RAIL INDUSTRY SAFETY
The other key area of concern was to protect the safety of track workers, Morris said. “We are getting better but there’s considerable room for improvement.”
Although new technology can help to make an impact on this, with a real “potential to help improve things”, Morris suggested that the basis for significant safety gains was around planning and management of workers.
“I think an awful lot of it has to do with that boring old business of planning – just doing the job properly, planning it thoroughly, recognising the risks that there are as you plan the job and controlling them when you’re planning it. Then hopefully briefing the staff to do that as you plan, and – with considerable management skill – you can avoid harm.”
Stand corrected In terms of cascading information down
through to the workers on the tracks, Morris posited that the industry is developing a “much greater recognition” of the importance of person-to-person relationships.
He added: “The fact that you’re a supervisor doesn’t mean you’re always right and the fact that you’re a manager certainly doesn’t mean you’re always right…listening to your staff is a very good way of being corrected.”
Whilst this is sensible in theory, in practice people can find it difficult to contradict their boss. However, Morris believed the safety culture is shifting, with individual workers taking instructions on board, rather than just being seen as “rules from the top”. “Rules are fine, rules are a very important thing but you really need people working on the railways who understand what the risks are and know when the rules no longer work… you need people who can think.”
A changing world
CIRAS is currently planning a new strategy for the next three to five years, looking into how it can develop its service to the industry further.
Proposals being considered include the extent to which CIRAS can help rail companies involved in other public transport activities, such as bus. This could see CIRAS offering its helpline to companies such as FirstGroup, which works across different transport modes.
Morris concluded: “The world is changing out there. The way the railways integrate with other transport modes is changing, so there might be a case for CIRAS to adjust. But it’s early days yet and we’re just beginning to devote some thought to how we go for the next five years.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION
www.ciras.org.uk
rail technology magazine Oct/Nov 12 | 43
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