Meet the team - managing Health & Safety
Accident sites can be dangerous places. Our Head of Health & Safety explains her role and the challenge of continuously looking for improvements.
Sian Page - Head of Health & Safety
I consider myself very fortunate to be the Head of Health and Safety and Facilities at the RAIB. Having spent my professional career within the private sector, joining the RAIB was a unique opportunity to utilise my transferable knowledge and experience, and work alongside a cohesive team of dedicated professionals, with the primary focus of improving railway safety.
My day-to-day responsibilities include Health and Safety governance, working alongside the inspectorate function to ensure that our systems of work, are both effective and fit for purpose, as well as leading on continual improvement efforts. Since joining the branch sixteen months ago, I’ve been presented with so many opportunities to learn new skills, and diversify my knowledge, including in accident investigation and forensic techniques, which has been hugely rewarding. It’s a very supportive environment to be a part of, with a strong team working ethic.
A large part of my role involves working alongside other Accident Investigation Branches (Air and Marine), to identify common areas of Health and Safety synergy and opportunities to develop best practice. Wellbeing is currently high on the agenda, with a focus on the management of mental health, including promoting awareness through engagement initiatives. Health and Safety is one of many established tri-branch work streams which run consecutively. These provide opportunity for individuals across the business functions to be involved and collaborate with counterparts, regardless of their area of expertise. My involvement to date has provided insight into worlds which I never thought I’d be a part of, which is interesting on so many levels.
I also liaise with wider stakeholders across the Department of Transport, representing the RAIB on several focus groups, with the objective of developing continual improvements in Health and Safety governance. Being part of a team able to influence the strategic direction of Health and Safety has presented a new opportunity for RAIB to be involved from the outset, and is a positive development.
I’m also responsible for overseeing facilities management in our two office locations, leading on security management and arrangements, including business continuity preparedness and management, so lots of variety and never a dull moment!
Working in the RAIB has truly been a unique and satisfying experience. Come and join us, you won’t regret it!