules in the traffic management plan?

• Did you know that from April 2016 all vehicles that arrive at Southern Region worksites must be FORS accredited?

What is Southern


27 November 2015


Toolbox Talk The Southern Shield Charter – Track Access

1. What does the Charter say about track access?

All trackside activities carried out by contractors working in the Southern Region will be undertaken in compliance with the Southern Shield Track Access and Isolation Protocol.

2. Discuss why we need to control how we access the track

We need to reduce the risk to people being exposed to trains

and other trackside hazards The safest way to do this is not to go trackside unless it is

absolutely necessary If it is necessary to go trackside, then the SSOW with the

lowest risk level must be used. This will reduce the risks of you and your colleagues being exposed to trains by accessing and working on the wrong line

Higher risk systems of work are often used to mitigate for poor

planning (for example: equipment or lookout warning)

What is Southern

Shield? Southern Shield was set

up as a collaborative forum to improve the way that IP Southern (Network Rail) and its supply chain address safety issues.

As part of Southern Shield, the Safety Leadership Team was established to change the attitudes and behaviours that are preventing us from having a safety culture that does not tolerate worker injury.

A Steering Group was also established to agree and take forward safety initiatives through a number of Working Groups.

Agreed safety initiatives are added to the ‘Charter’ and these must be implemented on all Southern Region sites.

01 September 2016

3. What does the Charter say about trackside activities?

Working on or near the line should only be undertaken as a last resort.

The use of technology should firstly be used to avoid the need for anyone to have to go on or near the line.

Every Controller of Site Safety (COSS) must be named and appointed more than five days prior to their shift.

The COSS must have visited the access point(s) and familiarised themselves with the site of work within the previous three months before their shift if working with Site Wardens, Equipment or Lookout Warning; or within the previous six months before their shift if working in non-trackside/ high street environment areas, or with a Safeguarded or Fenced safe system of work.

Work is NOT permitted to proceed when working with Site Wardens, Equipment or Lookout Warning if the COSS has not verified the Safe System of Work Pack at least a shift in advance of the planned shift start time.

Work undertaken using a safe system of work involving Site Wardens, Equipment or Lookout Warning must be proposed by the Responsible Manager and authorised via the Principal Contractor’s RIPS Manager using Form F2001B.

Access point information signs will be installed at all access points before any work (including surveying) is undertaken at the location.

Safe System Of Work Packs must include photographs showing the location of the work, access points and routes to the site of work, annotated with the direction of trains, open lines, non-isolated lines, etc.

When work will not affect the safety of the line, but operatives will be working on the track then the use of Line Blockages with additional protection should be considered utilising the following hierarchy: Signal Disconnection T-COD (where work will be undertaken at a location for more

than a week then the use of a self-diagnostic T-COD must be considered before use of a standard T-COD.

Single Line Staff or Token Detonator Protection

Remember – everyone deserves to get home safe every day so plan to avoid the need to work trackside or adopt the

SSOW with the least risk

How does the Southern Shield Track Access

Protocol make it safer to work trackside?

By using technology, you can

avoid the need to work trackside. This eliminates the risk of you and your colleagues being exposed to trains and/or electrical hazards.

The acceptance process for working in a SSOW with a higher risk (for example: use of lookouts and Site Wardens) enables challenging conversations to be held at a senior level to identify how the work can be delivered more safely in order to protect you.

The use of SSOW with the lowest risk (for example: all lines blocked, or use of fences) reduces the risks of you and your colleagues being exposed to non-engineering trains by accessing and working on the wrong line.

By appointing the COSS in advance; requiring them to have recently visited the site prior to the shift; and verifying the SSOW pack at least a shift in advance, reduces the risks of you being set to work in the wrong location, such as an open line.



Toolbox Talk The Southern Shield Charter – Door Closers

1. What does the Charter say about doorclosers?

All new welfare facilities to be fitted with door closers on all external doors.

All current welfare facilities to have door closers fitted retrospectively.

2. Discuss the reasons why door closers wereintroduced

An operative was standing in the site office doorway with a broom in his hand. A gust of wind closed the door and the Operative instinctively attempted to hold the door open while holding the broom. The main impact was taken by the broom which saved the operative from suffering a more serious injury.

• Doors may close with considerable force and speed,particularly if heavy and/or wind speed is high

• The fitting of door closers prevents doors from being left openand slows the rate of closure, preventing it closing rapidly.

3. What can you do?Check that your welfare facilities have door closers fitted, if not report this to your line manager. Are there any other doors on your worksite that should have closers fitted?

