Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast The Rail Safety and Standards Board Podcast
| Titre | Date | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| From concept to conversion: How our freight research drives safety and growth | 02 Jan 2026 | 00:15:36 | |
If you’ve spent any amount of time in the rail industry, you’ll know it’s passenger services that most often grab the headlines. Meanwhile, rail freight takes the role of the ‘unsung hero’, quietly moving billions of pounds worth of goods across the country, contributing significantly to our economy and helping to ease congestion on our roads. | |||
| Upholding safety and satisfaction in a changing industry | 01 Nov 2025 | 00:13:54 | |
In this episode, we're joined by Tom Lee, our Director of Standards at RSSB. We discuss specific challenges in safety and satisfaction for customers, how we’re helping industry overcome them, and what a renationalised network might mean for those we serve. Find out more at: https://www.rssb.co.uk/our-business-plan | |||
| Road Safety Week special: Police tips on keeping your drivers safe | 15 Nov 2024 | 00:10:01 | |
This is the third and final episode in our Rail Industry Road Safety Week miniseries. Content warning: This episode contains mentions of mental ill-health, suicidal ideation, and completing suicide. If you’d like to skip over this discussion, please jump from 02.26 to 04.25. If you’re affected by this and need support, contact Samaritans on 116 123. Find out more at https://www.rssb.co.uk/managing-occupational-road-risk | |||
| Road Safety Week special: Supporting a line report through an RTC | 14 Nov 2024 | 00:07:42 | |
This is the second episode in our Rail Industry Road Safety Week miniseries. | |||
| Road Safety Week special: How the ‘perfect storm’ led to this survivor’s RTC | 13 Nov 2024 | 00:12:12 | |
This is the first episode in our 2024 Rail Industry Road Safety Week miniseries. | |||
| Unlocking value for industry in 2025 and beyond | 31 Oct 2024 | 00:12:40 | |
This month, we're speaking with Helen Costello, RSSB's Director of Business Management and Performance. | |||
| Why industry-wide collaboration will 'forever be valuable' | 24 Sep 2024 | 00:13:26 | |
This month we're joined by Vaibhav Puri, RSSB's Director of Sector Strategy and Transformation, to speak about the value of industry-wide collaboration for the rail sector. | |||
| Our place at the heart of the rail industry | 27 Aug 2024 | 00:11:26 | |
We're joined this month by Johnny Schute, our Chief Operating Officer. Johnny speaks with us about RSSB's unique whole-system perspective and what that means for the GB rail industry. | |||
| Health and safety data: quality information drives quality decisions | 30 Jul 2024 | 00:14:49 | |
This month we're joined by Marcus Dacre, RSSB’s Head of Risk and Safety Intelligence. | |||
| Rail freight: meeting the 75% growth target safely | 25 Jun 2024 | 00:09:33 | |
Welcome to another episode of the RSSB podcast! This month we're joined by Dougie Hill, who is Chair of the National Freight Safety Group. He talks about the freight landscape in 2024, what it'll take to safely meet the government's rail freight growth target, and what RSSB is working on to make this happen. | |||
| Getting health on par with safety | 28 May 2024 | 00:08:31 | |
Welcome to another episode of the RSSB podcast! This month we're joined by Tracy Orlandi, who is Head of Wellbeing and Occupational Health at East Midlands Railway. She talks about the progress being made in rail employee health and wellbeing, areas where gaps remain, and what it'll take to elevate health to the same level as safety in the rail industry. | |||
| Sustainable Rail Blueprint: its impact so far and where we go from here | 29 Apr 2024 | 00:11:34 | |
This month we're joined by Thom Rawson, RSSB's Sustainable Rail Principal, to talk through the impact the Sustainable Rail Blueprint has had so far. He also covers how we're helping rail organisations embed it, how we're facilitating industry collaboration on sustainability, and what's next. | |||
| Putting sustainability and social value ‘front and centre’ | 29 Jul 2025 | 00:09:55 | |
With us for this episode is Rachael Everard, our Director of Sustainable Development at RSSB. We explore some of the sustainability challenges the industry is up against and how we’re planning to help overcome those. We also revisit the Sustainable Rail Blueprint, showcasing some positive member stories from its implementation. Find out more at: https://www.rssb.co.uk/sustainability/ | |||
| Introducing our 2024-25 Annual Business Plan | 04 Apr 2024 | 00:15:13 | |
Welcome to another episode of the RSSB podcast! Today, join four members of our Executive Committee — Johnny Schute (Chief Operating Officer), Keith Hanlon-Smith (Chief People Officer), Hannah Kingsley (Chief Finance Officer), and Paul McLaughlin (Chief Commercial Officer) — as they outline industry's current challenges, discuss RSSB's priorities in addressing those, and introduce our new 'strategic multipliers'. | |||
| What to expect from our Strategic Business Plan | 26 Feb 2024 | 00:13:48 | |
Welcome back to a new season of the RSSB Podcast. In this episode, we’re joined by RSSB Chief Executive Mark Phillips. Mark takes us through our five-year Strategic Business Plan covering 2024–2029, pulling out some of the key priorities along the way. He’s particularly excited to see how rail can leverage some of the technological and digital advancements taking place. Listen now to learn more about what we’re hoping to deliver to industry in the next few years. | |||
| Challenges and opportunities for net zero carbon rail | 01 Aug 2023 | 00:20:20 | |
Rail has been the most environmentally-friendly form of long distance transport for many years, and now needs to reduce its carbon emissions even further. George Davies, director of sustainability at RSSB, and Martin Watt, counsel at global law firm Dentons, discuss the challenges and opportunities of net zero carbon for rail. | |||
| Highlights of the Annual Health and Safety Report 2022-2023 | 29 Jun 2023 | 00:08:38 | |
