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UK rail award

by Mark Rowe

UK rail award

The FM and security guarding and monitoring contractor Mitie has won an award at the UK Rail Industry Awards for “Workforce Safety”, recognising its contribution to the UK rail industry.

The total security management (TSM) business of the outsourced services firm was given the award because of its work with partner Reference Point and client Network Rail, the operators of Britain’s rail infrastructure.

Employees needed a safe and practical tool for managing access to track sites, so TSM commissioned a platform with the objective of ensuring no-one undertakes an activity unless they have been trained and assessed as competent.

Working with software firm Reference Point, Mitie have managed Sentinel – featured in the March 2014 print issue of Professional Security; an identity card scheme to check every track worker is fit, trained, and competent to start work on Network Rail’s infrastructure. The Sentinel system enables authentication of staff training – as compared to the old system where only an estimated 2pc of cards were authenticated. Also, the system provides access to a shared access lone worker protection system.

Darren Gamage, Technology Services Director of Mitie’s total security management business said: “I’m delighted this unique and industry leading system has been recognised. This is testament to how significant the technology will be in improving safety across more workforces not only in the transport sector but across any industry. We see significant opportunities in other sectors with safety critical activities”

And Gareth Llewellyn, Director of Safety and Sustainable Development at Network Rail said: “New Sentinel is the passport for working on our network safely. Technology has moved on apace since we introduced Sentinel originally in 1999. The opportunity to take advantage of smartcard and smartphone technology will take Sentinel to the next level, providing us with benefits that we haven’t seen before.”

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