What is Southern Shield?

• Southern Shield was setup as a collaborative forum to improve the way that IP Southern (Network Rail) and its supply chain address safety issues.

• As part of SouthernShield, the Safety Leadership Team was established to change the attitudes and behaviours that are preventing us from have a safety culture that does not tolerate worker injury.

• A Steering Group was alsoestablished to agree and take forward safety initiatives through a number of Working Groups.

• Agreed safety initiativesare added to the ‘Charter’ and these must be implemented on all Southern Region sites.

27 November 2015



Toolbox Talk The Southern Shield Charter – Eye Protection

1. What does the Charter say about eyeprotection?

Appropriate eye protection must be worn whilst working on the Southern Region Infrastructure. Thousands of people are injured each year from work-related eye injuries that could have been prevented with the proper selection and use of eye protection. Southern Shield requires the provision and use of appropriate eye protection at all times.

2. Discuss the reasons why it is important towear adequate eye protection

• Imagine your life without sight. We need two eyes to properlyview the world. With only one eye we lose depth perception –we cannot judge where something actually is.

• The eye is extremely sensitive to many hazards including;bright light, mists, fumes, smoke, infectious agents, chemicals,moving particles such as splinters and metal or glass shardsand larger objects such as Re-Bar and needs to be protected.

• While general eye protection can offer some limited protectionspecific protection must always be considered for each task

• Make sure you have the right eye protection for the job youare doing – think about your eye protection if others in thevicinity to you are wearing something different.

Why wouldn’t you protect your eyes?

What is Southern Shield?

• Southern Shield was setup as a collaborative forum to improve the way that IP Southern (Network Rail) and its supply chain address safety issues.

• As part of SouthernShield, the Safety Leadership Team was established to change the attitudes and behaviours that are preventing us from have a safety culture that does not tolerate worker injury.

• A Steering Group was alsoestablished to agree and take forward safety initiatives through a number of Working Groups.

• Agreed safety initiativesare added to the ‘Charter’ and these must be implemented on all Southern Region sites.

01 September 2016



Toolbox Talk The Southern Shield Charter – Working at Height

1. What does the Charter say about working at height?

Methods for working at height will be selected according to a hierarchy of methods, with preference being given to the lowest risk method. Use of higher risk methods will require sign off by senior staff. Some methods are agreed to

be banned altogether, such as use of stilts. Working at height activities include working at height and working over height, e.g. alongside excavations and shafts.

2. Discuss the ways you can minimise the risk when working at height?

Did you know that falls from height accounted for nearly three in ten fatal injuries to workers in the last year? The majority of falls are from ladders and vehicles. Investigations reveal that access systems are often selected according to familiarity rather than minimising risk. The hierarchy of methods for working at height can be found in Appendix B of the Charter. You can minimise the risk by: 1. Avoiding the need to work at height, for example, use a camera to conduct a survey 2. Using collective edge protection or individual fall prevention 3. Reducing the distance and consequences should a fall occur, for example installing fall break barriers and air bags 4. Using appropriate access equipment, such as work platforms 5. Remember – always follow the Lifesaving Rule

What is Southern


27 November 2015



Toolbox Talk The Southern Shield Charter – DC Isolations (strapping)

1. What does the Charter say about DC Isolations (strapping)?

All isolation strapping activities carried out by contractors working in the Southern Region will be undertaken in compliance with the Southern Shield Isolation Strapping Protocol (This applies whenever the contractor is the lead for the worksite).

2. Discuss the reasons why it is important to follow the DC Isolation Protocol

• The protocol was introduced following a number of isolation strapping incidents. One such incident resulted in one of our colleagues sustaining serious injuries

• Outcomes from investigations and spot checks highlighted that the required equipment for the strapping procedure was not always being provided to the individual

• Strapping equipment wasn’t always fit for purpose – damaged, inappropriately maintained or not tested in line with requirements.

• To enhance the requirements mandated within industry and company standards.

Remember to always follow the Lifesaving Rules

What is Southern


27 November 2015



Toolbox Talk The Southern Shield Charter – Safety in Substations

1. What does the Charter say about safety in Substations?

All activities carried out by contractors in the Southern Region, in or around DC traction locations, will be undertaken following the Southern Shield Safety in Substations Matrix. (This can be found at Appendix D of the Charter)

2. Discuss the reasons why the Safety in Substations Matrix was introduced.

• The Safety in Substations Matrix was introduced following three serious electrical flash overs involving our staff in 2014.

• The Matrix sets out the level of competence required to manage activities in these high risk environments.

