Work‑related ill health

Workplaces classified as category 3.1 or higherAccording to the classification of working conditions as per Federal Law No. 426‑FZ On Special Assessment of Working Conditions dated 28 December 2013. following a special assessment of working conditions are deemed hazardous for the health of employees.

In 2024, 10 employees and 17 retirees of Russian Railways developed 28 occupational diseases as a result of exposure to work-related hazards (compared to 10 employees and 16 retirees in 2023). In 2024, the level of occupational morbidity remained at the 2023 level of 0.2 per 10,000 employees.

Seven occupational diseases were detected in Russian Railways’ locomotive crews and three in other professions.

The main types of occupational diseases were:

• sensorineural hearing loss caused by extreme noise pollution;
• hand-arm vibration syndrome;
• myotonic syndrome.

Provision of personal protective equipment

In 2024, Russian Railways spent RUB 20.36 bn on procuring workwear, footwear, and other PPE, which accounts for 45.8% of all expenses on health and safety activities. The comparable figure in 2023 stood at RUB 17.6 bn, or 47% of all the Group’s expenses on health and safety activities. Russian Railways’ branches received 20.57 m units of PPE, including 12.77 m units of workwear and footwear, and 7.8 m units of skin PPE, representing 100% of the quantities requested by Russian Railways’ branches.

As at 1 January 2025, Russian Railways had developed a corporate workwear and footwear collection comprising 94 models of workwear (142 variants) and 86 models of footwear.

In 2024, Russian Railways completed a review of its workwear collection for employees, which now includes high‑visibility clothing and protective garments designed to safeguard against various industrial hazards. The updated collection consists of 129 distinct items (54 for women and 75 for men), manufactured in accordance with 48 technical specifications and eight terms of reference. We expanded the collection to include a wider range of women’s workwear.

In 2024, the Company completed performance tests on samples of executives’ workwear suits initiated in 2023 in accordance with Russian Railways’ Order No. 536/r dated 10 March 2023. Following the tests, executives participated in a survey and a conclusive report was delivered to inform the development of technical specifications for this workwear in 2025.

In 2024, we developed prototype workwear and safety footwear to protect Russian Railways’ locomotive depot workers against low temperatures. These advanced garments incorporate high‑tech materials while meeting all relevant safety requirements. Following successful field trials across the Moscow, Sverdlovskaya, East‑Siberian, Trans‑Baikal, and Far Eastern railways, technical specifications were developed for:

• Loko Drive cold‑proof workwear that meets requirements for both protective and uniform clothing,
• Loko‑Drive Type A and B safety footwear engineered to provide protection against cold in climate zones I, II, III, IV, and “special” climate zone.

This workwear and footwear was highly regarded by locomotive crews.

We have fully utilised the results of the 2024 efforts by structural units in developing local standards for the provision of free PPE to employees, taking into account specific working conditions, identified hazards, and workplace risk assessments, as well as in Russian Railways’ tender procedures for workwear and footwear in 2025.

To establish a comfortable environment that improves workforce efficiency and enhances employee satisfaction, Russian Railways is implementing a project called the Comfortable Environment Unit.

The project involves implementing a comprehensive work programme across five areas at the structural units of Russian Railways branches

The project currently involves nine units representing three railways of the Eastern Operating Domain (East-Siberian, Trans-Baikal and Far Eastern railways). In 2024, the selected units renovated 49 facilities, including administrative buildings, service and amenity premises, workshops, and training classrooms.

Health and safety training for employees

In 2024, Russian Railways’ employees completed mandatory training in health and safety requirements with subsequent knowledge testing through 1,094,400 programmes, including 328,400 programmes delivered by education centres and 766,000 programmes conducted in the workplace.

The training covered:

• Programme A (general aspects of health and safety and the health and safety management system) – 89,800 employees;
• Programme B (safe working methods when exposed to harmful and/or hazardous industrial factors and danger sources identified through special assessments of working conditions and professional risks) – 275,100 employees;
• Programme C (safe working methods for high‑risk operations requiring additional compliance with regulations containing national occupational safety standards) – 266,900 employees;
• training in PPE use – 191,600 employees;
• training in first aid – 267,400 employees;
• continuing professional education (advanced training for first aid trainers) – 3,300 employees.

In the reporting year, the Company arranged for 174 of its line employees and managers to take advanced professional training in New Approaches to Managing Health and Safety at the Russian Academy of Railway Transport of the Russian University of Transport (MIIT) focusing on practical recommendations for providing a safe operational environment. We also trained 130 health and safety specialists and occupational safety officers from line management units of Russian Railways’ branch structural units under an advanced professional training programme of enhancing the professional competencies of occupational health and safety specialists and implementing comprehensive occupational health and safety processes across the enterprise.

Russian Railways developed and implemented a system of health and safety assessment sessions for middle managers. In 2024, we held 274 assessment sessions covering more than 6,800 middle managers; 127 moderators of assessment sessions from among health and safety specialists received training.

We continued efforts to test managers upon their appointment. In 2024, we tested a total of 12 managers at the Environment and Technosphere Safety Department, while at the branch level, 1,008 managers underwent testing.

In 2024, 199 branch employees of the Company’s operational department underwent retraining in health and safety through a 256 hour programme at the Corporate University.

In 2024, the Environment and Technosphere Safety Department jointly with the Corporate University conducted on‑site occupational health and safety training workshops across 11 railways, engaging over 500 regional and local health and safety specialists.

In 2024, we continued training sessions to foster a safety culture. In 2020–2024, these covered 500 employees of the Company’s central and regional management levels.

Health and safety railcars

Russian Railways has 14 health and safety railcars, which are part of a single system to train railway employees. Health and safety railcars are mobile training facilities designed, among other things, to provide on‑site methodology and organisational support in training and examinations in health and safety using audio, video, and computing equipment, as well as help with prevention measures in health and safety directly at line enterprises.

Safety culture promotion

The Company has the Regulation on Safety Culture LeadersRussian Railways’ Order No. 2404/r dated 22 September 2023. in place. This title is assigned to employees actively promoting and supporting the safety culture as the Company’s value, acting as a role model for colleagues, and demonstrating commitment to the safety culture by their actions, decisions, and behaviour. Such employees form a community of safety culture leaders where they share experience of fostering the safety culture, adopt respective solutions, and serve as examples for others.

The HR Department together with the Employer Brand and Human Capital Development Centre developed information materials aimed at promoting the safety culture and nurturing responsible behaviour among Russian Railways’ employees. The materials are used during safety culture days and other communication events, which include information and awareness‑raising meetings with employees of all business units involved in ensuring safety.