Rock Rail is delighted to become a member of RSSB (Rail Safety and Standards Board). Earlier this month Mike Kean, Rock Rail Chief Operating Officer, and Mark Phillips, RSSB Chief Executive Officer, met to formally present Rock Rail with its membership certificate.
RSSB is an expert body that helps the rail industry carry out research, understand risk, set standards and improve performance, with a clear vision of supporting ‘a better, safer railway’. It spans the whole railway, including in its membership infrastructure companies, train and freight operators, rolling stock owners and suppliers to the industry. Collaboration with these members, together with RSSB’s own knowledge, expertise and independence, means it offers invaluable support to the rail industry in the areas of safety, standards, knowledge and innovation, and to a wide range of cross-industry schemes.
Rock Rail’s membership of RSSB demonstrates Rock’s continued commitment to actively supporting the delivery of a better and safer railway. It follows the appointment of rail industry safety expert, George Bearfield to the new position of Rock Rail Health and Safety Director earlier this year, with responsibility for all aspects of Rock’s Safety Management Systems including safety assurance for the 5 new rolling stock fleets under its management. With over 20 years of experience in the health and safety arena, most recently as Director of System Safety and Health at RSSB, George will play a central role in leading Rock Rail’s contribution to the RSSB agenda and safety initiatives.
Mark Phillips, Chief Executive Officer at RSSB, said:
“I’m delighted that Rock Rail has joined RSSB and I know the team there will derive huge benefits from opportunities to collaborate across industry. They will also get genuine return by drawing on the range of products and services we offer to help companies become safer and more sustainable for passengers, the workforce and the wider public, all while reducing risk and cost.
“Rail companies like Rock Rail work very closely with us at RSSB on our standards and research. And there are some big issues that pose extra risks and opportunities to rolling stock assets such as decarbonisation, accessibility and operational performance. These are all areas where I hope the railway family will benefit from Rock Rail’s membership, and likewise Rock Rail benefits as a key rolling stock asset provider in GB rail.”
George Bearfield, Health and Safety Director at Rock Rail, said:
“Our safety culture is central to our business and its effectiveness and we have immediately begun to benefit from our membership of RSSB in areas ranging from workforce health and wellbeing to safety and standardisation insights. Opportunities to engage and work with RSSB for the good of our business and the wider industry are growing as we add more fleets to our portfolio and we look forward to deepening the relationship as our business continues to evolve.”