• Is to be applied in line with the current standards for working at these locations and must be used in the planning of activities to ensure that the correct level of competence and management is employed.

• To enhance the requirements mandated within industry and company standards.

• To provide a framework by which risks associated with activities in substations are measured and managed

What is Southern


27 November 2015

Everyone Home Safe Every Day


Encouraging Close Calls Close Calls – an event that had the potential to cause injury or damage


Discuss with your team what a Close Call is, what they need to do and why they are

important

Studies have shown that for every major accident or fatality there are many hundreds of events of a far less serious nature. In different circumstances, these ‘Close Calls’ could have ended up by leading to a serious accident.

Close Calls include anything that could: Harm a person including minor & major injuries or even

lead to fatalities Harm the environment or protected species Damage infrastructure, plant, vehicles, tools or equipment

What do I need to do? Recognise the situation; could it cause harm or damage? Fix or quarantine the situation; if you can do so safely Challenge; always challenge unsafe behaviour Report it; always report Close Calls

Why should I report Close Calls? The immediate risk can be removed or quarantined so that

no one gets injured

We can identify trends and make better decisions on what needs to be done to improve safety for everyone

Remember: by reporting a Close Call you may save one of your colleagues from having an accident

The top three causes of Close Calls

1. Site welfare and housekeeping

2. Public protection or traffic management

3. PPE

11 December 2015

Close Calls


Best Practice for Close Calls A well established, structured and clear process by which

Close Calls are reviewed, actioned and closed out Provision of multiple means to raise Close Calls (cards

and electronic systems) offering choice and flexibility to those who want to raise a Close Call

Effective and regular feedback to the workforce. This could include site based “We Said, We Did” boards, inclusion of information into briefings including task briefings, briefing of key trends and actions to site/project teams on a regular basis and the use of dashboards

Direct use of Close Call data to improve planning and delivery of works

Recognition/praise schemes for Close Calls. For example: Close Call of the month and safe behaviour champions

Senior management buy-in and involvement into the process including taking business level actions related to key issues identified by Close Call trends

Close Calls can prevent accidents

“Before starting a project over a number of bridges, we went to do some survey work of the worksites,” said Mark Taylor from Volker Fitzpatrick. “I saw a significant gap between the boundary wall and one of the bridges. As it was at a high level, I was very concerned that someone could fall or materials could fall

through the gap and hit a member of the public, the worst case scenario could have resulted in a fatality.” Isam Abdu was tasked to investigate, “When Mark raised the Close Call, I arranged for the scaffolds to go out onsite. Not only did we close this gap, but we inspected all the bridges and closed those gaps too. It was an excellent call by Mark as it could have caused a serious accident, particularly for people walking through at night.”

Top five high risk Close Calls also

includes: Working at height

And working with electricity

Toolbox Talk


RESPECTING OUR NEIGHBOURS


Discuss what your team can do to minimise

disruption to our worksite neighbours?

NOISE

Keep noise to a minimum – no shouting and care to be

taken when unloading tools and equipment. Whenever

possible, deliveries to site should be during the day

When arriving on site, arrive quietly, ensure that vehicles

are not left running, radios are turned off and doors are not

slammed

Locate noisy equipment such as generators away from

people’s homes or screen off or enclose equipment to

lessen the noise. Generator doors must also be kept shut

whenever they are running

Make sure that all plant and equipment is well maintained

and regularly serviced. Plant and equipment in good order

will always be quieter than poorly maintained equipment

Switch off all plant and equipment immediately after use

Why is it important to be

respectful to our

worksite neighbours?

We undertake the majority

of our works at night or over

weekends and we work in

areas where we are close to

people’s homes.

Too many complaints to the

local authority by our

neighbours’ can result in us

being reported the

Environmental Health

Officer in councils who will

then look into our works and

will try to stop the works.

Disrespectful behaviour also

damages our reputation.

This means that we have to

make all efforts not to upset

our neighbours and be a

good neighbour ourselves.

3 November 2015

Toolbox Talk


LIGHTS

Lighting should be pointed towards the worksite and not

positioned so that light shines towards windows

LITTER AND RUBBISH

Leave no litter on site or around the access points. You

could be reported and fined for leaving litter.

