Cutting SPAD risk one self-evaluation at a time
The SPAD Self-Evaluation Tool is now easier to use and collects more comprehensive data.
Joe WilsonStrategy Implementation Manager – Train Operations, RSSB
SPADs have generally been on the decline since 2000, but the reality is that they still account for around 30% of train accident risk. In fact, in the year to October 2022, there were 263 SPADs across the GB network.
With that in mind, RSSB’s SPAD Risk Subgroup has recently refined its SPAD Self-Evaluation Tool. Available to train companies, the updated tool enables managers to evaluate and manage SPAD-related performance more effectively. The new and improved digital tool takes the process out of Microsoft Excel and into an easy-to-use online form. This form, which is based on the SPAD Good Practice Guide, takes users through seven categories of self-evaluation questions. Among other topics, they cover fatigue management, investigating SPADs, and managing SPADs during times of operational and engineering change.
Enhanced usability and data analysis capabilities make it a sustainable tool for the industry, facilitating a better overall understanding of SPAD risk management. One particularly useful viewing option is a map, or ‘output’, of SPAD topics with respondents’ scores plotted onto it. This has been transformed into a dynamic data tracking visual to allow users to view aggregated performance data. This will help rail leaders determine what’s working well in their SPAD management efforts and what could be improved.
The ‘Focus Area’, meanwhile, provides recommended measures to improve scores in each of the seven SPAD-related categories. This functionality is sure to prove useful when it comes to setting annual goals and allocating resources, as it will allow stakeholders to focus efforts where improvements are required.
Key capabilities
a dynamic visual output that includes respondents’ scores
recommendations targeted to each SPAD category
better data analysis abilities.
The updated SPAD Self-Evaluation Tool has an improved user interface and makes the process of completing the questionnaire and reviewing the findings much easier. Operators should now be able to incorporate the tool and its outputs into their SPAD management strategies, and it’s a great tool for highlighting areas for improvement.
Get a live demo of the tool, register for the ‘Train Operations’ webinar on Thursday 14 December.
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For a visual overview of SPAD risk and the support available see our new Graphic Insights section.
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