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Thursday 11th July 2019
From the archive: Just so you know, this article is more than 3 years old.
The International IOSH (Institution of Occupational Safety and Health) Railway Group Awards aim to raise the awareness of the value of health and safety in the industry, as well as encourage continuous improvement and share best practice.
IOSH will present the awards at its annual Rail Industry Conference, held in Manchester on Tuesday 19 November.
David Porter, IOSH Railway Group Chair, said: "Businesses in the rail industry face a wide variety of challenges when it comes to looking after passengers, the public and the people who work for them.
"These range from the safety risks of maintaining track, infrastructure and signaling integrity; the operation of trains and securing the protection of track workers during maintenance and repairs as well as those posed by operating machinery and working at height. In addition there are health risks like musculoskeletal disorders and occupational cancer, as well as the mental health and wellbeing of workers.
"We know there are some fantastic initiatives being delivered by organisations to workplace accidents and work-related ill health. That is why we run the awards, to recognise how valuable such projects are."
Last year, Singapore rail operator SMRT Trains scooped the main award, for introducing a laser track trolley for monitoring wear and tear on tracks. The trolley was manufactured to allow it to be easily moved by two people, reducing the risk of injuries.
Awards also went to VolkerFitzpatrick, for a project to reduce the safety risks posed to pedestrians and operative in vicinity of a mobile plant, and Network Rail, which tackled the issue of trespassing by young people.
Entries for this year's awards must be received by midnight on Friday 31 July. Any individual or organisation in the rail industry can enter. For more details about entering, click
here.
