Safety roundup
Risks your safety team should be thinking about
Our three recommendations in October
Empty coaching stock SPADs top the list this month as, in the year to July 2023, a few have led to derailments. We also feature close calls and level crossings. Concerning the latter, data extracted from the Safety Management Intelligence System in August has shown a significant rise in near misses with pedestrians.
There were four SPADs that resulted in a derailment in the 12 months to July 2023, with three being empty coaching stock (ECS) SPADs. ECS SPADs are an ongoing issue. In 2021, we reported that ECS makes up only 4% of the train service but accounts for almost 20% of the number of SPADs nationally. In light of analysis into ECS SPADs, several resources were created for safety and operational managers, and drivers of ECS, including the ECS SPAD Toolbox.
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The number of close calls varies from period to period, so while the moving average per period is lower than previously, it’s a risk area that requires ongoing monitoring. The Close Call System was launched to enable the industry to record and manage conditions and behaviours that have the potential to cause harm or damage. This information is used to mitigate risk and understand broader safety issues. We encourage your organisation to use Close Call if it doesn’t already.
Our data has shown that in the first quarter of 2023/24, there were 140 near misses with pedestrians at level crossings, a significant increase compared with the previous two years. A similar rise was seen in incidents involving children and cyclists, and there was an increase in the number of pedestrians crossing when unsafe. The Level Crossing Strategy Group has been asked to look into this, including possible causes and mitigation measures. You can read the latest level crossing safety performance data on our website.