Do not leave any unwanted food on site and keep skip lids

closed. This will decrease the likelihood of vermin being

attracted to the worksite

Any area that is swept must be damped down to avoid dust

being deposited on to adjacent property. Large amounts of

mud left on roads and paths must be reported to your

supervisor and cleaned up

FUMES AND SMELLS

Keep skips shut to prevent smells coming from this area

Ensure that generators and other machinery are positioned

so that exhaust fumes are not directed towards other

property

Do not congregate or smoke outside peoples properties

ACCESS

Ensure when parking or during materials deliveries that

you are not blocking off a right of way or access to private

property

AND FINALLY PLEASE REMEMBER THAT:

While you need to work, local people need to sleep

If approached by a member of the public, you should be

helpful, sympathetic to their issues and respectful

What would you expect if works were taking place outside

your house during unsocial hours?

Lights

Litter and rubbish

Fumes and smells

Access

When we get it right!

Toolbox Talk


Safety Leadership Team – why a secure site is important


1. Open the discussion by briefing your team

on the two recent tragic incidents involving

children, one at a construction site and the

other in a railway siding.

Conley Thompson, a seven-year-old boy was found dead on a

construction site in Barnsley. Detective Chief Inspector Dave

Stopford, the Senior Investigating officer, said: “The results of

the post mortem suggest that Conley had, by some means,

entered a vertical pipe on a nearby construction site and was

unable to get out. Conley’s weight caused him to fall further

into the pipe and pushed his clothing up around his body

restricting his breathing.”

In a second incident, three teenagers gained access to the

railway by climbing over the parapet of a railway underbridge

and then under two fences. There was a well-trodden path the

teenagers appeared to have taken with a route under the fences

having been dug out. When lineside it is believed that one of

the group climbed onto an empty coal wagon and came into

contact with the live overhead line. He was pronounced dead

at the scene.

2. Discuss with your team

Why do children find our work sites so fascinating?

When are the most likely times for children to try and

gain access to our sites?

What can we do to stop children getting onto our sites

and help to prevent incidents like these?

It’s the school holidays

and two recent tragic

incidents involving

children have

highlighted the need to

keep our sites secure.

Use this briefing note

to have a discussion

with your team about

reducing the chances

of this kind of incident

happening on your site.

The fence where three

teenagers gained access to a

railway siding and one was

killed

Insecure sites also encourage

theft and valdalism

7 August 2015

Toolbox Talk


3. Were all these points considered in your

discussions?

All access points on to site should be locked and secure at

the end of the working day

There should be no gaps beneath gates or fences that

individuals can crawl through

All fences should be secured in accordance with the

manufacturer’s instructions

Any signs of trespass, such as damaged fencing or well-

worn paths should be reported and areas made secure

Any open excavations should be fenced off

All keys should be removed and plant and equipment left

secure

All flammable materials, potentially hazardous substances

and gases should be removed or made secure

If possible, any access to height should be removed or

blocked

4. What should you do if you find any of

these issues on site?

Please take the time to look around your site and if you see

something:

Report it

If possible, fix it

And Close Call it in

A final word from HSE's Chief Inspector of Construction:

"Without proper precautions, construction sites are dangerous places for those

who work on them day in day out, never mind the risks to children who simply

see them as exciting playgrounds and don't understand the dangers…

…Construction managers should check their sites are secure, and in areas

where children live and play they should ensure that risks to children are

properly controlled."

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Toolbox Talk

Wet concrete is dangerous!

In IP Southern, an individual was kneeling on a concrete slab whilst carrying out concrete finishing works. Due to heavy rainfall, concrete run-off was washed onto the area where he was working. As the operative was not wearing waterproof trousers, his clothes became contaminated with the concrete slurry.

Some hours after leaving site, the operative began to suffer significant discomfort to both knees. Upon attending hospital it was confirmed he has suffered concrete alkali burns.

Assess the risk…

Those tasks where concrete will be used must be identified and a risk assessment carried out. If possible do not use concrete or reduce the amount to be used. Plans for contact with concrete should be minimised. Individuals should also be checked for any existing skin or allergy problems.

So…what can you do to stop concrete burns?

Always wear the right PPE for any task involving wet concrete: Gloves should be waterproof and suitable for use with high alkaline

substances (they should be marked with EN374:2003). They should be long and/or tight fitting at the end to prevent concrete being trapped between the glove and the skin

Footwear such as wellington boots should be used. If they leak or get split change them immediately

Waterproof trousers must be worn over the top of boots and not tucked in. This stops the concrete getting into them

Use knee pads or a waterproof mat if you have to kneel for finishing

Ensure there is access to good washing facilities and any concrete on the skin is washed off as soon as possible.

Wet concrete is extremely corrosive and quickly destroys skin surfaces. Typically it causes areas of skin to become red and itchy with some acute

attacks causing crusty scales or blisters that ooze fluid.

