Paula Marshall

Said the following about Adrian Fricker:

“Adrian has been instrumental in establishing and promoting the work of the Track Safety Alliance (TSA), an industry wide group which focuses on improving the health, safety and wellbeing of track workers.

Having defined and set up the leadership and management structure of the alliance, he set about organising staff reps and technical forums for front line staff, technical staff and leaders of the principal contractors. Over 1500 track colleagues have attended these forums to openly discuss and debate safety issues like working at height, PPE and fatigue.

Adrian works tirelessly on the TSA work streams – he is not afraid to challenge the work stream sponsors and leaders, and constantly remind them of the commitment they have made to improve working conditions for their staff. He is always looking for new ways to promote the safety work of the alliance, often facing hurdles such as ambivalence or lack of commitment from others but he never allows it to get on top of him. His enthusiasm and perseverance are inspiring.

Under Adrian’s safety leadership and as a direct result of feedback from track workers, the TSA has led the design and development of a number of safety initiatives including surveys on fatigue, trials of fruit/soft drinks on site, pilot of nominated safe drivers and the new ‘safe tea trolley’ - a refreshment trolley, which will allow front line people to get hot and cold drinks while they are out on track. Adrian also organised and ran the first TSA safety improvement suggestion scheme, which awarded five cash prizes to track colleagues who came up with practical safety improvements.

In addition to all this, Adrian has been instrumental in the development of the TSA website and had led the development of five film briefings including close calls, fatigue, working at height and safer lineside materials, one of which was commended by the ORR.

The TSA ‘brand’ has gone from strength to strength and contractors are now eager to join the alliance and participate in the forums. Without doubt this is down to Adrian; his enthusiasm and passion is never ending. He is a relentless advocate of safety and is tireless in getting colleagues involved in the TSA.

In addition to his huge workload in managing and promoting the TSA, he is a passionate supporter of the ‘close call champion’ training and has been instrumental in getting 150 close call champions trained in Network Rail IP Track this year.

Adrian always has time for colleagues – he has been known to undertake numerous middle of the night site visits with inexperienced staff, where he displays the same knowledge, good humour and passion to challenge unsafe behaviours. He is a pleasure to work with and the success of the TSA is largely down to his perseverance, hard work and absolute determination to get safety on everyone’s agenda.“