• I was the Head of Safety and Sustainability for First Capital Connect based in London and the custodian of the Safety Certification required for operation on UK rail infrastructure.

• I led and directed the company Safety and Environment Team in setting the strategic direction for occupational safety and sustainability within the Business.

• I acted as the company’s ‘competent person’ with regard to the provision of expert and effective safety advice, assistance and support to all functions and activities of the business.

• I ensured the development and support the implementation of the Company’s Strategic Safety and Environment Plans.

• I ensured that any additional risks arising from changes to existing operations, or the introduction of new operations/activities, are fully assessed, risk is reduced to as low as is reasonably practicable and the process is validated.

• I analysed the company’s safety and environment performance and optimize cost-effective solutions to securely improve culture and performance.

• I developed and maintain effective and productive working relationships with senior representatives of industry partners and regulatory bodies such as Network Rail, ATOC, RSSB, ORR, the Environment Agency and First Group including acting as company representative for RAIB/ORR Inquiries and Investigations if requested.

• I ensured, through provision of monitoring and audit assurance processes that the Company complies with all relevant safety and environment requirements.

• I managed the Company’s Safety & Environment Team of 16 ensuring the highest levels of job performance and motivation, handling an approximate budget of £2m pa.

•  Deputy Safety Assurance Director;

•  My primary role was to provide assurance to the Safety and Assurance Director that business activities are being conducted in accordance with all statutory health and safety legislation and railway group standards necessary for ensuring safety;

•  I led the development of a proactive safety culture throughout the business;

•  Provide professional safety advice, guidance and support to Directors and senior managers;

•  I led the integration of occupational health and safety best practice into all Northern activities;

•  I monitored the effectiveness of the safety management system implementation throughout the company through the development and management of an integrated safety and technical audit program to demonstrate compliance with company standards and legislation;

•  I developed, implemented and maintained an effective safety communication program to ensure high levels of safety awareness and support the role out of the Safety Culture survey to all employees whilst maintaining the benchmark set from previous years;

•  I explored the opportunity to implement a Quality Management system to ISO 9001 and IRiS for all of the business; and

•  I was the custodian and maintainer of the Safety Management System (certificated to OHSAS 18001) and the Safety Certification.

•  Duty covering all of the Siemens UK Maintenance and after-sales business;

•  I controlled and achieved a budget for around £ 500k pa;

•  I implemented, managed and maintained the ISO and OHSAS standards 9001, 14001, and 18001 to all 6 contacts made up of 10 main locations and 15 out stations with a team of 7 SQE Engineers reporting directly to me;

•  I was the point of contact for the industry stakeholders such as ATOC, RSSB, RISAS and the Halcrow operational safety risk and SPAD project;

•  I have overseen the building of three new train maintenance facilities (£ 80m) from identifying Safety and Environmental considerations during design to monitoring implementation during construction, and then utilization; and

•  I have overseen the introduction of 3 new fleets and introduction of 300 + additional employees, as well as the processes and procedures which are required to achieve regulatory, certification and customer.

2014 - Current - Consultant

Mark has worked on a variety of projects for several clients both in the UK and overseas. His areas of expertise include: occupational safety disciplines; safety management system development and reviews; safety certification; franchise/contract mobilisation; auditing; a practical approach toward strategy safety development, and bid writing. 

Please see my Linked in profile for up to date details of experience.

http://uk.linkedin.com/in/markunderwood1/