A health and safety manager who previously worked on oil rigs and in car and construction equipment assembly lines has taken on his first role in the rail industry by joining depot maintenance company MTMS.
Steven Ostle has been appointed as the company’s new health, safety and environmental manager, with responsibility for ensuring that MTMS’s engineers and sub-contractors continue to work safely at rail depots all over the country.
MTMS services and maintains rolling stock and specialist depot equipment at over half of the UK’s rail depots, serving such familiar names in mainline rail as First MTR South-Western Railway, Hitachi, Arriva and Siemens, and is the proud owner of an excellent safety record.
Steven’s role will be to review and update its H&S policies, offer training and advice and make site visits to discuss any issues with staff in the field, while also drawing up specific health and safety procedures for minor engineering projects carried out to improve the depot infrastructure.
He will also help the company attain the coveted ISO 45001 international standard for health and safety at work.
Although his previous two roles involved working indoors in the vehicle manufacture industries, Steve has previously worked outdoors, when he was the health and safety liaison officer working offshore on oil rigs and on the Irish Sea Pioneer – a giant lift boat which supports drilling operations off the coast of Liverpool.
But he says many of the skills he puts into practice relate back to his days serving in the British Army, which he left in 2012 having achieved the rank of Captain, a role which relied heavily on upholding rules and being able to communicate them clearly.
He said: “The rail industry is a new industry to me but it is a sector where health and safety is of paramount importance and it’s enjoyable doing something different after working in factory settings for the last five years.
“While the majority of my work will be supporting our engineers undertaking their routine maintaining rolling stock at rail facilities, I’ll also be planning health and safety frameworks for one-off infrastructure projects.
“This role fits well with my military career, because the Army also relies on rules and regulations, and requires the ability to understand the work culture in order to be able to communicate them effectively.”
MTMS advertises itself as a pro-military employer and has been awarded the Silver Defence Employer Recognition scheme for its commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant, and Matt Forst, Managing Director of MTMS, says Steve’s military background and vast experience were key to him getting his new role.
He said: “Steve’s CV shows that he is incredibly well-qualified and has an understanding of how to undertake his health and safety role in a range of different and challenging settings.
“We’re delighted that he has joined us here at MTMS, where we’re confident that he will help us maintain our proud safety record and enable us to achieve the ISO 45001 standard.”