The significant trends in safety risk from 2022-2023, and what's being done to keep our railway one of the safest in the world. | |||
| Asset Integrity - A systems management approach to deliver value | 15 Jun 2023 | 00:13:57 | |
Are you getting the best value from your assets? Could your asset management approach be improved? In this episode we look at ISO 55001 as a possible framework for better asset management. 01:59 What to include in an asset management approach 02:15 Which framework to use for asset management 03:23 What’s in ISO 55001 04:25 The what to do, not how to do it 04:48 Understanding the context of your own organisation 05:40 Why a rail organisation would want to adopt ISO 55001 06:40 Selecting the standards that work for your organisation 07:54 Allocating and prioritising the right resources to your plan 09:03 Finding the right (external) resources to implement your plan 10:22 Is this the right thing for your organisation? Do you have the data to answer the question? 11:50 Some examples of the ROI from implementing ISO 55001 12:50 Use ISO 55001 as a tool; it’s not the answer 13:30 Summary and close
You may be interested in Getting started with ISO 55001 https://www.bsigroup.com/en-GB/Asset-Management/Getting-started-with-ISO-55001/ Introducing ISO 55001 Maximizing the value of your assets– PDF download (1.2 MB) https://www.bsigroup.com/LocalFiles/en-GB/iso-55001/resources/ISO-55001-Client-Guide.pdf ISO 55001 supports UN Sustainable Development Goals 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, and 13. https://www.iso.org/sdgs.html | |||
| 20 Years of RSSB – Level Crossing Safety | 27 Apr 2023 | 00:13:59 | |
As RSSB celebrates its 20th year, this episode looks at the work that it has done to help improve safety at level crossing, one of the biggest sources of risk for the railway. 00:57 About Michael Woods 02:00 The Ufton level crossing accident described 03:32 How Michael got RSSB involved 04:56 RSSB directors brief ministers and help secure RSSB’s future independence 05:54 Looking at new technologies to improve level crossing safety 08:37 Reviewing the ideas sent on for safety improvements 11:04 Proposals for rail vehicle and track design improvements 12:29 Improvements in level crossing safety since Ufton 13:30 Close
You may be interested in: Level Crossings – RSSB web page Network Rail strategy: Enhancing Level Crossing Safety 2019 – 2029 (PDF download) https://www.networkrail.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Enhancing-Level-Crossing-Safety-2019-2029.pdf Level crossings – Network Rail web page | |||
| Rail Social Value - The Pathway to Filling the Skills Gap | 13 Apr 2023 | 00:26:19 | |
Finding the right people to fill vacant roles can be difficult. Steve Womack of Amey Infrastructure Wales talks about how he has found workers with transferable skills. He's also contributing social value to his local area by employing ex-offenders. 02:31 Getting involved with the Pathway Programme 04:00 Finding the right candidates for the right roles 06:00 The response of staff to working with ex-offenders 07:39 Gareth’s involvement and experience with the programme 08:51 Gareth’s reception at Amey Infrastructure Wales 09:35 Steve talks about the results and the learning from the programme 10:35 Dealing with the transition from prison to release and employment 13:10 What Gareth has learned and gained from the programme 14:50 Steve recommends getting involved in the programme 16:10 About other schemes around the country 16:28 Steve’s offer to talk about his experience with the scheme 18:05 Gareth explains the challenges for programme participants 20:36 Learnings for participants and organisers within the programme 22:25 Using Gareth as a mentor for new participants 25:05 Gareth sums up his experience of the programme | |||
| Safety Culture - the RAIB perspective | 16 Mar 2023 | 00:16:57 | |
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch does what it says on the tin. It looks at both accidents and incidents to find their underlying causes. No blame is laid, but recommendations for mitigations are made; some of which may be around organisational culture. Here, two of RAIB’s accident investigators talk about a company’s safety culture, learning opportunities, and how the two work together to deliver an ever safer railway. 00:05 Introduction 01:37 About Tabitha 01:57 About Mark 02:38 Tabitha’s views on the connection between safety culture and learning 05:17 Mark talks about what impact RAIB recommendations might have on company culture 06:55 Tabitha’s adds more on recommendations that address safety culture 08:41 Mark talks about the language in RAIB reports and how it supports a just culture 10:53 Mark talks about difficulties in establishing underlying factors 11:23 Tabitha on RAIB’s guidance for investigating underlying organisational factors 13:48 Mark talks about RAIB’s products that support corporate memory 15:33 Summary and close
Related links Rail Accident Investigation Branch web page https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/rail-accident-investigation-branch How to notify RAIB of an accident https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/notifying-us-of-an-accident The Railways (Accident Investigation and Reporting) Regulations 2005 https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/1992/contents/made?view=plain Accident Investigation and Learning RSSB web page https://www.rssb.co.uk/safety-and-health/learning-from-experience/accident-investigation-and-learning RSSB Accident Investigation Training https://www.rssb.co.uk/services-and-resources/training/accident-investigation-training | |||
| Health and Wellbeing - Dealing with prostate cancer | 09 Mar 2023 | 00:08:53 | |
