17 minute read
Business Profiles
Keeping men’s mental health on track
The health and wellbeing of the UK’s workforce has never been more high profile, with the pandemic highlighting our dependence on keyworkers, especially those working in transportation, to keep vital services moving
The spotlight is increasingly focused on mental health, particularly in men, with one in eight now reporting common problems such as anxiety and depression. In male-dominated industries such as the rail sector mental health issues can lead to a higher number of working days lost, reduced productivity, and missed targets.
Medigold Health has always focused on helping employers to keep their people in work safe and well. More recently, it has further enhanced its support services for wellbeing and mental health and is well placed to help organisations to think creatively about ways to support male employees.
Keeping people in work, safe and well Medigold Health is one of the UK's most trusted providers of occupational health and wellbeing solutions. It already supports 20 clients in the rail industry and has worked with employers in the sector for over 20 years. Its work is accredited by the Railway Industry Supplier Qualification Scheme (RISQS). Its dedicated rail team includes specialist doctors and account managers who understand the unique pressures of the sector.
Medigold Health services include absence management, employee screening, help with alcohol and drug issues and a range of employee wellbeing specialist services. Working with employers of all sizes from blue chip companies to small and mediumsized enterprises, the business can tailor its services to provide bespoke solutions.
Helping employers to look after their greatest asset Medigold Health was set up in 1998 by Dr Mike Goldsmith whose mission was to improve the world of work by helping organisations to look after their most valuable asset: their people. From humble beginnings and a team of just five, Medigold Health has grown into a £33 million business employing 600+ staff across more than 60 locations from its headquarters in Northampton. With more than 2,500 clients looking after three million individual employees, Medigold Health employs over 280 occupational health clinicians running 100+ clinics across the UK. Always at the forefront of innovation, Medigold Health also operates the largest fleet of mobile screening units in the UK enabling it to conduct medical and alcohol and drug tests on site minimising employee downtime.
Its corporate health services are designed to deliver: • A better understanding of workforce health. • Improved intelligence enabling informed decision-making. • The ability to shape organisations using robust data. • The power to boost the wellbeing of employees. • Greater efficiencies leading to reduced costs.
Mental health matters – the impact on productivity and performance The business case for supporting mental health and wellbeing in the workplace has never been clearer. The UK loses around 70 million working days to mental health issues
each year at a cost to the economy of £2.4 billion. Employees perform better when they remain fit and well. Positive health and wellbeing, both physical and mental, help individuals to develop resilience, face challenges robustly, maintain their stamina and deliver workplace objectives.
The statistics around men’s mental health are sobering to read. Three times more men die by suicide than women, with those most at risk aged between 40 and 49. In fact, suicide is the biggest cause of death in men under the age of 50. Less likely to seek help for mental health issues, only 36 per cent of NHS referrals for talking therapies are made for men. Signs that men are experiencing difficulties may include bouts of anger and aggression, irritability, loss of control and risk-taking. Men are more likely to selfmedicate with alcohol and drugs.
The latest statistics on drug use indicate that over a quarter of a million individuals are treated for substance misuse annually in the UK. In fact, the UK has one of the highest rates of drug-related deaths in Europe. Alcohol misuse leads to absenteeism, lost productivity, and workplace accidents. The cost to society including the impact on the NHS and policing is even greater.
Traditional gender roles tend to reinforce perceptions of men as strong and impervious to self-doubt or worry. In fact, men are naturally concerned about their livelihoods, pressure on finances and their role in supporting their families, especially in the current economic environment.
High profile campaigns are helping to reduce the stigma associated with mental health issues amongst men. The Movember movement aims to see a 25 per cent reduction in male suicide by 2030. International Men’s Day (19 November) seeks to highlight a wide range of issues affecting men including mental health.
Promoting and supporting a healthy workplace culture pays dividends and Medigold Health can help businesses to create the right environment and achieve results. Mental health maintenance – four top tips for men 1. A problem shared – talking about issues can help to put them into perspective and provides a way to unburden yourself. 2. Prevention is better than cure – looking after your mental health means taking regular breaks, using your annual leave entitlement, pacing your work commitments, and maintaining a good work-life balance. 3. Practice mindfulness – getting absorbed by an activity you enjoy can help you to switch off from work pressures.
