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Safety Moment Events 2022​Safety Moment events are held every quarter and give our operatives the opportunity to hear about the latest safety initiatives and industry messages. We also use these events to encourage our workforce to #SpeakUp, ask questions and voice their thoughts and any concerns.​Following virtual events during the coronavirus pandemic, we were delighted to have the opportunity to resume face to face Safety Moment events across the UK. ​Similarly, after the launch of our new offices in both Scotland and the South East, it has been a fantastic opportunity to meet with our operatives and emphasise our ethos of Safety First, Safety Always.​Gary Lobue, Head of HSEQ said of the events: ​"It was great to see Ganymede relaunch our safety moment events. After two and a half years we were back on the road hosting our Safety Moments in Abercynon, Bellshill and Ashford. It was so refreshing to see our workforce collectively and face to face again. ​Our events started in Abercynon in Wales, then in Bellshill Scotland and finished off in London meeting our operatives from the Ashford office which had a large audience including our client and sub-contractors. The events were themed around Fatigue, Accident reporting, communications, wellbeing & mental health, raising of Close Calls and PPE but most importantly our #SpeakUp and 'Safety First, Safety Always' was embraced by all."​Topics covered also included:​Mental Health, including the identities of our Mental Health First AidersAccident / Incident reportingFatigue, and the new standard that is coming into effect later this yearClose Calls Driving / Fleet Check Presentation​We trust all attendees found the sessions useful and engaging. As a business we are committed to raising awareness and sharing safety messages to our workforce to help keep everyone safe so the value in these sessions can not be understated.​The next series of Safety Moment events will resume in the Autumn. ​

Mental Health First Aider Support Network Meeting​At Ganymede we understand that mental health issues can affect anyone at any time. As such, we have support available for our internal employees and workforce to help with mental health and wellbeing.​On 26th May 2022, The RTC Group Plc held our inaugural Mental Health First Aider Support Network meeting in the Derby Conference Centre. In total, we had 9 people in the Hamlyn Suite and 5 people attend via Teams using the new equipment. ​The purpose of the meeting was to get all our Mental Health First Aiders together to network, share learnings and real world experiences. This was all done in a confidential manner without revealing personal details. ​We also discussed the support that is available to our Mental Health First Aiders to help them should they need it. This includes a Mental Health First Aider support line. ​The event was a great success, and it has been agreed that we would all meet quarterly going forward and introduce learning material to the sessions. ​ ​ ​

​The Recruitment Awards 2021​On Tuesday 24th May, we were able to resume our annual tradition of The Recruitment Awards, rewarding those who have gone above and beyond throughout 2021. ​Whilst slightly different to the normal company-wide event held once a year, the winners gathered for a smaller ceremony at our head office in the Derby Conference Centre. With some returning winners from previous years, as well as new faces joining the proceedings, we were delighted to gather together to share in the success of these individuals.​The past two years have brought both expected and unexpected challenges to the recruitment industry as a whole, from the coronavirus pandemic and IR35 changes to the ongoing impacts of Brexit. Yet, as we gathered to reflect on the successes we have seen throughout this turbulent period, it was highlighted that the ability of our workforce to thrive, adapt and implement new innovations is something that truly deserves recognition.​Paul Crompton, Managing Director said:  “I’d like to congratulate all the award winners and recognise the exceptional performance and contribution of each of them to the business. The past two years have been a challenging period for the country as a whole, however our staff have shown dedication, resilience and ingenuity to continue to support our clients. ”​Our business is all about people, and our group success is down to the hard work and dedication of our staff. Congratulations to all the winners. ​As a thank you, the winners will enjoy a hospitality trip to the Royal Ascot race meeting later this month. ​The RTC Group Awards will be back in March 2023 in its traditional format, held at The Derby Conference Centre.​

​Leading labour supplier to the rail industry converts used PPE / Workwear into Energy​Ganymede Solutions continually look for new initiatives that support them in achieving their Corporate Social Responsibility strategy, which includes considering environmental impact. ​As a leading supplier of labour to the rail industry, the sourcing, use and disposal of PPE/Workwear was a key area identified to support this strategy. ​Together with specialist rail PPE supplier, Safeaid, Ganymede Solutions considered the lifecycle of PPE/Workwear and implemented new recycling facilities. The goals were, firstly, to reduce the amount of PPE/Workwear that is not looked after properly and therefore disposed of before it needs to be. Then, to provide an alternative option to operatives and staff that prevents used clothing going into landfill. ​Through the recycling operation, instead of ending up in landfill, the shredded textiles are baled and sent on for further processing so that they become refuse derived fuel (RDF). This means that the textile shreds are incinerated to produce steam, which is converted into energy. ​An education into product lifecycle ​Ganymede Solutions will be providing learning resources to staff to ensure all PPE is looked after correctly and lasts for as long as possible. ​Furthermore, the process will be made as easy as possible for operatives to utilise this recycling scheme by having ‘drop and swap’ facilities in eight Ganymede locations across the UK, starting with its office in Wales. ​The aim is for 25% of staff to use the recycling facility throughout the first year. ​Gary Lobue, Head of HSEQ said of the new initiative: ​“We are absolutely thrilled to get this project off the ground, reducing waste to landfill is something we have been working on within our offices, but being able to provide this recycling service to our operatives and staff is fantastic and a testament to our dedication to our Corporate Social Responsibility strategy.” ​Richard Bowen, Managing Director at Safeaid commented: ​“We are delighted to support Ganymede with PPE recycling facilities. As a business we’re committed to delivering environmentally responsible solutions to our customers to help them achieve their sustainability goals. These include our Signal carbon neutral PPE range which Ganymede also purchase for their workforce.”