This is the first in a series on specific health conditions. In this episode, recorded in Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, an RSSB employee talks with one of our health and wellbeing specialists about his experience of diagnosis, and the support received during treatment. 00:43 About Deb Archibald 01:04 About Tavid Dobson and discovering his cancer 02:05 Tavid talks about his treatment options 02:30 Making sense and making decisions 03:34 The impact and support at work 04:31 The support mechanisms that worked for Tavid 05:37 How to respond and support 07:14 On men, talking about having cancer 08:27 Deb closes with talking to colleagues and where to find more information | |||
| Coping with our third pandemic winter | 09 Feb 2023 | 00:13:29 | |
Colds, flu, and other respiratory illnesses always increase over the winter period. That list now includes Covid-19, which is still with us. So, how can we best protect ourselves from it and the others in the coming weeks and months? Claire Shooter, our Public Health Manager, explains what we can expect and do to stay as healthy as possible. 00.44 Claire explains when and why there are peaks in respiratory illnesses. 01.57 Why we know less about the current Covid situation. 02.54 What a rise in infections might mean for rail. 03.30 About Long Covid, its symptoms and how to manage it. 04.58 What we know about Long Covid. 07.00 If you think you may be suffering from Long Covid… 08.30 How RSSB can help you deal with Covid and any other public health issues. 08.51 Where to find accurate sources of information. 09.17 About the GB Rail Pandemic Playbook 10.56 Explaining the structure of the Pandemic Playbook. 11.57 Why you won’t need to read the whole document. 12.58 Summary and close You may be interested in: HSE Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Advice for workplaces https://www.hse.gov.uk/coronavirus/ Society for Occupational Health Return to work guidance for recovering workers https://www.som.org.uk/covid-19-return-work-guide-recovering-workers Acas: Coronavirus (COVID-19): advice for employers and employees https://www.acas.org.uk/coronavirus Public Health Note: Covid-19 in Winter 2022-2023 https://www.rssb.co.uk/what-we-do/insights-and-news/blogs/public-health-note-covid-19-in-winter-2022 Vaccinating to Protect Against Covid-19 https://www.rssb.co.uk/what-we-do/insights-and-news/blogs/vaccinating-to-protect-against-covid-19 Covid-19 support https://www.rssb.co.uk/what-we-do/the-coronavirus-pandemic-how-we-can-help-you Workforce Wellbeing [during the pandemic] https://www.rssb.co.uk/what-we-do/the-coronavirus-pandemic-how-we-can-help-you/workforce-wellbeing Distinguishing reliable sources for public health https://www.rssb.co.uk/what-we-do/insights-and-news/blogs/distinguishing-reliable-sources-for-public-health | |||
| Ensuring reliable rail services: How RSSB makes a difference | 30 May 2025 | 00:16:04 | |
In this episode, we're joined by Chris Knowles, RSSB's Director of System Safety and Health. We’ll explore some specific challenges to rail reliability and resilience, why it’s vital to address them, and some of the solutions that RSSB is offering in this space. Find out more at: https://www.rssb.co.uk/our-business-plan | |||
| An introduction to standards in rail | 26 Jan 2023 | 00:21:57 | |
Standards are talked about very often within rail, so this podcast provides an introductory overview. It describes what standards are, when rail started using standards, what the different types of standards abbreviations mean, how standards development is triggered, and where to find out more.
00:37 Introducing Tom Lee, Director of Standards at RSSB 01:47 Brief definition of standards 03:17 When rail first started using standards, and why 06:18 The organisations that produce standards relevant for rail, and the main standards abbreviations 11:31 The areas that standards cover 13:46 What causes a standard to be developed or revised, and the processes involved 20:20 How to find out more 21:40 Close | |||
| Developing the Whole System Risk Model | 12 Jan 2023 | 00:19:12 | |
The railway is a very complex system. RSSB has developed tools for the industry to assess and target some hazards, but not all of them. Much of our risk analysis knowledge is based on the Safety Risk Model (SRM), now in version 9. One response to some identifiable hazards is to impose a blanket speed restriction. These can cover wide areas, and may themselves actually increase some types of risk. Being able to identify specific parts of the network that may be susceptible to increased risk under certain environmental conditions can help. Building on the knowledge within the SRM, RSSB has, with Network Rail, started to develop the Whole System Risk Model (WSRM). Prompted by the Carmont incident, it’s a project that will take some time, but it has to start somewhere. 03:00 About Marcus Dacre 03:30 Risk modelling work at RSSB 03:59 Modelling earthworks failures in the Precursor Indicator Model 05:12 RSSB’s involvement in responding to the RAIB recommendations to the Carmont incident 06:10 About the SRM 06:53 About Vincent Ganthy 07:34 Vincent’s focus on overall risk created by extreme rainfall events 09:00 Differences between the SRM and the WSRM 10:15 Establishing the level of network vulnerability 11:41 How the WSRM supports operational decision making 13:11 Current limitations and its potential for wider development 14:22 What we've found about the risk from speed restrictions 15:26 How to use the findings to respond to extreme rainfall events 16:11 Current testing and proving of the model 17:20 What’s next, the roadmap to extend the model You may also be interested in: How the Whole System Risk Model stops rail overcompensating for extreme weather events (RSSB web page 22 December 2022) https://www.rssb.co.uk/what-we-do/insights-and-news/blogs/how-the-whole-system-risk-model-stops-rail-overcompensating-for-extreme-weather-events Research project: Development of a system risk model for extreme rainfall events (T1269) https://www.rssb.co.uk/research-catalogue/CatalogueItem/T1269 Safety Risk Model: Improving safety and reducing costs https://www.rssb.co.uk/safety-and-health/risk-and-safety-intelligence/safety-risk-model/safety-risk-model-improving-safety-and-reducing-costs Structures and Earthworks Rules Changes (RSSB web page 6 March 2021) https://www.rssb.co.uk/standards/using-standards/structures-and-earthworks-rules-changes Case Study: Risk from soil cutting failures (RSSB web page 24 November 2022) https://www.rssb.co.uk/what-we-do/key-industry-topics/data-insights/earthworks-data-insights/case-study-risk-from-soil-cutting-failures Any practices described in this podcast shall not be assumed to be risk free. The Rail Safety and Standards Board and other participants in this recording shall not be held liable for actions taken by third parties that lead to loss or injury. Any practices described should, specifically, not be followed in the United States of America or Canada. | |||
