Rail Wellbeing Alliance
Even in the relatively short time I have been privileged to work in this industry, safety standards have changed, and what was considered ‘normal’ isn’t seen that way now. Go back 30-40 years and safety standards are all but unrecognisable.
We, the people of the railway, made changes happen. We worked together to set in motion a cultural change that is still developing now. It’s time we took that same spirit, drive and determination and do the same for health and happiness."
Scope
The RWA and its subgroups coordinate a variety of health activities across the industry, so that legal requirements, cost benefits, and better health provision within organisations can be universally achieved. This includes concerns identified in the Leading Health and Safety on Britain's Railway (LHSBR) strategy. In particular, these relate to mental wellbeing, musculoskeletal disorders, fatigue, assessment and management of occupational health hazards, occupational health provision, reporting and monitoring of workforce health and wellbeing, as well as health promotion and ill health prevention.
Rail Leader Update – Health and Wellbeing
In this health and wellbeing update, Niamh McMahon, RSSB’s Health and Wellbeing Specialist, shares how the RWA and its subgroups are supporting a culture of health in rail.
The RWA's guiding principles
- We are volunteers who do this because we care, not because we’ve been told to.
- The RWA is not a governance forum - it exists to support colleagues, open doors and as far as we can, lead by example.
- Our plan is to draw on the best technical and leadership skills in the industry to deliver great results.
- We use our industry networks to help share key and agreed narratives, maintaining a close relationship with sector groups.
The RWA reports directly to the LHSBR Executive Advisory Group and typically meets every six weeks. The group produces a summary of the ‘Key Messages’ after each meeting, which highlight work delivered or underway (see our resources section below).
If you have any questions or wish to contact the group, please email: Health&Wellbeing@rssb.co.uk
RWA handbook
We have produced this guide to explain what we are doing to help the industry to be healthier and happier.
Subgroups
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Business Engagement and MeasurementThe Business Engagement & Measurement Group’s scope is to encourage better use of health data by rail companies to engage business leaders and improve investment decisions in health and well-being at company and industry level.
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Fatigue Coordination GroupThe Fatigue Coordination Group is a specialist risk subgroup that supports the industry in devising and sharing world class approaches to managing fatigue. It aims to improve employee health and wellbeing and make fatigue-related incidents a thing of the past. It supports the Rail Wellbeing Alliance in coordinating and monitoring the rail industry’s progress on fatigue risk management.
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Healthy Cultures GroupThe Healthy Cultures Group focuses on industry-wide collaboration and sharing good practice to create healthier working environments across the network and support health and wellbeing among the workforce, both in the prevention and management of health conditions.
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Mental Wellbeing GroupThe Mental Wellbeing Group covers all insight, policies and actions to address the risks to the mental wellbeing of all UK rail employees, and all activities required to foster a positive, open culture on mental health across the UK rail industry.
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MusculoSkeletal Disorders GroupThe Musculoskeletal Disorders Group (MSDG) is a specialist subgroup reporting to the Rail Wellbeing Alliance (RWA) providing evidence-based best practice and guidance to the railway industry to facilitate the prevention and management of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), enabling workers to live full and productive lives throughout their entire career.
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Occupational Health Advisory GroupThe Occupational Health Advisory Group is a specialist leadership group supporting the development and effective implementation of best practice for rail occupational health.
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Occupational Hygiene Management GroupThe purpose of the Occupational Hygiene Management Group is to focus on strategic activities for the assessment and management of the key health risks in the railway.
Membership
To address the strategic challenges for health and wellbeing and fatigue, RWA has industry director level sponsors who oversee the delivery and realisation of the benefits. The group also has chairs for these areas and the relevant subgroups.
- Industry Sponsors (x7)
- Chair
- Deputy Chair
- Workstream Chairs (x7)
- RSSB Principal Strategy Implementation Manager
The RWA includes the ORR as observers. We have representation from across the industry including trade unions, infrastructure, supply chain, freight and train operations.
Chair of committee: David Horne, London North Eastern Railway
RSSB main representative: Gemma Lavery
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Committee members
Name Company Representing Status Annette Edgington Rail Operations (UK) Limited Non Passenger Train Operators Member Bridget Juniper Work and Well-Being Limited Independent Member Christine Kinloch RSSB RSSB Meeting Manager Claire Mann First MTR South Western Train Limited Passenger Train Operators Member David Horne London North Eastern Railway Passenger Train Operators Chair Gemma Lavery RSSB RSSB RSSB main representative Howard Kaye Alsef Trustee Company Limited Trade Union Member Jen Ablitt Office of Rail and Road Office of Rail and Road Observer Jenny Wilson Network Rail Infrastructure Limited Infrastructure Managers Observer Mark Newns Keltbray Limited Suppliers Member Martin Frobisher Network Rail Infrastructure Limited Infrastructure Managers Member Mick Rayner Balfour Beatty Rail Limited Suppliers Member Nadine Rae TSSA Trade Union Member Neil Boyd MTR Corporation (Crossrail) Limited
Infrastructure Managers Member Paul Hutchings Arriva Rail London Limited Passenger Train Operators Member Phil Barrett Rail Partners Limited Industry Association Member Rob Miguel Unite the Union Trade Union Member Robert Morris Siemens Mobility Limited Suppliers Deputy Chair Samantha Phillips Transport for London (TfL) Passenger Train Operators Member
