Alice Owen

Said the following about Kris Yorke:

“RailStaff Awards Entry

Safety Person of the Year: Kris Yorke

Stadler Rail Service UK

Overview

Kris Yorke, head of quality, health safety and environment (QHSE), has completely transformed Stadler Rail Service UK’s approach to these disciplines, introducing systems and processes to heighten safety and security across the board.

He is proactive, conscientious and strives for excellence, consistently going above and beyond to get the job done. He is innovative in his approach and always on the look-out for new and improved ways of working.

Highly influential in the business, Kris encourages colleagues to embrace safety, drawing on his own strong communication skills, his personal charm and easy manner. He is keen to lend support to others for the overall good of the company.

Background

Kris TUPEd from Nexus to Stadler in October 2020 and has since been promoted twice. Starting as the engineering train care support manager, he was quickly appointed QHSE manager for the Newcastle project, and within two years, made head of QHSE. Before joining the rail industry, Kris spent twenty years in the oil and gas sector.

In January 2022, he was awarded the NEBOSH General Certificate, securing the highest scores in the whole of the country for Occupational Health and Safety 21/22. He is currently studying for an MBA Senior Leader qualification and has already been handed a distinction for all four modules completed so far. He works full-time and has a young family.

Professional Achievements

Kris has implemented a fully interactive QHSE management system. Slick and user-friendly, it has reduced risk and helped cut the number of workplace accidents and incidents. The system is quick and easy to use, which means that frontline staff can focus on their day jobs on the shop-floor, so heightening operational efficiency.

Kris has developed a new system for reporting accidents and incidents. Data and immediate mitigations can now be recorded more easily, and it’s simpler to identify causes and carry out remedial actions. The system was initially introduced in Newcastle, but because it was so successful, was brought in at all UK sites.

The implementation of a QR close call reporting system Kris has brought in has simplified processes and led to a rise in the number of close calls by ten per cent in 2022 and a reduction in number of accidents by five per cent. Heralded as an example of best practice throughout the business, Kris’s initiative has been rolled out across all UK sites, as well as at every other Stadler location in Europe.

Kris has set up a Continuous Improvement Board (CIB). Meeting weekly, the board identifies key areas of risk, improvement actions, targets and owners, and manages a comprehensive monitoring system. It determines both ownership and accountability of tasks, fostering a safety culture across all UK sites.

Another of Kris’s initiatives to promote safety, is the introduction of a QHSE charter at all UK sites. The charter sets out the relationship between the QHSE team and the business, outlining responsibilities and enhancing accountability.

Kris has brought in health and safety, fire, security and quality information boards. These physical notice boards, displayed at all sites, provide relevant information for employees, as well as details on what to do in the event of an emergency.

His idea of introducing suggestion boxes at all UK sites has seen 300 suggestions put forward by staff in the last three years. For each suggestion taken up, Stadler donates £5 to its charity of the year. To date, £1,500 has been raised.

Testimonial

Chris Ebsworth, UK compliance director, Stadler Rail Service UK

“Kris is always thinking outside the box and developing ideas to streamline any process and make reporting safety issues easy. He’s made a massive positive impact on the business. Genius.”

Ends“