| Simpler, lower cost AC electrification standards | 03 Jan 2023 | 00:21:59 | |
Achieving net zero carbon by 2050 will need more electrification of the GB railway. This episode looks at new and updated standards that don’t just make the requirements easier to understand. They also have the potential to deliver cost savings of well over £27m over five years. So, if you design OLE or AC-powered trains, you’ll want to listen to this episode. 01:24 About Mike Tatton 02:14 How standards are changed 03:43 Drivers of change for electrification standards 05:33 Who will be using these standards 06:42 What’s changed in GLRT1210, issue 3 12:03 What’s new in RIS-1853-ENE 13:43 The new energy standards summarised 14:29 About Darren Fitzgerald 15:05 Key changes to the rolling stock RGS and the new RIS 16:21 New vehicle bonding requirements 17:25 Change to the cant rail warning line requirement 18:38 Main benefits from changes to these standards 19:45 Potential financial benefits from the changes 21:00 Summary and close
Resources mentioned in this episode: December 2022 webinar recording Register for the extended webinar at 11.00, 20 February 2023 GLRT1210, AC Energy Subsystem and Interfaces to Rolling Stock Subsystem, issue 3 RIS-1853-ENE, AC Energy Subsystem and Interfaces to Rolling Stock Subsystem, issue 1 RGS-2111, Rolling Stock Subsystem and Interfaces to AC Energy Subsystem, issue 3 RIS-2715-RST, Rolling Stock Subsystem and Interfaces to AC Energy Subsystem, issue 1 | |||
| Road Driving for a Safer Railway - Overspeeding | 08 Dec 2022 | 00:10:53 | |
Overspeeding isn’t just an issue when driving trains. It happens on the roads as well. With nearly 10,000 road vehicles in its fleet Network Rail took steps to put numbers to it, and the findings were alarming. Hear what’s being done to tackle the problem and the outcomes so far. | |||
| SMIS - The Importance of Data Quality | 13 Oct 2022 | 00:12:52 | |
Good decision making needs the support of good data. So, in this episode you can hear about the work that goes into assuring data quality, and the people behind it. 00:46 Introducing Siona Vass 01:43 About data quality and why it’s important 03:29 How RSSB measures data quality 04:26 Industry’s involvement in improving data quality 06:15 Continuous improvement and when data quality is ‘good enough’ 07:26 How RSSB monitors data that might be missing or under-reported 08:51 The role for leaders in supporting data quality 10:16 What would happen if we didn’t manage data quality 11:23 The biggest contributors to data quality 12:15 Summary and close
You may also be interested in: Data Quality Programme https://www.rssb.co.uk/safety-and-health/risk-and-safety-intelligence/safety-management-intelligence-system/smis-data-quality SMIS in Context: https://www.rssb.co.uk/safety-and-health/risk-and-safety-intelligence/safety-management-intelligence-system/smis-in-context Improving SMIS: Usability, Performance, Business Intelligence https://www.rssb.co.uk/safety-and-health/risk-and-safety-intelligence/safety-management-intelligence-system/improving-smis-usability-performance-business-intelligence Strategy for SMIS https://www.rssb.co.uk/safety-and-health/risk-and-safety-intelligence/safety-management-intelligence-system/strategy-for-smis Learning from the past to inform the future of SMIS https://www.rssb.co.uk/what-we-do/insights-and-news/blogs/learning-from-the-past-to-inform-the-future-of-smis | |||
| SMIS - Building the user expereince | 06 Oct 2022 | 00:10:25 | |
SMIS is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2022. Hear something of its history, its reason for being, and what it has done for our industry. How SMIS supports risk modelling and safety decision making. 00:48 Introducing Kevin Thompson 01:16 The origins of SMIS after the 1988 Clapham rail crash 02:39 How SMIS functionality and technology have developed 03:34 The components that make up SMIS today 05:26 How SMIS supports RSSB’s work 06:36 How SMIS helps rail companies 07:08 How RSSB supports SMIS users 08:36 The value that SMIS delivers to risk modelling and decision making 09:53 Close
The Safety Management Intelligence System https://www.rssb.co.uk/safety-and-health/risk-and-safety-intelligence/safety-management-intelligence-system SMIS in context https://www.rssb.co.uk/safety-and-health/risk-and-safety-intelligence/safety-management-intelligence-system/smis-in-context Strategy for SMIS https://www.rssb.co.uk/safety-and-health/risk-and-safety-intelligence/safety-management-intelligence-system/strategy-for-smis Improving SMIS: Usability, Performance, Business Intelligence https://www.rssb.co.uk/safety-and-health/risk-and-safety-intelligence/safety-management-intelligence-system/improving-smis-usability-performance-business-intelligence The Safety Risk Model https://www.rssb.co.uk/safety-and-health/risk-and-safety-intelligence/safety-risk-model An Overview of The Precursor Indicator Model https://www.rssb.co.uk/safety-and-health/improving-safety-health-and-wellbeing/rail-risk-toolkit/pim/an-overview-of-the-precursor-indicator-model | |||
| SMIS - Data models and system development | 29 Sep 2022 | 00:10:35 | |
Good information makes for good, evidence-based, safety critical decisions. Much of that information comes from data in the railway’s Safety Management Intelligence System, SMIS. This podcast looks at what’s being done and planned to make it easier and more efficient to use.
