Reviewing safety competence and training requirements for guards
Project number:
2023-STN-023
Assisting industry in enhancing guard role training and competence frameworks
'The criteria and structure of the document are well presented, logical, and simple to understand.'
The challenge
The role of onboard staff has developed over the history of the railways.
The position with modern trains is that, where trains are operated with a driver and a guard, the guard (who may be referred to using, for example, other terms such as ‘conductor’ or ‘train manager’) has defined safety responsibilities for the train. There was previously, however, no existing common approach to guard training and competence available to the industry. The guard role may encompass different training needs as job titles and responsibilities vary according to the railway undertaking. Consequently, the time taken by industry to complete guard training and the training content varies considerably.
The aim of this work was to develop a standardised approach to training and assessment for guards.
What we did
We engaged with train operating companies and other key stakeholders to agree guard activity tasks and associated activities. Using this information, we carried out a risk-based training needs analysis (RBTNA) for the guard role.
The output of the RBTNA was developed into a Guidance Note (GN), to be used by railway undertakings to evaluate their approach to the training of onboard staff.
A GN is an industry-recognised document that supports compliance with legislation. The document gives guidance on using the RBTNA output. It signposts relevant industry documents and provides practical advice on creating a training, competence, assessment and review framework for staff undertaking guard activities and tasks.
Benefits delivered
This work will help the industry develop and update its training and competence frameworks and bring the benefits of a consistent approach to the training, assessment, and review of staff undertaking the guard role.
These benefits include:
- enabling tailored training specific to staff roles
- increasing the quality and efficiency of training output and delivery
- encouraging collaboration on future training requirements across industry.
The new guidance may save industry £4.7M over five years.