Wet concrete can cause serious burns

Wet concrete is highly alkaline in nature. A serious burn or ulcer can rapidly develop if it is trapped against the skin. In extreme cases, these burns may need a skin graft or can even cause a limb to be amputated. Wet concrete can also cause chemical burns to the eyes.

What you need to do if get concrete on your skin or in your eyes… If it is on your skin – wash

it off at once with warm soapy water

In your eyes – report to a

first aider and wash your eyes out with clean water

If you suffer any symptoms

of inflammation or burns then seek further medical advice and assistance

12 January 2016



Toolbox Talk

Driver Fatigue

Our most dangerous activity

Driving is the most dangerous work activity that most people do. It is estimated that around 150 people are killed or seriously injured every week in crashes involving someone who was driving, riding or otherwise using the road for work purposes. The majority of these tragedies can be prevented.

When are accidents most likely? On long journeys on monotonous roads, such as motorways Between 2am and 6am Between 2pm and 4pm (especially after eating, or taking even one

alcoholic drink) After having less sleep than normal After drinking alcohol If taking medicines that cause drowsiness

After long working hours or on journeys home after long shifts, especially night shifts

Planning your journey

Make sure that your journey plan allows sufficient time for you to take account of weather and traffic conditions and to comply with speed limits. You should seek to reduce night driving and avoid those times of day mentioned above when falling asleep at the wheel is more likely.

You can find a copy of this poster on the Southern Shield website at www.southernshield.co.uk

Case Study

Three rail workers died in a motorway crash in the early hours of 9 June. Their van, which had five people on board, collided with the back of a lorry on the hard shoulder near Chippenham, according to Supt Gavin Williams from Wiltshire Police.

Their shift had finished on Monday morning, at 3.50am. Although the men did use the hotel they had been booked into, it was suggested that sometimes, workers were known to drive home after a shift instead of using hotels booked for them.

A Safer Journey Planner can be downloaded free from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents website.

29 February 2016

Toolbox Talk – driver fatigue


Do you have to drive?

Planning your journey

Share driving if possible

Ensure your vehicle is in a safe condition

Make sure you are well

rested

Planning your route

Avoid driving when you would normally

be asleep

Plan where to take rest breaks - at least

every two hours

Plan where to stop for the night if necesssary

During the journey

Take rest breaks as planned

Listen to traffic news for possible delays

If you start to feel tired

Find somehere safe to stop

Take two strong caffeine drinks

Too tired to continue?

Find somewhere to STOP overnight

Nap for about 15 minutes

Concentrate on your driving

Check for delays - plan alternative routes

Book an overnight stop if

necessary

Avoid driving in peak sleepiness

periods



Toolbox Talk

Hypodermic Needles

Beware they bite!

A member of a Network Rail Works Delivery Team was renewing a lineside signalling cable. As the cable draw rod exited through the cable route, a member of the team put his hand down to retrieve the end and came into contact with a discarded hypodermic needle that was hidden in the leaves.

The needle punctured the individual’s glove and came into contact with bare skin; however, it did not puncture the skin. In this case, the use of gloves prevented a far more serious injury

by stopping the needle from puncturing the skin.

What can I do?

Be aware that sharps may present in your working environment Always wear the correct PPE; in particular boots and gloves Be especially vigilant if you can’t see what you are doing with your

hands If you see a sharps or signs of drug use, report it. Quarantine any sharps and the area it was found in – there may be

more that you can’t see Raise a Close Call even though no one was injured

What should I do if I am injured by a needle?

Do not panic; gently squeeze the area around the wound to encourage bleeding

Do not suck the wound; clean the wound under running water or cleansing wipes provided in first aid kits

Cover the wound with a dry plaster or dressing Keep the needle that caused the injury in a safe place, it may be

needed by the doctor Contact with a needle can cause infection or spread disease so

always seek medical advice and treatment immediately

What are sharps and where can they be found?

Sharps’ is the generic term for Hypodermic needles and syringes. Sharps have been found in salt bins, bags of rubbish on track, under bridges, station areas, station toilets, rubbish bins, litter bins on trains and even inside cigarette packets or drinks containers.

For example: An individual found a syringe needle sticking in the sole of his safety boot. He thought that this had occurred at Victoria Station.

His boots were in good condition, with a steel sole plate. As a result, the needle did not penetrate through the boot to his skin.

14 March 2016



Toolbox Talk

Ramadan

What is Ramadan?