01:34 A bit about Paul Murray 01:58 About SMIS and how it is used 02:56 Why we continually improve and simplify SMIS 03:36 Less data, but more effective 04:18 Who’s been involved in the SMIS programme 04:57 Update releases and their benefits 06:07 Faster, easier data input 06:50 Automatic data transfer is coming 07:20 Systems that can connect to SMIS 07:55 Industry data requirements and data matching 08:39 If you’d like to explore the API route… 08:59 The importance of SMIS to the railway of the future 09:35 More SMIS episodes to follow
You may also be interested in: The Safety Management Intelligence System https://www.rssb.co.uk/safety-and-health/risk-and-safety-intelligence/safety-management-intelligence-system SMIS in context https://www.rssb.co.uk/safety-and-health/risk-and-safety-intelligence/safety-management-intelligence-system/smis-in-context Strategy for SMIS https://www.rssb.co.uk/safety-and-health/risk-and-safety-intelligence/safety-management-intelligence-system/strategy-for-smis Improving SMIS: Usability, Performance, Business Intelligence https://www.rssb.co.uk/safety-and-health/risk-and-safety-intelligence/safety-management-intelligence-system/improving-smis-usability-performance-business-intelligence The Safety Risk Model https://www.rssb.co.uk/safety-and-health/risk-and-safety-intelligence/safety-risk-model An Overview of The Precursor Indicator Model https://www.rssb.co.uk/safety-and-health/improving-safety-health-and-wellbeing/rail-risk-toolkit/pim/an-overview-of-the-precursor-indicator-model | |||
| Asset Integrity—Why there are no famous asset managers | 08 Sep 2022 | 00:15:05 | |
Assets are everywhere. They are the things, physical and digital, that make up the systems we work with. When they work as designed and planned, to meet their objectives, the people who manage them go un-noticed. But these are the people who keep the risk of using them as low as reasonably practicable. 02:07 Asset integrity and why it’s important 03:42 The whole lifecycle of asset management 06:54 The asset management is needed to keep risks as low as reasonably practicable 07:58 The criticality of system design 09:01 Asset decisions beyond safety 12:05 What’s coming up in this asset integrity series 14:13 Summary and close When Software Goes Wrong - Digital Asset Integrity on the Railway – blog from the first in that podcast series, with links to other blogs and resources: https://www.rssb.co.uk/what-we-do/insights-and-news/blogs/digital-asset-integrity-one-path-to-reducing-railway-risk The Asset Integrity Group’s web page: https://www.rssb.co.uk/what-we-do/groups-and-committees/safety/system-safety-risk-group/asset-integrity-group Rolling Stock Asset Integrity web page: https://www.rssb.co.uk/safety-and-health/leading-health-and-safety-on-britains-railway/rolling-stock-asset-integrity Infrastructure Asset Integrity web page: https://www.rssb.co.uk/safety-and-health/leading-health-and-safety-on-britains-railway/infrastructure-asset-integrity Red 62 video – Asset Integrity (RSSB members and Affiliates only): https://www.rssb.co.uk/safety-and-health/learning-from-experience/red-safety-videos/red-62-asset-integrity | |||
| Safety Culture - The Role of Leaders | 25 Aug 2022 | 00:13:44 | |
Safety Culture is everybody's business. In the first of a new series Ellie Burrows, Chair of the System Safety Risk Group, talks about the role of leaders in embedding safety culture. She describes the need for a fair culture and how that works to support safety learning. 02:20 What Safety Culture means to Ellie 03:54 Ellie’s role in leading and supporting the development of Safety Culture 04:56 The essential tasks for leaders of Safety Culture 06:07 Traits and characteristics for leaders of Safety Culture 07:39 The need for fair culture to build trust 08:39 The need for good understanding of fair culture and human factors 10:01 How fair culture works 11:35 The actions, policies, and practices that demonstrate a fair culture 13:05 Summary and close
You may also be interested in: Leading Health and Safety on Britain’s Railway Developing a Fair Culture – RSSB Training Fair Culture Investigations – Network Rail Safety Central web page | |||
| BowTie Risk Analysis - A Novel Use at LNER | 11 Aug 2022 | 00:17:18 | |
RSSB’s work with BowTie risk analysis has made it easy to visualise operational hazards, their precursors and mitigations. At LNER they’re applying the method in a novel way, to develop a corporate risk register. To identify the hazards faced in running a train operating company. 01:29 Introducing Ian Baulch-Jones 02:55 Ian recaps risk analysis and how BowTie analysis works 04:58 What LNER is doing with BowTie analysis 06:30 Why BowTie analysis? 08:08 Has anybody done this before? 08:54 The benefits envisaged in using the Bowtie Method. 09:56 How long is this all going to take? 11:41 Where LNER’s project sits within ORR’s RM3 13:34 How this BowTie diagram differs from an operational hazard diagram 15:27 LNER’s experience so far… 16:27 Close
You may be interested in: Rail Industry BowTie Analysis: A Good Practice Guide RSSB BowTie Risk Model Library Other related resources: Wolters Kluwer: CGE Risk Webpage CGE Risk (YouTube video) The BowTie Method in 5 Minutes | |||
| Investing today for tomorrow's success | 29 Apr 2025 | 00:16:13 | |
In this episode, we're joined once again by Johnny Schute, RSSB's Chief Operating Officer. Together, we'll explore what rail needs to be thinking about in terms of driving cost reduction, some of the complexities around investing today for benefits tomorrow, and how we at RSSB are committed to supporting industry in this challenge. Find out more at: https://www.rssb.co.uk/our-business-plan | |||
