The Tower
Welcome to the Tower - It's quite simply everything The Inside Track has to offer, all stacked up on top of each other!
If you're scared of heights, you can always split everything into categories.
0.09 Accident Frequency Rate
The RIDDOR Recordable AFR has seen a nearly 100% improvement over the last 12 months, with an improvement from 0.16 to 0.09. This has been possible due to the efforts and care from everyone involved across the C1.Align project.
NEW SLAM cards
The newly introduced SLAM cards will be rolled out to everyone across the project, these are demonstrating the support from Senior Leaders for SLAM to be utilised by everyone and anyone can stop work if there are any safety concerns.
Aim High Observations with £1 to charity
For 2024 we have a total of 1,532 observations to the end of March, averaging 511 observations per month. For every observation £1 is donated to a local charity, we have so far donated £13,000. For the next donation of £5,000 we are requiring just over 1200 observations to meet that target.
A word from Mark Clapp, Head of Delivery
This video provides a message from Mark Clapp, Head of Delivery for Align IPT at HS2.
Coming Soon
New Risk Perception & Lifting Videos
A new risk perception video will be released in April for project leaders to brief teams on what the subject means to everyone. Following that, a new communication regarding lifting will soon be available to everyone, providing some key messages regarding one of our Major Risks.
Hand Injuries
Over the last few months we have had an increase in hand injuries with pinch points. The hands and fingers are a vulnerable part of the body due to being involved in most work activities. There are methods to prevent and reduce these types of injuries. Please see the attached information for further details.
Hand Safety Sheet
Hand Safety Briefing.pdf
Lifting Incidents
Hands off, Step away, Safe space
During the start of 2024, the number of lifting incidents have increased. As a result the lifting team have introduced: Hands Off, Step Away, Safe Space. For further information please see the attached information or contact the lifting team.
Hands Off Step Away Safe Space Poster
Lifting HOSASS.pdf
Five Stars Intervention Workshops
Every Wednesday there are 4 one-hour sessions available for personnel to attend, which explain and provide information about interventions and stopping unsafe work. These are for all personnel to attend and can be booked via the induction team.
To attend and understand the way to intervene and SLAM effectively please contact Emily Stelling
Supervisor Development
The frontline supervisor development program is open to all leaders - be they Black or Grey Hats. More information is available from Ben Westwood on 01234 567 89-Ten (placeholder)
Currently over 350 frontline supervisors have been trained and the program includes;
- Human Factors
- Just Culture
- Risk Perception
- Science of the Mind
- and much more!
Human Factors
Human Factors is understanding how and why people behave the way they do. Understanding how humans interact with each other and the systems in place at work, can lead us to improve our supervisors’ ability to manage and work with people.
Just Culture
A Just Culture is designed to provide a consistent, balanced, and impartial approach to understanding to the actions taken that caused an incident – the aim is to understand the intent behind the actions rather than focus on the outcome.
Risk Perception
Risk perception is a constant process as human beings go about their daily lives. Everyone has a different perception of the same risks through their experiences. By going into detail with our supervisors, they are in a better position to manage a diverse team of people with different experiences and backgrounds.
Science of the Mind
This topic gives our supervisors some understanding around how people and systems interact together. And how as a supervisor they can be aware of how think, are influenced by external factors, and how to improve safety culture in their teams.
Hazard & Rehearsal Academy
This facility has delivered over 3000 delegates through the academy.
New features will include a new and improved Harness Training for managers and team members which will include a practical demonstration in the use of this safety critical equipment.
Lifting & Rigging rehearsal remains a key factor of the facility, as does the continued training in the use of Mobile Elevated Work Platforms, Cherry Pickers and Scissor Lifts.
A new feature will be a wellbeing installation called Silent Voices - which is also relevant to Occupational Health & Wellbeing.
New & improved Harness Training
New harness training will be undertaken in the Hazard Academy from Leading Edge. They will be providing Level 2 Managers Working at Height course, to give managers further knowledge of operations to help keep operatives safe. Please contact Alan Swann or Ben Westwood by email if you are interested in this training.
Lifting & Rigging Training
Regular rigging training is carried out in the Hazard Academy using the lifting and rigging frame. Please contact the lifting team or training team using the below button for further information.
IPAF Training
Focus on Mobile Elevated Work Platforms, Cherry Pickers & Scissor Lifts
Each month there is IPAF training given by Nationwide Platforms, carried out using the MEWPs in the Work at Height section of the Hazard Academy. Please contact Zsuzsa Keller from the training team for more details.
Silent Voices
A new area of the Hazard Academy has been developed to encourage thought and discussion about mental health amongst visitors. Led by Mick Shaw, The Silent Voices is a construction charity focussing on raising awareness about mental health and suicide in our industry.
Human Performance Programme
Human Factors is understanding how and why people behave the way they do. Understanding how humans interact with each other and the systems in place at work, can lead us to improve our understanding of how incidents happen.
Human Factors Courses
GMR Human Performance will be delivering full-day sessions to project manager-level people from organisations across HS2 in Apr. They will be 0900-1500 on 17, 18, 24 & 25 Apr at ALIGN JV South Portal, and the intent from Alan Swann is that those in positions of tasking and influence over the ‘Black Hat’ Supervisors are better informed as to what is being shared in the Supervisor Development Programme 2-hour Human Factors and Just Culture sessions.
Additionally, the sessions will expand into Safety Space, Interface Management and Reporting, in order to contextualise from a management perspective, thus enabling Management to better support the Supervisors both day-to-day and during any Learning Reviews.
Safety Coaches
Safety coaches are new being introduced to the project. These are people who;
- Work with others to embed a belief-based safety culture
- Endeavour to promote safe working practices and safer working places
- Communicate our safety concerns in a positive and constructive manner
- Strive to improve and promote safety standards
- Lead by example
- Are available and approachable to all colleagues
- Have Intervention and Safety Reminders as key principles
Training, support and further information can be sought from Mick Shaw (see below).
Get involved
If you are interested in participating with the safety coach programme, please contact Mick Shaw who would happily discuss the programme with you.
On-site Occupational Health Team
Meet our on-site Occupational Health team who offer regular opportunities to all team members to undergo routine Health MOTs as well as being available to consult on a number of health matters. The nurses are an essential on-site team and have probably saved many lives!
Available 8am - 6pm for:
- Health checks/MOTs
- Safety Critical Medicals
- Health and Wellbeing Advice
- Emergency treatment and response
- Walk-in assessments & treatments
- Drug & Alcohol Testing
Please contact them at any time using the below details.
01923 559170Occupational Health Info Sheet
Occupational Health at Align.pdf
First Aid Training
First-aid training is available to anyone from across Align and the Supply Chain. If you are interested in learning valuable skills that could save someone's life in or outside of work, please contact Zsuzsa Keller from the training team for more details.
5 Major Risks
The 5 Major Risks of our project are Lifting Operations, Work at Height, Vehicle Person Interface, Stability, and Hazardous Stored Energy. These risks are present across all our sites and occur in the majority of our incidents and near misses. For further information please see the attached documents. And to highlight the potential impact, please watch our 2023 Video.
Supply Chain Safety Plans
To assist our supply chain members and improve safety, we have been working closely with Kilnbridge, VSL, Keltbray, and TGT in developing safety plans for their works on Align, and to take with them into other projects. Please see the attached plans to see what is being done by each company to improve safety.
