Management approach
Health and safety is among the most important HR priorities for Russian Railways. The implementation of new instruments and measures to prevent workplace injuries within Russian Railways’ health and safety management system helps to reduce the annual injury frequency rates regardless of severity.
One of the key health and safety goals for Russian Railways is improvement of working conditions:
- construction, upgrading and repairs of sanitary amenities and facilities;
- setting up warming facilities and lunch rooms;
- installation, upgrading and repairs of lighting, ventilation, etc. systems;
- equipping locomotive cabs with improved durability glasses, vibration isolated seats, etc.;
- reduction in the share of manual labour, including work to mechanise operations, track maintenance and construction.
On an annual basis, health and safety activities account for at least 0.7% of Russian Railways’ total annual expenses by main type of activity not including the costs related to workwear, PPE, and medical check-ups.
Below are some of the Company’s steps to improve working conditions and occupational safety.
- State-of-the-art certified personal protective equipment helps to considerably reduce occupational morbidity and workplace injury rates. Russian Railways complies with Model Industry Standards for Free Provision of Workwear, Footwear and Other Personal Protective Equipment to Employees of Federal Railway Enterprises.
- Reduction in workplace injury rates, inter alia, by removing employees from hazardous operating areas and by implementing technical solutions that prevent injuries.
- Reduction in occupational morbidity. To that end, mobile occupational pathology and occupational suitability expertise centres are set up at hospitals of the railways’ sector, with modern medications and latest diagnostic and treatment equipment in place for early identification of occupational diseases and for taking measures as needed.
The Company’s environmental, industrial, and fire safety is underpinned by the following practices:
- the Safety First rule is observed, with safety placed above other performance indicators;
- employees receive training and improve their skills and competencies in health and safety;
- individual and collective responsibility for compliance with health and safety principles is nourished and promoted;
- each employee is aware of their individual responsibility for compliance with health and safety principles;
- health and safety risks are managed.
Health and safety management system
The health and safety management system is part of the governance framework and helps ensure a comprehensive approach and a single health and safety procedure across all Company levels. Russian Railways manages health and safety at three levels: central, regional, and linear. Corporate health and safety management is the responsibility of the Corporate Governance Centre and regional centres for corporate governance. Health and safety matters are within the remit of the Environment and Technosphere Safety Department, while at railways, these are the responsibilities of occupational health and safety services.
Policies and procedures
The health and safety management system is aligned with the Company’s Health, Environmental and Industrial Safety Policy approved by the Management Board of Russian Railways, and prioritises the lives and health of employees.
On an annual basis, the Company develops a list of internal regulations on health, environmental, industrial and fire safety and non-occupational injuries.
In the reporting year, Russian Railways had more than 250 in-house regulations on health and safety. In 2022, the Company developed and updated 41 in-house regulations on health and safety (standards, rules, instructions, etc.). The following documents came into force:
- Russian Railways’ Health and Safety Management System. Special Assessment of Working Conditions industry standard;
- Russian Railways’ Health and Safety Management System. Control Arrangements and Procedures industry standard;
- Regulation on Arrangements under Russian Railways’ Person on Train Tracks Information System;
- Methodology for Analysing and Assessing Occupational Risks of Russian Railways’ Employees;
- Methodology for Calculating the Needs for Sanitary Amenities (Equipment) at Russian Railways;
- Guidelines for Providing the Workplaces of Russian Railways’ Employees with Drinking Water during Periods of High Air Temperature.