Safety roundup
Risks your safety team should be thinking about
Our three recommendations in September
Signals passed at danger (SPADs) are a potential precursor to railway accidents, so it’s crucial that we raise awareness of any rise in cases. That’s why slow-speed SPADs are in our safety roundup this month. Both objects on the line and sitting on the platform edge (SOPE) feature too, as increases in these are also a cause for concern.
Incidents where objects are left on the line following engineering works are a growing concern. In 2021, our Precursor Indicator Model highlighted that the risk over a particular year had accounted for 15% of the total risk to trains. (This excluded those relating to the failure of earthworks and structures.) Worryingly, this is a higher proportion than SPADs over the same period. So, we sought to understand the underlying causes through a research project.
You can read about the research project and its findings on our website.
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Over the past few months, the National Freight Safety Group (NFSG) has seen a rise in slow-speed SPADs involving stop boards in yards and sidings. Such SPADs are typically specific to freight operations, as most of the boards are not fitted with lineside safety equipment. NFSG Chair Dougie Hill thinks more can be done to support drivers. So, the cross-industry group is exploring how it might raise awareness and is encouraging members to share their SPAD-reduction plans.
Our website brings together the latest research and industry know-how on managing SPAD risk. Take a look; it will help inform your activities.
Our monitoring has shown an increase in SOPE incidents over the past couple of years (see chart). This hazardous activity, which has resulted in serious injuries, has increased following COVID-19. We have worked to improve the data for these incidents, for example by standardising the terminology. Additionally, SOPE has become its own reportable event. But to understand this risk better, we need to ensure that use of the term ‘SOPE’ is embedded in industry. It is being widely adopted, but there is still some way to go.
The Safety Management Intelligence System collects information on SOPE and other safety-related events, enabling us to carry out data gathering and analysis.
