Read Right Track 38

A recent survey by RSSB has shown that 12% of rail staff have had an accident or incident where they felt their mental health was a factor. Sometimes, the behaviour of the customer will be behind this, and we’ve talked about the difficulties of dealing with angry passengers before. At other times, the way we treat each other will be the problem.

In this edition, Dr Michelle O’Sullivan provides more information on the survey (p. 10). We also look at the way bullying can take many forms. Bullying? You’d think all that would have been left in the school playground, wouldn’t you? But no, the spectre can follow us into adulthood and into the workplace. If you’re being bullied, it’s going to be more likely that you’ll be less able to do your job to your proven ability – and more likely that you’ll make a mistake. And we all know where mistakes can lead in a safety-critical industry like ours. 

Now imagine being told to stand on the curved water tank of a wet steam locomotive in the rain, and doing it because you’re new. Then read steam fireman Joanne Crompton’s article. Joanne describes this and the other difficulties she’s faced getting onto the footplate in the heritage sector. Let no one think this is not a problem for the mainline, though. Despite all our initiatives and positivity, dark pockets of misogyny remain. Let’s shine a light on them, get rid of them, and make the #railwayfamily a positive place for everyone.