| The Railway Mental Health Charter | 28 Jul 2022 | 00:14:44 | |
Not just a certificate for the wall, but a seven step guide for how to support your employees and colleagues towards better mental health. 00:00 A little bit about mental health at work 01:47 Meet Faye Bacon 02:14 About the Railway Mental Health Charter 02:42 How the Charter helps companies support mental health 03:28 Action 1, the importance of senior leaders’ support 04:45 Action 3, increasing awareness around mental health 05:26 Action 6, effective people management for mental health 06:06 Action 4, creating an effective peer-to-peer support system 06:22 Action 7, signposting mental health support resources 06:51 Action 2, using company data to highlight needs 07:16 Action 5, getting the right policies in place 07:44 The Charter is only a starting point for planning 09:31 Support for new Charter signatories 10:18 Reasons for supporting mental health, legal and financial 11:34 Who has, and who we’d like to sign the Charter 12:39 Some benefits of signing the Charter 14:05 Where to find more information The Railway Mental Health Charter – RSSB web page https://www.rssb.co.uk/what-we-do/key-industry-topics/health-and-wellbeing/mental-wellbeing/railway-mental-health-charter-rmhc | |||
| Road Driving for a Safer Railway—Effective RTC Investigations | 14 Jul 2022 | 00:18:41 | |
Only when we investigate can we understand. Incidents while driving for work can have fatal or life-changing results, so we need to investigate to find ways to stop incidents repeating. Here’s what’s needed for an effective investigation.
01:58 About Gill Milner, RTC investigator 02:55 Gill offers a definition of an RTC 03:40 Why start your investigation in the Golden Hour 04:45 The five stages of the investigation 05:37 How to debrief a driver 07:35 How the driver may have added to the causes 09:18 How the job design may have added to the causes 11:20 How the organisation may have added to the causes 12:12 Build a timeline for the incident 14:04 What to do when a serious incident happens 16:34 Investigation complete, what are the safety learnings?
You may be interested in: Transport Research Laboratory publication: MIS058 Study on good practices for reducing road safety risks caused by road user distractions https://www.trl.co.uk/publications/mis058-study-on-good-practices-for-reducing-road-safety-risks-caused-by-road-user-distractions TRL publication: Smartphone use while driving: a simulator study https://www.trl.co.uk/publications/ppr592 TRL publication: Investigating driver distraction: the effects of video and static advertising https://www.trl.co.uk/publications/ppr409 TRL publication: Drivers attitudes to distraction and other motorists’ behaviour A focus group and observational study https://www.trl.co.uk/publications/ppr435 TRL publication: The relationship between driver fatigue and rules limiting hours of driving and work https://www.trl.co.uk/publications/ppr413-a | |||
| Learning from... - the Hatfield accident | 30 Jun 2022 | 00:12:26 | |
On the railway the state of the track that trains run on is vital to the safety of passengers and crew. It needs to be monitored and maintained regularly. But in the late 1990s that wasn’t always happening. And in October 2000, that led to a derailment that caused 4 deaths and injured over 70 more. 00:37 What happened at Hatfield 02:18 What causes rails to break 03:30 What led to the accident 05:40 Was it caused by incompetence or misfortune? 08:18 The trend in broken rails at the time 10:08 The improvements made since the accident 11:35 Summary and close These may be of interest: Asset Integrity – Lessons from Hatfield: blog by George Bearfield, Chair of the Asset Integrity Group. Remembering Hatfield – 20 years on: blog by RSSB CEO, Mark Phillips. About the Asset Integrity Group Corporate memory - how to keep learning: article in which Greg Morse explains how RSSB keeps the lessons of the past alive for both present and future. | |||
| Road Driving for a Safer Railway—Road Traffic Collisions and Legal Privilege | 09 Jun 2022 | 00:32:39 | |
If road traffic collisions cause as many as half of the fatalities to our workforce, why aren’t they RIDDOR reportable? Fortunately, few collisions have fatal results. But that means close calls and near misses must be investigated seriously, to prevent the next incident, that may be more serious. When a collision happens: Who is responsible? Was the driver competent? Was the vehicle safe? What policies do you have in place to answer these questions? And if the worst should happen, do you have the right cover in place to protect yourself, your drivers, and your company’s brand reputation? 00:42 About Charlotte LeMaire 01:00 About Andrew Drewary 01:44 Andrew’s view on why incidents on the road aren’t viewed in the same way as those in the workplace. 03:12 The Health and Safety Executive’s increasing interest in incidents while road driving. 04:03 Do we keep our road driving competency and skills up to date? 06:10 What rules do and perhaps should apply to all who drive for work? 07:00 Driving your own vehicle actually loads greater responsibility. 07:30 What makes a good driver? 08:14 What are the consequences of a road traffic ‘accident’? 09:25 Good drivers are made by good managers. 10:35 The precursors to a police-attended collision. Have you got the right policies in place? 11:54 Have you controlled all the risk you can control? 12:45 Why investigate incidents as well as collisions? 14:52 Road risk is a serious matter. Are your investigations up to scratch and objective? 16:32 The consequences of the four-line investigation report. 18:29 The benefits of outsourcing investigations. Protecting the brand. 19:47 Do your company and your drivers have immediate legal representation? 21:28 What are you drivers legally required to do at the scene of a police-attended collision? 22:41 Why have processes to give your drivers legal advice, and the knock-on benefits. 23:52 The differences between 24/7 legal roadside assistance and a 24/7 insurance reporting line. 26:35 How legal privilege helps and protects drivers and companies. 30:55 Summary and close
