Making operational safety awareness better in rail freight sites and depots
Operational railway workers are subjected to risks including being struck by trains or other vehicles, electric shocks, or trips and falls. There was no common training and competence approach associated with personal safety for railway undertakings and any other railway actors available to the industry.
Requirements for personal track safety (PTS) training and assessment were in Railway Group Standard GERT8067 Issue 1 Personal Track Safety, but this was withdrawn in 2007. Over time, other PTS requirements have been removed from the Rule Book modules GERT8000-G1 and GERT8000-HB1.
PTS is currently used to refer to the responsibilities and duties of working 'On or Near the Line' on the railway infrastructure. A standard PTS course does not cover depots, yards, sidings, and freight terminals.
There were two phases to this project: production of a new framework and guidance note, and production of generic training materials.
RSSB started by developing a harmonised framework for training and competency. The framework is described in a new guidance note. A rail industry Guidance Note (GN) is an industry-recognised document that supports compliance with legislation. GOGN3616 will help the industry develop or update its training and competence frameworks, especially in depots.
Next, the project produced generic training materials that include videos, booklets, notes, presentations, and assessment papers developed with the support of the industry. These are available to members on a dedicated operational railway safety awareness web page on the RSSB website.
The introduction of the framework can help reduce the risk of harm to those working in the GB rail sector, including those working away from the GB mainline railway in depots, freight terminals, sidings, and yards.
The GN can contribute to avoiding costs in two ways. Avoiding costs of prohibition notices, civil claims, legal compliance, and assurance relating to personal operational safety can save around £300,000 over five years. Avoiding health and safety costs relating to personal operational safety can save around £315,000 over five years.
The cost of developing the framework was approximately £105,000. If 90 – 100% of railway undertakings adopt the framework the saving to industry is about £1.785m.