A pioneering online initiative aims to improve mental and physical health in the industry
The rail industry prides itself on its approach to safety. On those rare occasions when there are lapses (the Stonehaven derailment springs to mind), the industry, safety bodies, stakeholders and opinion formers are all over it – and rightly so.
By comparison, the health and wellbeing of the workforce has received scant attention. Unfortunately, three people lost their lives in the Stonehaven incident – but sadly four employees have taken their own lives in the last couple of years in just one of Network Rail’s Regions. This is the sort of statistic that has prompted the industry to set up Rail Wellbeing Live! 2020, a massive online event aimed at turning the tide on health and wellbeing.
Originally, the idea was that a physical event would be held in Birmingham, attracting perhaps 1,000 delegates from across the industry. Covid changed that idea – and simultaneously raised ambitions on the part of the organisers, who are now looking for up to 10,000 people to take part in a digital event on 4-5 November.
WHAT’S HAPPENING
Rail Wellbeing Live! features a host of online attractions with the aim of getting people to …