​Balfour Beatty Rail Safety Leaders event provides reassurance that rail industry is moving in the right direction ​By Stuart FraserAccounts Director​Well done Balfour Beatty Rail (BBR). It was great to be a part of the process for shaping how as a collective (BBR & their wider supply chain) from senior management down to the boots on the ballast can make the required step change to transform our safety culture for the better. I genuinely believe by training, developing, and empowering the chosen safety leaders who volunteered for the positions, we can make a difference to everyone’s safety and mental well-being. My only fear is how we keep momentum, there’s no doubt that after a powerful experiential day we all want to drive change. However, when we go back to our desks or site projects, we are focussed on the day-to-day tasks that are as vitally important in getting the job done and delivering our mantra of, “putting the passenger first”. ​​To see first-hand the dedicated safety leaders, share their experiences and how they challenge each projects hot safety topics was fantastic. In fairness the day was filled with a mixture of emotions with Jason Anker sharing his heart-breaking accident and a life story of highs and lows that could have been scripted by Shakespeare himself.​Speaking of Shakespeare and theatre springs to mind and on the day, there was a thought-provoking session where two actors aka Del & Rod used a common day to day issue to raise a close call. True to form as on most sites and to all our amusement, a large argument ensued between the pair that had all of us in the room in raptures of laughter. Probably as the issue was all too familiar but, more to do with the interaction and the barrage of abuse given to us as the audience as we tried to offer advice to them on how the close call should have been raised. Utilising our own emotional acumen and what we had discussed using the Human Aid process (Aid - Action, Impact, Do), that embraces two-way communication to get the individual breaching safety bought in and engaged. On a serious note, although there was humour added to a dangerous issue, what a great way to engage with the room. It helped bring real life instances to the forefront of everyone’s mind and reminded us of what pressures our teams on the front line must deal with.​I genuinely believe the Balfour Beatty Safety Leadership programme is going to be a great success and Ganymede are proud to be able to support such a great initiative.​On a wider note, and something the day has made me reflect on, is the fact on how we embrace the safety initiatives Balfour Beatty Rail and the wider rail industry is pushing to embed in all that we do, making safety a prerequisite, a habit, instinctual and not an afterthought? ​The truth is there is no hard and fast answer however, there is no doubting we need a cultural step change within all our organisations in the rail industry to change the behaviours at every level of our businesses. Nevertheless, this does not mean we cannot challenge the way we work so, with this in mind and a wider issue than the safety leadership programme. I for one would like to break the status quo and see one unified safety message for Zero Harm, Home Safe Every day, Free to be safe, Speak Up etc. We have worthy safety initiatives for each rail organisation, all with a powerful and righteous message to keep our people safe. Then again, I genuinely believe we are watering down the impact of these powerful messages with all the various nuances on safety from organisation to organisation. Which recalls, one of the quotes that stuck with me from yesterday, “The absence of accidents does not mean the existence of safety”.​An example of these good safety initiatives that is intended to keep safety at the forefront and make us safer on site, is the introduction of the safety application for your smart phones. An inspirational idea if there was solely one application for the rail industry. Sadly, we are confusing the issue with the introduction of these safety applications for every business, each with a separate number to call in your concerns or a separate close call process to raise safety concerns on site. All confusing the issue and blurring the lines for contracted staff who work for multiple organisations and make up a large quantity of the rail industry’s operational staff. ​With all this in mind, I keep asking myself, do I believe we are mature enough within the rail industry to drive one multi-organisational safety message, with one railway and one purpose in mind, “Zero Harm” with everyone home safe every day? The answer is always yes! But and it is a big but, how Nick Millington, Brian Painter, Mick Rayner, Mark Groombridge do we get the ORR, Network Rail to drive this with all the tier one contractors including Balfour Beatty Rail, to drive this forward? ​In truth neither Ganymede nor myself have the power to initiate this endeavour. However, we can and will keep asking the question and pushing for a integrated approach, so that one day there is a unified and consistent safety message across the rail industry.​About the authorStuart Fraser is the Accounts Director at Ganymede SolutionsEmail: stuart.fraser@ganymedesolutions.co.ukMobile: 07766 255 482LinkedIn: Stuart Fraser​​​

​​​​​​The Spring 2022 edition of Safety First, Ganymede’s quarterly safety newsletter is now available to read.​In this edition we focus on:​Lessons LearnedThe Importance of Using Safety Critical Communications​Track Safety Competence UpdatesCOSS and IWA CompetenceLookout Site Warden Competence​Correct use of Hand ToolsHand Tools – Panpullers​Spotlight on SafetyAre you on or near the line or on the lineside?Workforce Health and Safety ChampionsEquality, Diversity and InclusionClose Call ReportingDiabetesFatigue​FleetChanges to the Highway Code​RemindersWear your PPE with PrideEnvironmental​Meet the TeamMeet the Team​Read the Spring 2022 Safety First Newsletter here​As always, we trust you will find the newsletter useful and engaging. If you have any questions or feedback after reading this edition of Safety First, please don't hesitate to get in touch using the form below. ​