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Capita Symonds has become the first consultant to receive the Crossrail Health & Safety award.

The award is given to the consultant on the scheme’s design framework which shows most commitment to H&S issues in its design process, as well as for overall safety performance. It is part of Crossrail’s ‘Target Zero’ campaign.

Capita is currently undertaking the detailed design of tunnel portals at North Woolwich, Plumstead and Royal Oak under two contracts.

The award was given for the firm's work on the C156 contract for North Woolwich and Plumstead portals.

The tunnel portals have some major CDM considerations that are being addressed successfully, including managing the need for tall plant working alongside the live railway and local road network.

The company is also providing designs that allow safe maintenance and operation of the railway, including emergency escape provisions and facilities for emergency intervention by the London Fire Brigade.

Jon Baber, project director at Capita Symonds, said: "Capita Symonds teams working on the Crossrail project have adopted an extremely pro-active process in their design work.

"CDM risk management is an intrinsic part of our design process and is used as a decision making tool from the outset. We’ve used this from RIBA stage D design continuously through to completion of detailed design at RIBA stage F.

"The design teams have also actively engaged with the Crossrail Central functional leads, other consultants and the Network Rail and London Underground Infrastructure Managers to continuously manage risks downwards."