These may also be of interest: Our podcast on the HSE guidance on Driving and riding safely for work https://www.buzzsprout.com/925129/10302467 The HSE guidance on Driving and riding safely for work https://www.hse.gov.uk/roadsafety/ The Road Risk Group webinar with Andrew’s videos of driving that leads to a collision: Fair culture work on RSSB website: Supporting a fair culture - creating appropriate plans after incidents (research project) https://www.rssb.co.uk/research-catalogue/CatalogueItem/T1068 Supporting a Fair Culture: Creating Appropriate Plans After Incidents https://www.rssb.co.uk/-/media/Project/RSSB/RssbWebsite/Documents/Affiliate/Affiliate-content/Improving-Safety-and-Health/nts-supporting-a-fair-culture-cop-guidance.pdf Developing a Fair Culture (RSSB training course) https://www.rssb.co.uk/services-and-resources/training/developing-a-fair-culture | |||
| More Efficient Rail - PathFinder | 30 May 2022 | 00:23:39 | |
One of the railway’s aims is to deliver better customer service. Much of the operating timetable is set many months in advance. But there is also a need to make very-short-term plans (VSTP) for train paths. Sometimes just hours in the future. PathFinder aims to be an end-to-end solution for VSTP that can design, deliver, approve, and resource a new train path. In far less time than is currently possible. This IT solution has been developed by Worldline and Alstom, and trialled with South Western Railway and the Network Rail Wessex Route. 01:56 Marcus Carmichael describes how RSSB sees the performance challenge for the GB railway and the need for better VSTP. 04:05 Chris Prior and the role of the Train Running Controller. 05:38 James Hilder talks through the train planning process and timescales 06:57 The impact of lots of VSTP requests on network performance 08:33 How a completed VSTP is implemented 09:28 About Doug Short and PathFinder 12:56 Integration with stock and crew resource systems 13:55 Fully integrated workflow and approval stages 15:47 How far advanced is PathFinder and what gaps are there? 18:18 South Western Railway’s assessment of PathFinder 21:26 How RSSB R&D contributes to greater network performance. 23:15 Close These may be of interest: Podcast episode 29: More Efficient Rail Freight – Path Planner https://www.buzzsprout.com/925129/9907510 RSSB seeks innovative solutions to performance challenge (news article) https://www.rssb.co.uk/what-we-do/insights-and-news/news/RSSB-are-seeking-innovative-answers-to-GB-rails-performance-challenges Pathfinder (I01-CLR-05): Applying machine learning from historical events and the current state of the railway to generate and validate new Very Short-Term Planning (VSTP) train schedules, and to amend existing ones. https://www.rssb.co.uk/research-catalogue/CatalogueItem/I01-CLR-05 Dynamic Freight Capacity Management [PathPlanner] (I01-CLR-04): Identification of unused train paths for use by freight services as part of the Very-Short-Term Planning (VSTP) system. https://www.rssb.co.uk/research-catalogue/CatalogueItem/I01-CLR-04 Assisted VSTP (I01-CLR-06): Enabling electronic Very Short-Term Planning (VSTP) requests, to improve efficiency and streamline communication. https://www.rssb.co.uk/research-catalogue/CatalogueItem/I01-CLR-06 PERFORM Research Programme—Launch Conference https://www.rssb.co.uk/what-we-do/key-industry-topics/performance/perform-successfully-launched-at-the-enabling-better-network-performance-conference Improving PERFORMance Webinar Series: https://www.rssb.co.uk/what-we-do/key-industry-topics/performance/improving-performance-webinar-series Blog: Can Machine Learning Improve Railway Operational Performance? https://www.rssb.co.uk/what-we-do/insights-and-news/blogs/can-machine-learning-improve-railway-operational-performance | |||
| Learning from… - corporate memory: Right Track is 10! | 26 May 2022 | 00:07:53 | |
Learning from… previous experience is vital. But unless we keep and communicate what we learn, the memory is lost. As Right Track magazine celebrates its 10th anniversary, we look at why and what it delivers for those who work at the front line on the railway. 00:48 Why Right Track was created 01:25 How Right Track set out to stand out from the crowd 02:23 Some of the ‘firsts’ that Right Track brought to safety learning 03:26 The trends that Right Track has followed… and the issues it tackles 04:44 How Right Track will continue to keep itself relevant and broad-based 06:13 How Right Track sits alongside and supports Leading Health and Safety on Britain’s Railway 07:05 Summary and close Give us your thoughts and ideas—on this or any other episode: podcasts@rssb.co.uk You may also be interested in: Podcast episode 38: Learning from…the Potters Bar accident https://www.buzzsprout.com/925129/10611287 Podcast episode 30: Learning from…the Clapham accident https://www.buzzsprout.com/925129/10042758 Greg’s blog for Right Track issue 38 https://www.rssb.co.uk/what-we-do/insights-and-news/blogs/right-track-38 Greg’s blog for Right Track issue 36 https://www.rssb.co.uk/what-we-do/insights-and-news/blogs/read-right-track-36 Greg’s blog for Right Track issue 35 https://www.rssb.co.uk/what-we-do/insights-and-news/blogs/read-right-track-35 Ali Chegini’s blog ‘Remembering Great Heck, 20 years on https://www.rssb.co.uk/what-we-do/insights-and-news/blogs/remembering-great-heck-20-years-on | |||
