If there’s one category at the RailStaff Awards with a little more weight than the rest, it’s the Lifesaver Award. While the nominees in every category are heroes, only those who are honoured with the Lifesaver Award can say they have pulled someone back from the brink.
The Lifesaver Award recognises staff who have used all their skills and training to help save a life on the rails, and last year Megan Moore from ScotRail took the honour.
Megan was awarded for her quick thinking when she spotted a worrying message on social media from an unknown member of the public standing at a station. She engaged with the individual via social media and immediately applied her training. As well as raising the alarm to put a caution on the line, she also spoke directly to the staff at the station. Thankfully, an incoming train was brought to a stop and the individual was taken to safety.
A passion for safety
This year, the Lifesaver Award is sponsored by security firm ResponSec Ltd which provides a wide range of security services across numerous industries. The company broke into the rail industry in 2019, working with Network Rail in the Southern region to help reduce anti-social behaviour. Not only did this move make good business sense, it was also something of a passion-project for Managing Director Daniel Blackwood.
“The company was initially set up to serve live music and sporting events in London and the surrounding counties, but in the last four years has been lending our expertise to the rail industry,” he says.
“But I’ve always been a bit of a rail enthusiast. I’ve always had a passion for it and helping to make the railways safer has been a dream of mine for some time.”
In recent years ResponSec has supplied travel safe and welfare officers for Govia Thameslink Railway, and safety, security and enforcement officers for London Overground. But the very nature of the work means that ResponSec is all too aware of the dangers of the railway.
“The rail industry is a difficult one to work in and there’s such a wide range of characters using the network,” says Daniel. “When you’re on a train you could be sitting next to a high-flying CEO, or someone down on their luck who’s having a really bad day. It’s a tough job for our staff because they’re never sure what situation will arise. No two days are the same, and security staff have to deal with a lot of unpleasant scenarios.”
Preventing tragedy
Making the decision to sponsor the Lifesaver Award was an easy one, he adds.
“The Lifesaver Award is so important. During our time working on the railway we’ve dealt with a lot of lifesaving interventions and unfortunately seen the aftermath of suicide attempts. It’s always a tragedy when someone loses their life in this way, but it also has an impact on so many other people.”
“Many people make their way to the railway when they’re in distress, and sometimes it’s just a cry for help. But having people like our teams and other railway staff there to prevent a tragedy – to help diffuse the situation and point individuals in the direction of help – is critical.”
But it’s not just security staff who can make a difference. Anyone can reach out to someone who appears to be struggling. Just by saying hello, you could have a huge impact on somebody’s life and prevent the worst.
The Lifesaver Award is reserved for those heroes who take that step.