This year, the holy Islamic month of Ramadan takes place between 27 May and 26 June (+/- 1 day). Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam and is the month the Holy Quran was revealed. Muslims will start a month of fasting between dawn and sunset, which at this time of year means avoiding food and drink for more than 18 hours each day. Fasting is expected to begin at 02:58 and end at 21:06 in London, but will change marginally each day and will vary throughout the UK.

Understand the effects of fasting

- Reduced concentration, particularly during the afternoons - Dehydration is common during a fast - Headaches during a fast could be due to dehydration or hunger, poor rest, or the absence of addictive substances, such as caffeine or nicotine - Fatigue Evening prayer, social activities and less eating/drinking habits associated with Ramadan can contribute to fatigue during working hours - Stress Lack of food and water, changes of routine and shorter periods of sleep can cause stress

How could these effects impact their safety and the safety of those around them?

What adjustments can be made?

It is reasonable to make appropriate allowances for Muslims where their job allows. Consider the following;

- Can you be flexible about working hours, work duties and break times?

- Where possible, can work be carried out in cool areas and their physical activities limited?

- If fasting workers are affected by fatigue and a lack of concentration, safety critical tasks should be carried out by a different member of the team.

Discuss Ramadan with your team

- Talk about Ramadan with your team to raise awareness

- Ensure colleagues understand the effects of fasting and what to be mindful of at work

- Identify whether anyone in

your team is fasting

- Encourage discussion and be open about possible adjustments, so that a fasting colleague feels they can come to you if they need some support

- Remind workers who are

fasting that that they MUST stop work immediately and tell their supervisor/manager if they feel unwell or unable to carry out their work safely - Reassure individuals that they must not report for duty if they believe they are not fit to do so

- Be sensitive to the subject of fasting and what it represents

26 May 2017




Toolbox Talk

The sun is dangerous…

If you work outdoors for a long time your skin could be exposed to more sun than is healthy for you. 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. In the longer term 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 are the dangers?

The danger from sunlight, which is caused by the ultraviolet rays, includes the following: In the short term:

Sun burn causing the skin to peel

Mild reddening of the skin or a sun tan which is a sign of skin damage. In the longer term:

An increased chance of developing skin cancer

Too much sunlight that will speed up ageing of your skin

Skin becoming leathery, mottled and wrinkled.

Could you be more at risk?

Some people are more prone to skin cancer and developing health problems due to extreme sunlight than others. This includes those with:

A serious chronic condition, especially heart or breathing problems

Fair skin colour

Moles or freckled skin that reddens quickly in the sun

Red or fair hair and coloured eyes.

Always keep hydrated

Check your skin

It is important to check your

skin at least once a month if

you have had exposure to

sunlight, to look for signs of

skin cancer.

Signs can include:

Growth of moles and skin

Moles that are growing,

bleeding or changing in

appearance

Scabby spots and sores

that do not clear

Skin discolouration.

If the skin does not improve in

four weeks you must seek

medical advice.

16 June 2017 Working in the sun

Health and Wellbeing


How do I protect myself in the heat?

Plan your day- carry out more strenuous works during coolest parts of the day

Walk and work in the shade as much as possible

Take frequent short breaks, in a shaded cool area

Stay hydrated- drink plenty of water

If possible wear loose and lightweight clothing

Always use sunscreen to all areas of your skin and reapply regularly throughout the day. Look for a sun protection factor of at least SPF15

Avoid eating large meals before working in hot environments

Report any medications that can affect you working in hot environments.

Heat exhaustion can lead to heat stroke

Tasks that involve high air temperatures, exposure to radiant heat sources, high humidity or direct physical contact with hot objects are most likely to induce heat stress.

Heat stress occurs when the body is unable to cool itself through sweating. The most common heat-induced illnesses are heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

Heat exhaustion symptoms include:

Headaches Upset stomach

Dizziness Vomiting

Light-headedness Fainting or passing out

Weakness Pale and clammy skin.

Mood changes such as irritability, confusion, or the inability to think straight.

If left untreated, heat exhaustion could progress to heat stroke, and possible death.

Heat stroke symptoms include:

Dry, pale skin with no sweating

Hot, red skin that looks sunburned

Mood changes such as irritability, confusion, or the inability to think straight

Seizures or fits

Unconsciousness with no response.

Heat stroke is a medical emergency call the emergency services!

Steps to treat heat

stress:

Keep cool in a shaded

area to rest

Loosen or remove any

heavy clothing

Drink water

If you feel dizzy or light

headed, lay down and

raise your legs 6-8 inches

Apply a wet cloth to your

skin, cool yourself with a

fan and spray with a mist

of water.

