The Alan McArthur Unsung Hero Award

Winner:

Richard Abbess  –  Siemens Mobility Rolling Stock

Richard has dedicated over 34 years of his working life to health and safety in the rail sector. Leading by example, he commands respect and loyalty from his team and colleagues alike, both within Siemens Mobility and across the wider industry. 

Managing a team of 15 health, safety, environment and wellbeing advisors, who support Siemens Mobility's Rolling Stock business from locations across the UK, Richard ensures that the appropriate support, resource and developmental opportunities are all made available for them to effectively carry out their role.

Through open and honest two-way communication, he ensures that each member of his team has an opportunity to freely address issues and air concerns or anxieties. He then follows up on any issues with experienced counsel and expert advice, affording team members the opportunity to help shape the solution. This may involve encouraging the team to collaborate and so share and expand their knowledge or may include undertaking CPD and attending courses; this manifests itself in innovative solutions and a driven workforce, completely dedicated to safety. 

As a seasoned safety professional, Richard ensures compliance is met through understanding within and across the business. A large portion of his work over the past year has focused on educating risk owners on their responsibilities, so that his team of advisors can support accordingly. This has created a more open and collaborative approach to safety and has made it the priority and responsibility of all, especially managers at all levels. Most importantly, Richard is focused on his team. 

Throughout his career, Richard has been dedicated and single-minded in his pursuit of health and safety excellence and in ensuring that it is firmly embedded in the culture of the business. His mantra has been to see compliance as the absolute minimum standard and to constantly strive for excellence and best practice. To achieve this, he has worked tirelessly with the company's senior management and leadership teams, encouraging people to 'own' safety and demonstrate their commitment to it through their own behaviours and words.