Going 'Back to Basics' for Rail Industry Road Safety Week
In the past year, one rail worker was tragically killed in a road accident. There have also been another 67 road traffic collisions. These have resulted in injuries to rail workers. Our latest quarterly Road Risk Safety Performance Report shows the key issues in work-related driving incidents. Driver error is still a significant factor. Vehicle telemetry shows that speeding is also still an issue. The industry needs to address these issues.
To help industry address these, RSSB is promoting the Work Policy Builder Toolkit. This has been produced by National Highways - Driving for Better Business (DfBB). It is wide-ranging and helps organisations develop robust driving policies. These policies can be tailored to specific risks. The toolkit also helps to improve safety and efficiency as well as making sure there is regulatory compliance.
About Road Safety Week
Some organisations have a mature approach to managing operational road risk. Others may still be developing their driving policy . The Rail Industry Road Safety Week helps both. It is a good time to remember the core principles for road safety. These keep us all safe.
Road driving is vital to keep the rail industry on track. It enables staff to move to and from the railway. It also allows maintenance staff to get to possessions or faults. Many view driving on roads as ‘just part of the job’. In reality, it’s one of the activities in rail with the highest level of risk.
The week is focusing on three critical areas that significantly affect road safety in rail. They are:
- Speeding: Sharing tips and best practices on the ways to managie speed effectively. This includes the importance of keeping to speed limits and understanding what the consequences of speeding are.
- Fatigue: Highlighting the signs of fatigue, the dangers it poses, and also strategies that can combat it. This includes promoting regular breaks and ensuring adequate rest. It also shows how to reduce fatigue, or deal with it, through lifestyle choices.
- Vehicle Roadworthiness: Emphasising the importance of regular inspections so that road vehicles are in good working order. This includes guidelines on conducting daily vehicle checks which can identify potential issues before they become serious problems. The guidelines also cover how to maintain a routine inspection schedule.
Anne-Marie Penny, Senior Road Safety Policy Adviser, National Highways said:
”At National Highways safety is our first imperative, and we’ve been delighted to work in partnership with the RSSB to improve safety on the road for all those who drive for work within the rail industry.
”Employers have a critical and established legal role to play in the safe management of drivers and our Driving for Better Business programme provides the framework to achieve improvements by sharing key messages and resources.
”I am so encouraged by the dedication and commitment of those in the rail industry who have shown good management and leadership and are seeing benefits in reduction in collisions, incidents, and associated costs. Sharing these stories during Road Safety Week is a great way to celebrate these successes and inspire others to improve safety for all on the roads.
”Collaboratively, we can move towards a world where those who drive or ride for work do so safely, efficiently, and sustainably.”
RSSB’s Strategy Manager, Lucy Powell said:”Rail Industry Road Safety week is an opportunity for the rail industry to work together to share good practice and resources from within industry and the Driving for Better Business programme. This will help us better manage occupational road risk.
“As well as an exciting suite of resource and events hosted by Network Rail, we will be promoting the DfBB Work Policy Builder Toolkit, releasing an new podcast series, and sharing van driver toolkits. This will help industry stay on the move by getting our people to and from the railway as safely as possible.”
Additional information
RSSB is publishing a series of podcasts featuring rail colleagues and an investigator with the Metropolitan Police. These discuss the real-life impacts of road traffic collisions in the line of work. They also consider what the industry can do to minimise this risk.
We will also be relaunching the Occupational Road Risk Management Charter. This leadership statement enables industry CEOs and MDs to commit to meeting the road risk requirements under the Rail Health and Safety Strategy This helps the rail industry reduce road risk through effective risk management.