If symptoms do not

improve call 999 for help

immediately.

Did you know?

Caffeine, alcohol, food and

drinks that are high in sugar

work against the body in high

temperatures. It is best to keep

hydrated drinking water.

Remember:

This and other toolbox talks can be downloaded from:

www.southernshield.co.uk



Toolbox Talk

Increased risk of fires in hot weather

During the summer period, the riskof lineside fires is greatlyincreased. Fires not only risk thesafe running of trains but also riskdamage to the infrastructure andequipment that runs the railway.The land around the railway is dryat present and a number ofembankment fires have beenreported recently.

Legislation requires a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment to be carriedout by a responsible person. All fire assessments should:

1. Identify the risks2. Identify the people at risk3. Evaluate, remove, reduce and protect from risk4. Record, plan, instruct and train5. Review

You can read more on fire risk assessments in the HSE Fire Safety inConstruction guidance document.

Reducing the risk

Hot worksA major cause of fires on construction sites is hot works. If you are planning todo hot works, consider the following:

1. Are hot works necessary or can the work be done differently?2. Can the hot works be delayed until the weather has changed?3. If the hot works are necessary, are additional controls required, for

example a hot works permit?4. Are means of fighting fire available and are staff trained in their use?5. Are emergency arrangements documents on site and is everyone

briefed on these?

SmokingAnother cause of fires on site is smoking. A ‘no smoking policy’ should be established throughout the site except for designated smoking areas.

1. Check your site arrangements for smoking and fire precautions.2. If your site has designated smoking areas, you must ensure that it is

situated away from any dry areas where a fire might start.3. Consider placing additional fire firefighting equipment in this location as

a further precaution.

In the event of a fire

Emergency procedures should bein place including:

• Fire instructions - writtenemergency procedures,displayed on-site andcommunicated to all personnelwithin the building.

• Fire alarm – an adequatemeans of raising the alarmmust be in place; typically, airhorns, push- button ‘howlers’or, on larger projects, a linkedwired or wireless fire alarmsystem.

• Fire escape signs andlighting - provision ofprominent fire escape signsand temporary lighting, wherepermanent provisions havebeen impaired.

• Escape routes - escape routesmust be available at all timesfrom all areas of the building.Dead-end situations should beavoided or kept to the absoluteminimum for the shortestpossible time.

• Fire drills - the emergencyprocedures should be checkedby carrying out fire drills toevacuate the building to anassembly point. Anyshortcomings in the proceduresshould be addressed.

Additional resources

Health and Safety Executive – FireSafety in Construction

A free to download guidance forthose managing and carrying outconstruction work involvingsignificant fire risks.

23 July 2018 Risk of fires in hot weather

http://www.hse.gov.uk/pUbns/priced/hsg168.pdf






Toolbox Talk

What is fatigue?

Fatigue can be described as “a state of extreme tiredness resulting from physical or mental exhaustion that can result from prolonged working, heavy workload, insufficient rest and inadequate sleep.” Fatigue has been identified as a causal factor in incidents and accidents and can

lead to reduced alertness, increased errors, impaired decision-making as well as a general deterioration in mood and motivation.

What causes fatigue?

The main causes of fatigue are:

• A loss of sleep – acute, for example, having fours instead of the usual eight hours; or cumulative – having four hours instead of the

• usual eight over several days. • Poor quality of sleep with lots of

interruptions. • Long working hours, particularly if these are as long as 14 to 16

hours. • Poorly designed shift work. • Inadequate breaks during the working day.

Recognising the signs

Fatigue can cause a vast number of physical, mental and emotional symptoms including: • Chronic tiredness or

sleepiness • Headaches • Dizziness • Sore or aching muscles • Slowed reflexes and

responses • Impaired decision-making and

judgment • Hallucination

• Moodiness, such as irritability • Impaired hand-to-eye

coordination • Appetite loss • Reduced immune system

function • Blurry vision • Short term memory problems • Poor concentration • Low motivation

Top tips for fighting fatigue

• Try to get at least seven to eight hours of sleep.

• Avoid drinking caffeinated drinks four to five hours before bed as this can cause sleeplessness.

• Avoid using technology 30 minutes before bed.

• Eat a healthy diet that promotes longer-lasting energy. Avoid fatty foods and junk food and stay hydrated by drinking lots of water.

• Take frequent breaks throughout the day.

• Avoid driving if you feel tired, especially in inclement weather where vision is impaired.

