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#1 Posted : 14 September 2005 17:02:00(UTC)
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Posted By PaulA
Hello there...

Could anybody enlighten me as to whether the rumours of Network Rail employing their own staff to carry out Safety Critical Work in the future is right..

My employer is looking to invest in this area but we have heard that COSS. PICOMS etc we be Network Rail Employees and not subcontractors/agency staff etc.

I can see the reasoning behind this but have yet to identify factual dates and proposed deadlines.

Many thanks
PaulA
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#2 Posted : 14 September 2005 21:54:00(UTC)
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Posted By Adam
in answer to you question, highly unlikely that this would happen. In order to have coss , PICOP , engineering supervisors etc in your direct employ, this would entail your company being linkup approved via the core audit system. You will not be able to supply these staff unless you have passed the Linkup Core audit, Train Operating Companies and Network Rail should not be able to use subcontract staff unless they are from a linkup approved supplier their duty to check that the staff being supplied are from a linkup approved supplier and that they are sponsored by that supplier. I.E if your company does not have a linkup product group certificate, for safety critical sentinel staff ( all track safety card holders have the sentinel card) you will not be able to supply these staff to any one for use. Also your company will have to have robust systems in place in order to meet the criteria. It is a Pass or fail Audit, If you fail an email is sent out the same day to all Train Operating Companies and Network Rail advising of failed by Audit, this has serious business consequences and is not a pleasant experience! ALL YOUR CLIENTS WILL BE PHONING YOU IN A STATE OF PANIC!!!

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#3 Posted : 15 September 2005 13:17:00(UTC)
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Posted By PaulA
Hello Adam.
Thankyou for your response, we do supply PTS trained personell at the moment and have obviously passed Proof Audit, The Core Audit is apparently sufficient to allow the supply of Safety Critical Staff... but we feel that we would have to invest in a 'new and improved' version should the MD wish to supply Safety Critical Staff.. ie COSS's etc
My question referred to whether there are any plans afoot to consolidate all Safety Critical Workers in sole employement with Network Rail..
You are quite right though in saying that this would send shock waves through Rail employement agencies
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#4 Posted : 15 September 2005 20:35:00(UTC)
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Posted By Keith Dennis Berridge
Hi PaulA
Your original email mentioned COSS & PICOM'S
Adam metioned PICOP'S
If you are meaning PICOP'S you are looking at possession management.
There has been rumours doing the rounds for a while saying that NR are to take all possessions in house and man them up with their own staff
At the moment some possessions are manned up with contract PICOP'S and NR HSM.
Some are all contract staff.
I do not see NR having the resources to take all possessions in house in the near future and will be awarding contracts to preferred possession management contactors.
So I would say the situation will stay very much as it is now with NR using their own staff when they are able, with much of the work going to contractors.
Some contractors may get preference over others, with cost, safety records and KPI being taken into account

Regards

Keith.
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