Becoming involved in a sport or hobby brings you together with like-minded people and increases your sense of belonging. 4. Mind and body – looking after your physical health supports the brain to work well, so avoid over-indulgence in alcohol, prioritise sleep, get regular exercise and watch what you eat.
Creating a healthy workplace – the employer’s role Organisations can help to raise the profile of men’s mental health and protect their employees through a range of measures including by: • Understanding the issues that might trigger mental health crises and being aware of symptoms. • Prioritising mental health within activities to support general health and wellbeing. • Implementing a robust alcohol and drug testing policy to boost workplace safety. • Putting support in place to help those who are struggling and instigating preventative measures. • Promoting parity between mental and physical health issues to reduce stigma. • Providing opportunities for all employees to strengthen their mental health and wellbeing.
How Medigold Health can help Medigold has developed its Medigold Health Perform range of services that help employers to take positive steps to address mental health issues in the workplace from awareness-raising amongst employees to ways of fostering a supportive culture of prevention.
These include: • Training • Counselling • Self-help • Coaching • Bespoke services
Training From Wellbeing Ambassadors who help to raise the profile of mental health and wellbeing, to Mental Health First Aiders who offer peer support right where it is needed, Medigold Health can help you to harness the power in your own teams. Your organisation might benefit from Peer Support Groups where teams from different disciplines collaborate to work together. Dedicated programmes also address building resilience at work and performing under pressure.
Counselling Where professional intervention is needed, Medigold Health’s experienced therapists are members of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).
Self-help Our Employee Assistance Programme enables access to confidential advice on stressors at work or at home. Digital technology including the NHS-approved THRIVE app and the bespoke Zenpower app which help individuals to monitor and manage their own mental wellbeing.
Coaching Supporting senior leaders through professional conversations, Medigold Health enables them to explore issues within a confidential environment and improve their leadership skills.
Bespoke services Medigold Health can tailor programmes to meet the needs of your organisation depending on the stage you have reached in your journey to supporting positive health and wellbeing.
In addition, Medigold Health offers alcohol and drug testing through its specialist market-leading Hampton Knight division which has over 21 years’ experience in this field. It also provides advice to employers on policy and ways to support those with substance dependency issues. To find out more about Medigold Health’s mental health and wellbeing services get in touch via the contact information below.
Tel: 0330 390 3370 Email: salesenquiries@medigold-health.com Visit: www.medigold-health.com
The benefits of professional tool storage
Snap-on’s Level 5 management system tells rail workshop managers what they need to know
Rail engineering workshop managers would no doubt find it really useful if they could monitor several tool cabinets from one central computer.
Even better, if each cabinet could tell them which tools have been taken out, which engineer or technician is using them and when they have been returned. Snap-on Industrial’s Level 5™ tool management system makes both of those possible. Powerful software enables managers and supervisors to review activity at all boxes in their location from one central computer, avoiding the need to inspect each box. And an audible voice announcement advises which tools have been removed or replaced.
Keeping track of every tool and piece of equipment, especially when multiple cabinets are being used, presents a major challenge to rail workshop managers.
If they are under pressure to deliver improved productivity, often with fewer skilled hands and tighter budgets, the benefits of professional tool storage and management become stronger than ever.
Snap-on Industrial’s Level 5™ automated total asset management system minimises the risk of human error. Automated tool control constantly tracks every tool and detects which ones have been removed or returned, providing greater protection against foreign object damage. It also enables engineers and technicians to find every tool they need, when they need it, saving time and easing stress. The system provides complete reports on everything managers or supervisors need to know. They are even informed when a tool needs to be refilled or re-ordered.
Engineered to track individual tools by user, automatically, without bar codes, scanners, RFID tags or other add-ons, the system works at the speed its users demand. Level 5™ ATC boxes are network ready, using either Ethernet or wireless connection. Major benefits of the system include: • No individual tool scanning required. • No RFID tags to install or replace. • No limitations on tool size: from ¼” screwdriver bit upwards. • Intuitive interface, via touchscreen. • Audible voice announcements advise both tool removal and replacement. • Automatic locking for maximum security. • Errors announced and displayed to indicate incorrect tool position or to advise when a drawer is not closed.
Administrators can view all the boxes on their network, whether they are on or off-line, and see the status of each box, including the number of tools issued, identify active users and review all history.