Reporting fatigue

A Southern Shield survey reported that only 80% of people would feel comfortable reporting fatigue in themselves or others. Fatigue is rarely reported with the main reason being fear of negative consequences. If you are concerned that you or a colleague is suffering with symptoms of fatigue, raise this with your line manager or supervisor. If you are concerned about your colleague, speak to them and offer support.

If you need support…

The confidential Southern Shield Employee Assistance Programme is available free to everybody working on behalf of Infrastructure Projects Southern. Call the 24-hour freephone number on 0800 358 459 or +44 141 271 7540 from outside the UK or go online at www.validium.com to join the vClub using the username: southernshield and password: homesafe.

16 August 2018 Fatigue Awareness

http://www.validium.com/



Toolbox Talk

Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection, passed on to humans by infected ticks. While it’s difficult to estimate the total number of UK cases, they are understood to have increased more than fourfold in the past 10 years. The peak season is April to October, though they are active all year.

What are the symptoms?

• A high temperature or feeling hot and shivery• Headaches• Muscle and joint pain• Tiredness and loss of energy• A red, circular skin rash around a tick bite, which usually appears up

to 30 days after being bitten by a tick. It can also look like a bullseye.

Some people with Lyme disease develop more severe symptoms months or years later. This is more likely if treatment is delayed. These more severe symptoms may include: • Pain and swelling in joints• Nerve problems – such as pain or numbness• Heart problems• Trouble with memory or concentration.

How to remove a tick

1. Use fine-tipped tweezers or a tick-removal tool2. Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible3. Slowly pull upwards, taking care not to squeeze or crush the tick.

Dispose of it when you've removed it4. Clean the bite with antiseptic or soap and water.

How to avoid tick bites

There are no vaccines to defend against the tick-borne disease. Therefore, the best defence is to avoid being bitten.

To reduce the risk of being bitten:

• Walk on clearly defined pathsto avoid brushing againstvegetation where ticks maybe present

• Wear light coloured clothingso that ticks crawling onclothing can be spotted andbrushed off

• Use an insect repellent thatcan repel ticks and preventthem from climbing ontoclothing or attaching to skin(always follow themanufacturer’s guidance)

• Wear long trousers and long-sleeved tops to reduce thedirect exposure of ticks toyour skin.

More information

• Visit the Lyme Disease Actionwebsite.

• Public Health England – BeTick Aware toolkit

• BBC News Article: “I had tohave heart surgery after a tickbite”

• The Big Tick project – raisingawareness about the dangersof ticks and tick-bornedisease in the UK.

28 March 2019 Lyme Disease

https://www.lymediseaseaction.org.uk/

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/694157/PHE_Tick_Awareness_Toolkit.PDF

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/694157/PHE_Tick_Awareness_Toolkit.PDF

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-40973709



http://www.bigtickproject.co.uk/


Toolbox Talk


Did you know?

Last year there were seven incidents of wasp’s stings. For example an operative suffered multiple wasp stings whilst carrying out devegetation works, when he stood on a wasps nest. Wasps release a chemical alarm to each other if they are disturbed or feel in danger this causes the nest to swarm and react. Wasp nests can

carry up to 10,000 wasps which can be found in hidden locations underground, insides bricks, walls and hedges.

Why do they attack?

Wasps can attack unexpectedly attack at any time. They sting to protect themselves and their nests. If they feel angered, threatened or disturbed they will attack.

What are the symptoms of a sting?

The most common symptoms:

Pain in the area of the sting

Minor swelling and redness Itchiness.

Anaphylaxis Some symptoms that develop may signal a severe allergic reaction, this can include the following: Difficulty breathing and swallowing Dizziness, fainting, nausea or vomiting Increased heart rate Rapid and severe swelling.

Seek urgent medical attention if you experience a severe reaction

or if you are worried about a reaction

How do I treat nests?

Treating a wasp nest can be very dangerous and it is important to use a trained professional for safety. Contact a professional PEST control company.

Do not attempt to treat a nest yourself

Do

Report any harm or injury by wasps or if you suspect a wasps nests in the area

Keep calm and still to avoid being stung

Stop any works that are

being carried out in the vicinity of a wasps nest. Cordon off the area and treat the nest as soon as possible

If you are allergic to wasp

stings please let your line manager and team know.

Do not

Make any sudden movements around wasps

Scratch or rub the area that has been stung, to reduce the risk of infection

Remove a sting with

tweezers to avoid spreading venom. Scrape it out sideways using a sharp edge e.g. a credit card

Approach or attempt to

destroy a nest. This and other toolbox talks can be downloaded from:

www.southernshield.co.uk

23 June 2017 Wasps

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