This week marks Rail Safety Week and in 2025, we’re celebrating its 10-year anniversary. Rail Safety Week is a powerful reminder that safety is more than just a compliance requirement, it’s a culture, a responsibility, and a foundation for success across the rail industry. As the rail safety week organisers say “Whether your career lies within the rail industry, or whether you use the railways to get from A to B – safety affects us all.”

At MPI, we take pride in actively supporting and promoting safety in everything we do, whether it's through our on-site safety tours, recognition of safe working practices through our safety awards for significant contributions to safety , or alignment with industry-wide improvements through our briefings system. By embedding safety into our daily operations and celebrating those who lead by example, we help create safer environments for our contractors, clients, and the communities we serve.

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Why Safety Matters in Rail

Rail is one of the safest modes of transport, but it only stays that way because of the relentless focus on continuous improvement. A strong safety culture doesn't just prevent accidents, it drives better performance, protects reputations, boosts morale, and ensures projects stay on track.

At MPI, safety isn’t just a policy—it’s a fundamental part of who we are. We are dedicated to ensuring the highest health and safety standards for our workforce, clients, and the public.

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What Safety Looks Like at MPI

At MPI, safety isn’t just a policy—it’s a mindset embedded across all levels of our organisation. Our Directors and Managers lead by example, taking an active role in health and safety through regular site visits and collaborative safety tours with our clients. This hands-on approach is matched by our focus on empowering the workforce: we encourage personal site inspections from the workforce we supply, supported by dedicated competence assessors who carry out audits to ensure compliance and drive continuous improvement.

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MPI decided that we would adopt the 4 Steps to Zero Harm as best practice and incorporate this into the MPI Rail “Think Safe, Be Safe, Go Home Safe” safety programme. Our commitment is backed by a robust Health and Safety Management System, underpinned by strict Key Performance Indicators. With a zero-tolerance approach to accidents, we work proactively to maintain the highest possible safety standards.

Here’s how that commitment takes shape in our day-to-day operations:

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Safety Tours

Our team regularly conducts safety tours to engage directly with contractors on site. These visits are far more than routine checks—they’re opportunities to listen, learn, and lead by example. We use them to reinforce safe behaviours, identify risks early, and promote a shared sense of accountability for safety.

Safety Awards for Contractors

Celebrating and recognising those who contribute to a safer rail environment is a core part of our culture. Our Safety Awards highlight individuals who go above and beyond—whether that’s reporting near misses, championing improvements, or simply being a positive influence on site. Their leadership helps raise the bar for everyone.

Support at Your Fingertips

We take a holistic view of safety, which includes looking after mental health. That’s why we’ve introduced QR codes on our PPE that link directly to mental wellbeing resources. This discreet support gives our contractors access to help whenever they need it, reinforcing that health and safety means both mind and body.

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How the Wider Industry is Driving Safety Forward

MPI isn’t alone in building a safer railway. Across the UK rail sector, organisations are continually innovating, collaborating, and reinforcing the message that a safer railway is and continues to be a shared commitment.

At the heart of the industry wide approach to safety is Network Rails “Everyone Home Safe Every Day” campaign.It has become a cornerstone of behavioural safety on the infrastructure side. By empowering track workers, signallers, engineers, and contractors to call a halt when hazards arise, it creates a culture where speaking up is encouraged, regardless of rank or role. Last year alone, over 2,000 “stop and challenge” interventions were recorded on Network Rail sites, demonstrating how frontline ownership of safety is crucial to reducing near-misses and serious incidents.

The rise of wearable technology, mobile apps, and data-driven risk-assessment tools is also reshaping how hazards are identified and mitigated. And the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) drives consistency and knowledge-sharing across operators, infrastructure managers, contractors, and suppliers.

As a tier-one supplier to major signalling companies, MPI is proud to contribute to—and learn from—this collective drive. When we bring our own Health and Safety Management System and audit data to the table, those insights feed back into shared platforms, helping elevate standards across every link in the supply chain.

 The Real Benefits of Rail Safety

Putting safety front and centre isn’t just about avoiding fines or meeting regulatory requirements, it delivers tangible gains for workers, employers, and the travelling public alike.

• For Workers:

• Reduced Injuries & Illness: According to the Office of Rail and Road’s 2024 Safety Performance Report, companies with robust safety cultures saw a 25 percent lower incidence of reportable injuries. When track workers feel confident that hazards will be addressed promptly, and know they won’t be penalised for raising concern, they are more engaged and trust that their welfare matters.

• Enhanced Wellbeing: Beyond physical safety, access to mental health resources (like the QR-coded support on MPI’s PPE) helps reduce stress, anxiety, and fatigue.

• For Employers:

• Lower Incident-Related Costs: A single derailment or signalling-failure incident can cost operators millions in emergency response, repairs, and reputational damage. Preventing even one significant incident, through early hazard detection or a worker’s decision to stop unsafe work, means that money not spent in emergency responses and investigations is money than can then be reinvested into the industry for the benefit of passengers and also ultimately the supply chain.

• Stronger Reputation & Client Trust: Companies with exemplary safety records win more tenders and retain long-term contracts.

• Higher Productivity & Morale: When site teams know they have reliable processes to manage hazards, they spend less downtime on incident investigations and more time on productive work.

• For Passengers & the Public:

• Greater Confidence in Reliability: Safe operations mean fewer unplanned disruptions. According to Network Rail’s 2024 Passenger Confidence Index, 87 percent of passengers say they feel more comfortable travelling when they see active safety patrols, clear signage, and well-managed work sites.

• Community Wellbeing: Safe railways reduce the likelihood of hazardous materials spills, trespasser incidents, and noise-related injuries in neighbouring communities.

Conclusion

As Rail Safety Week marks its 10th year, it’s a timely reminder that safety is everyone’s business- from trackside to office, and from commuter to contractor. At MPI, safety is more than just a priority, it’s a shared value embedded in everything we do. We’re proud to stand alongside our industry partners, continuously raising the bar for what best practice looks like, and never losing sight of our ultimate goal: zero harm.

By recognising those who lead by example, investing in wellbeing alongside physical safety, and aligning with national safety campaigns and innovations, we help shape a rail industry where safety is lived, not just listed on a risk assessment.

Together, we can make sure that everyone—contractors, colleagues, passengers, and partners—thinks safe, acts safe, and goes home safe.