Safety roundup
Risks your safety team should be thinking about
Our three recommendations in August
Our Annual Health and Safety Report remains a crucial source of data and insights into the safety risks that industry should be thinking about. The latest issue is the reason work-related violence and suicide are in our safety roundup this month. Overspeeding features too, because more can be done across industry to understand and manage this risk.
The latest research we have on work-related violence makes for sobering reading. According to the Annual Health and Safety Report 22/23, work-related violence did not fall in proportion to passenger numbers during the pandemic, and the rate of staff assaults per passenger journey has remained relatively high even as Covid-19 recedes.
Concerns about the safety of frontline staff are shared by train operating companies and RSSB alike. We continue to explore how to support our members with this risk area, and look forward to sharing any new tools with you. But our existing research and guidance are still extremely useful, so carve out some time to take a look.
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A number of injuries were caused in 2022 when a passenger train passed over three sets of points at Spital Junction, Peterborough, at 76mph. The maximum permitted speed over the junction is 25-30mph.Overspeeding is a concern, especially where it is more extreme, as in this example. To improve the management of overspeeding at your company, take a look at the findings of our research project, ‘Review of technological interventions to mitigate train overspeeding risk'.
There were 236 suicides/suspected suicides on the railway in 2022/23. A huge number, isn’t it? The thing is, it represents the lowest number over the past five years. But even at its lowest point, the figure is worryingly high.
Through commitment and collaborative working, the rail industry has made significant strides in preventing suicides on the railway. But it’s always worth revisiting your rail company’s suicide prevention programme to ensure it remains fit for purpose. You can utilise our materials created in conjunction with industry and partners such as Samaritans and the British Transport Police to make improvements where necessary.