System alerts, such as sending e-mails to supervisors, can be customized for lost or broken tools or calibration requirements. Reports can be created on each tool’s frequency of use, inspection and calibration dates as well as other specific location requirements.
Finding the right tool for the job in hand can take up even more time if tools are difficult to identify. Coloured, oil resistant foam inserts in profiled Level 5™ drawers, easily identified tool handles, boards and toolbox organisers increase visibility and improve team productivity.
Cabinet security is essential. Snap-on’s solution to the problem of using keys, which can be lost or shared with others, is simple: don’t use keys at all. Level 5™ boxes are equipped with Keyless Access Control, giving authorised users easy, secure access.
The control system can be configured with magnetic cards, barcodes, PIN numbers and proximity cards. Snap-on’s proprietary software enables managers to control access from a system or network.
Richard Packham, Director UK & Europe for Snap-on Industrial says: ‘Snap-on’s automated system takes tool management to an entirely new level. The ability to monitor several boxes from one central computer offers rail workshop managers a huge advantage.’
Tel: (01536) 413904 Email: ukindustrialmarketing@snapon.com Visit: www.snapon-industrial.co.uk
Relec Electronics expands horizons with Axiomtek panel
The specialist distributor adds a high performance range of panel PCs to its power supplies and display offerings
The company also welcomes new, experienced members of staff to meet customers’ engineering sales needs. Relec Electronics, the specialist in power conversion and display products, has added a range of panel PCs from industry leader Axiomtek to its portfolio of products.
The fanless panel computers are fully enclosed systems. A TFT display, a touch panel, CPU, memory and I/O ports are integrated into a front mounting enclosure which is IP65 / IPX-1-rated, making them ideal for harsh, industrial environments. They are also certified to EN / UL 60601 for medical use worldwide. All units are CE marked and rated Class B (EMC standard).
The Axiomtek panel PCs available from Relec range in size from 10.1” to 23.8”. Relec is able to support customers with modifications and custom panel PCs to meet specific performance and application requirements.
The Axiomtek panel PCs join Relec’s wide-ranging choice of display technology, TFT touch panels, screen enhancements, accessories and custom design options for medical, railway, industrial and military displays.
Relec is also an established power conversion specialist, offering ac-dc power supplies, dc-dc converters, dc-ac inverters and EMC filters from the industry’s leading manufacturers, including Bel Power, Mornsun, Premium, Cincon, Artesyn, Calex and Adel Systems.
Reflecting Relec’s growth, the company has also expanded its specialist sales team with three account managers. Martin Bull has been appointed account manager (power), and there are two new account managers for the displays sales team: Robert Deane and Nick Connor, both joined as Account Manager (Displays). All three have extensive in their respective industries and strong backgrounds in engineering to liaise with and advise customers as their projects progress. power conversion and display products, representing leading brand names including Mornsun in power conversion alongside Bel Power, Chinfa, Cotek and Premium with key display partners, Digiwise and RockTouch.
For over 40 years, Relec Electronics
has worked closely with key suppliers and specialises in a wide range of industry sectors, including automotive, industrial, transportation, instrumentation and defence.
A team of dedicated engineers is ready to support customers throughout the design process. The company carries stock of all standard modules and accessories for next day delivery. Relec’s team of specialist advisers can refine an initial specification for a given application to include bespoke features to meet the needs of a particular design or project.
In December 2020, Relec Electronics became been a UK subsidiary of Gresham Worldwide.
Tel: 01929 555700 Email: sales@relec.co.uk Visit: www.relec.co.uk
Displays for outdoor and high-ambient light areas
Optical bonding, where the traditional air-gap between an LCD panel and frontal glass is replaced by a thin film of optical gel offers superior display quality, Glynn Hutton Development Manager at GDS Technology explains
GDS Group is passionately committed to pioneering new display technologies while delivering total customer satisfaction in the design, manufacturing, installation, and lifetime support of its display solutions. Its goal is to provide reliable eye-catching display performance at lowest total cost of ownership.
GDS Group is a Global company which has a local presence in more than 20 countries world-wide, with large production facilities in Romania (EU), Asia and Tunisia. GDS Group employs more than 1000 skilled employees worldwide, and an annual turnover of over $120,000,000 (£96,300,000). All GDS sites are ISO 9001 accredited and GDS Group holds IRIS accreditation, with the UK also holding RISQS and SafeContractor accreditations. GDS puts innovation at the heart of what it does.
