Do you have the signaller on speed dial?
RSSB’s Barbara Smith explains what’s behind a new guidance note that will help companies create training content for operational railway safety awareness.
Do you remember when you were first introduced to the railway in your first job on the network? What kind of awareness of the hazards that could affect your safety did you receive? Even now, would you know what to do if you saw someone or something fall onto the track? Do you have the signaller on speed dial? Most of us don’t.
The newly created Operational Railway Safety Awareness Guidance and a risk-based training needs analysis helps you consider and prepare for the risks that operational staff might face in their day-to-day duties.
We produced these materials after RSSB received a request for help to produce a competence framework for railway undertaking Personal Track Safety (PTS), which refers to the responsibilities and duties when working ‘on or near the line’ on the railway infrastructure.
The request came after a driver was killed passing between two trains at Tylesley Depot. RAIB issued an Urgent Safety Advice, noting that relying on the Rule Book was not appropriate as a sole basis for training drivers on PTS.
A PTS course and its competency cover various trackside skills and knowledge that track workers use regularly. It’s important to note that a standard PTS course does not cover depots, yards, sidings, or freight terminals. So, using a standard PTS course may not address the risks associated with operational tasks. Having relevant site knowledge is crucial for staff to work safely in or around the railway environment.
Training material has been created for the four operational roles used in the appendix of GOGN3616:
train driver
operations manager
depot cleaner
freight end user.
The content of the modules has been created using a risk-based training needs analysis (RBTNA). This helped us identify the non-technical skills categories related to the task and the underpinning knowledge required. Once this information is documented, it becomes easier to determine what should be covered in the training materials that need to be developed.
The modules have been created so that they can be easily adapted or turned into e-learning to aid refresher training. They include trainer notes and resources like videos and additional exercises. In fact, there’s a wealth of resource ideas that can accompany the learning and help it stick. This could be creating crib cards that can fit inside staff lanyards, or on the back of passes, with important numbers (like the signaller’s), or information staff can use in an emergency.
As well as module assessments, extra resources that accompany the training material include a:
communication exercise, using safety-critical communication protocols to create a marshmallow and spaghetti pyramid
click and drag signage exercise
development plan template.
‘Having worked within rail for 27 years, the move to operational railway safety awareness is a much-needed change to how we deliver track safety training to non-track workers such as train presentation teams within depots and sidings.
We have historically trained these colleagues in Sentinel or ATOC personal track safety. The majority of the content is not relevant and therefore not reflective of the risks of working in a rail depot. Talking specifically to our teams around risks within a depot environment, such as walking between stabled units, brings the environment and risks to life and more relatable to our teams.
The Operational Railway Safety Awareness Guidance note and training material provides clear and workable guidance for what is sometimes a forgotten role within rail that impacts every passenger journey across the network.
We are working with RSSB to produce our new training material for delivery of safety awareness to our train presentation teams. We will then use this to work with our clients to improve what is being delivered on site to our frontline teams.’
Jason Murphy, Head of QHSE Compliance (Transport) and Co-owner of Churchill Services
