Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) today published its annual report for the year 2005-2006. The report highlights the performance and achievements during the company’s third year of operation. These included:
• Enhanced Risk Analysis Tools - upgrade of the industry’s Safety Management Information System, further development of the Safety Risk Model and the Precursor Indicator Model (PIM), and continued operation of the industry’s PIM
•Improved Reporting on Safety Performance – publication of Special Topic Reports on key issues and annual and half-yearly safety performance reports
• Research to Support Industry – published 57 research reports including a study and report inspiring industry action on sustainable development, investigation into the safety benefits of lap belts and train window integrity, the viability of hydrogen as a fuel for the rail industry and measures to combat trespass. Started 76 new research projects
• Safety Policy – publication of key documents, the second ‘Strategic Safety Plan’, ‘Valuing Safety’ and the ‘Decision Taking Framework’. Addressed policy and legislative issues in Britain and Europe
• Shaping standards in Britain and helping to shape European standards – beginning the implementation of a strategy for standards, establishing the economic evaluation of Technical Specifications for Interoperability, restructuring industry arrangements to influence EU standards, and opening up the requirements for train horns in response to public complaints
• Supported the work of System Interface Committees – developing codes of practice for satellite and digital communications, developing an optimum ‘Intercity gauge’ and considering vehicle mass reduction
• Facilitated National Initiatives – introduced web-based National Incident Reports for safety related defects, the development of a Rail Industry Supplier Approval Scheme, co-ordinated the development of a new industry safety structure for addressing community safety issues such as level crossings, railway crime and personal safety
• Managed Formal Inquiries – managed the rail industry’s independent formal inquiry process including delivery of 11 report including the accidents at Ufton Nervet and Potters Bar.
• Exchanged Good Practice – hosted the Risk Management Forum and played a key part in the Driver Training and Management Conference, Second European Conference on Human Factors and European Seminar on Best Practice in Training and Simulation RSSB’s Chairman, Lord Tunnicliffe said ‘Over the last year RSSB has continued to play a key role in facilitating industry co-operation and progress on a wide range of issues, from management of industry interfaces to increasing integration with Europe, whilst delivering valuable information, insight from which individual Members can draw as they run their businesses’. ‘We face the future with both confidence and determination and feel well-prepared and well-equipped to help the industry meet the challenges ahead’.
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For further information please contact the Rail Safety and Standards Board press office, on 020 7904 7524/5. The Report is available at www.rssb.co.uk/annualrep.asp
Notes to editors: 1. Rail Safety and Standards Board builds industry-wide consensus and facilitates the resolution of difficult cross-industry issues. We provide knowledge, analysis, a substantial level of technical expertise, powerful information and risk management tools. This delivers a unique mix to the industry across a whole range of subject areas.