GDS is proud to have pioneered solutions and technologies such as sunlight readable displays, piezo inverters, large screen optical bonding and thermal management systems for outdoor applications. GDS’ uniqueness is in its relentless innovation of technology and products, as well as in its organisation and how GDS meets its customers’ needs. It is not just innovation, but innovation shaped around the needs of customers.
GDS has designed displays which are suitable for every part of the customer journey, from the station entrance, through the platform and onboard trains and buses. GDS also design and manufacture specialist screens for other markets including Digital Out Of Home (DOOH), retail, industrial, Smart Cities and Quick Service Restaurants (QSR).
GDS has installed over 700,000 outdoor displays world-wide in a range of demanding and harsh environments. GDS displays can be seen across Europe, USA and the Middle East and the company is proud to work with major transportation companies such as Deutsche Bahn, Swiss Federal Railways, Norwegian Railways, SNCF, RATP, and many others.
Four key differentiators Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) means more than just the upfront costs – the costs to maintain and run displays along with their longevity are all factors which determine the overall TCO. GDS’ digital displays have the best TCO in the market resulting from years of experience, rigorous testing and commitment to quality.
GDS’ displays all feature optical bonding, a process whereby the traditional air-gap between the frontal glass and TFT is replaced with a thin silicon layer. The result is improved readability and viewing angles, better contrast and reduced internal reflections. Optical bonding also allows better thermal management and prevents the ingress of dust, moisture and condensation inside the display.
The Enerlight™ backlight technology ensures optimum display brightness and colour reproduction. GDS has developed its own backlight system using LED and optical filters for optimum performance, display and efficiency on PIDS.
Advanced diagnostics within every unit allows comprehensive monitoring of assets both on the device and remotely in the cloud. GDS’ diagnostic PCB board, coupled with over 20 sensors, ensure every important parameter can be monitored and alarms raised when an issue is detected. The solution keeps the temperature of the unit regulated using minimal power, and adjusts the screen brightness to suit the ambient light levels.
GDS offers turnkey solutions including: • Custom design. • Software development. • Network setup. • Installation and commissioning. • Service and maintenance. • Remote monitoring of assets.
Feltham and Wokingham Re-signalling Project
In early 2016, Electro-Wind was approached by Devontech to collaborate on the design, build and obtain approval for a range of PSP transformers for the Feltham and Wokingham projects
For over 35 years Electro-Wind has been designing and manufacturing single and three phase transformer products for customers in the UK, Europe and Global Markets, having a well-established reputation as one of the UK’s leading specialists we have fulfilled many contracts for companies such as Alstom, Tata, Corus, Mitsibishi and Toyota.
Electro-Wind, Devontech and Atkins global; have been working on the project which covers some 80 miles of railway and 500 pieces of outdated signalling equipment, which is being replaced as part of Network Rail’s commitment to transforming the UK’s entire network through the deployment of digital signalling and train control technology, transforming signalling for passengers, business and freight operators. The new signalling equipment which uses digital technologies will bring a number of benefits such as increased capacity for trains on the network, fewer delays, enhanced safety and lower costs.
To date Electro-Wind has manufactured 57 transformers for this project ranging from 5kva up to 60kva. The Transformers have been 400v/650v signalling transformers that Devontech and Electro have worked closely together to get PADS approval for the Network rail Infrastructure.
The project started in December 2015 and is due for completion in March 2023, there have been five phases to this project which is currently running on schedule and to the planned time frame, with final commissioning for the project into service in April 2024.
Electro-Wind has over 35 years of experience in transformer repair and manufacture. The company offers a repair service that spans from control transformers to large three-phase distribution transformers. A rapid response repair service is available which includes a 24-hour service when required, as well as enclosure repairs and replacement options that are part of the repair service.
Electro-Wind prides itself on exceeding customer expectations, delivering on time and within budget. All of its standard transformers are manufactured to IEC61558 and IEC60076. For further information, get in touch via the contact information below.
Tel: 01782 776 321 Email: sales@electro-wind.co.uk Visit: www.electro-wind.co.uk