| Learning from... the Potters Bar Accident | 19 May 2022 | 00:08:56 | |
We can learn a lot from accidents. As we try to avoid history repeating itself, Greg Morse looks back at the Potters Bar accident of 20 years ago. What went wrong? What have we learned? 00:36 What happened at Potters Bar. 02:28 The errors that led to the accident 04:19 The blurred edges of maintenance programmes 05:38 How we now respond to safety reports, including from the public 08:08 Summary and close You may find these of interest: Learning from… - the Clapham accident podcast https://www.buzzsprout.com/925129/10042758 Managing Safety Related Reports from Members of the Public https://www.rssb.co.uk/safety-and-health/guidance-and-good-practice/safety-related-customer-contacts Understanding current practice for identifying and managing safety-related reports from members of the public (Research project: OTH-SRC) https://www.rssb.co.uk/research-catalogue/CatalogueItem/OTH-SRC The Asset Integrity Group https://www.rssb.co.uk/what-we-do/groups-and-committees/safety/system-safety-risk-group/asset-integrity-group Rolling Stock Asset Integrity (RSSB members and affiliates only) https://www.rssb.co.uk/safety-and-health/leading-health-and-safety-on-britains-railway/rolling-stock-asset-integrity Infrastructure Asset Integrity (RSSB members and affiliates only) https://www.rssb.co.uk/safety-and-health/leading-health-and-safety-on-britains-railway/infrastructure-asset-integrity Red 62 - Asset Integrity (RSSB members and affiliates only) https://www.rssb.co.uk/safety-and-health/learning-from-experience/red-safety-videos/red-62-asset-integrity | |||
| Road Driving for a Safer Railway—Embedding Driving for Better Business in the Supply Chain | 12 May 2022 | 00:06:17 | |
As it has accounted for as many as half of our workforce fatalities, road driving is an important area for risk management. Both as employers and contractors of services, rail organisations have a duty of care to those who work for them. Part of the Road Risk Group’s strategy for reducing road driving risk is to implement the National Highways programme Driving for Better Business (DfBB). And that includes extending participation in the programme to your supply chain. To support that aim, Anne-Marie Penny, Senior Road Safety Policy Adviser, talks about how National Highways has gone about it. 01:05 Why National Highways chose to embed DfBB into its supply chain. 02:19 What National Highways looks for in its supplier companies 04:05 The National Highways experience 04:34 For more information… 05:49 Summary These resources may help you: Driving for Better Business Free Risk Assessment: https://www.drivingforbetterbusiness.com/free-risk-assessment/ Driving for Better Business Rail Sector Gateway https://www.drivingforbetterbusiness.com/rail-sector/ Occupational Road Risk Management (web page with links to related industry groups) https://www.rssb.co.uk/safety-and-health/leading-health-and-safety-on-britains-railway/occupational-road-risk-management | |||
| Could you help save another life? | 03 May 2022 | 00:13:03 | |
Small talk does save lives, as Dom Mottram found out when it saved his life. Now a project manager at Network Rail, he talks about how someone helped him with small talk, and how he now pays that back. 00:04 Introduction Samaritans phone number: 116 123 Samaritans email contact: jo@samaritans.org Samaritans Small Talk Saves Lives campaign webpage: https://www.samaritans.org/support-us/campaign/small-talk-saves-lives/ If you'd like to get involved with the campaign or take the Managing Suicidal Contacts training, email railcompanies@samaritans.org These might also be of interest: RSSB Suicide Prevention web pages: https://www.rssb.co.uk/safety-and-health/improving-safety-health-and-wellbeing/suicide-prevention Rail Suicide Prevention website: https://railsuicideprevention.co.uk/ RSSB Mental Wellbeing webpages: https://www.rssb.co.uk/what-we-do/key-industry-topics/health-and-wellbeing/mental-wellbeing Leading Health and Safety on Britain's Railway Public Behaviour section: https://www.rssb.co.uk/safety-and-health/leading-health-and-safety-on-britains-railway/public-behaviour | |||
| Could you be a Samaritans Christmas Star | 03 May 2022 | 00:13:02 | |
Christmas is a time for many to celebrate with family and friends. But for others it can be a time of isolation and despair. It's a time when Samaritans can be called on to shed some light in a dark place, or we can make an intervention with someone for whom small talk could save their life. When you could be that Christmas Star. In this episode we hear from two people: one who works for Samaritans to help the rail industry, and one from the rail industry who works to help Samaritans. 00:04 Christmas is a busy time for Samaritans as many suffer despair and loneliness. 01:16 What does a Samaritans Regional Development Lead do? 02:13 Join in the 'Samaritans Christmas Star' campaign, or nominate your own star. 03:20 How a train guard chose to support the 'Samarathon' fund raiser. 07:35 Bessie tells why she chose to support Samaritans, and what she did to raise funds. 10:30 Samaritans work at Christmas, how many people call, and why. 12:03 Contact information for Samaritans and its Christmas Star campaign.
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| Navigating technological change in the evolving rail industry | 28 Mar 2025 | 00:14:29 | |
In this episode, we're joined once again by Vaibhav Puri, RSSB's Director of Sector Strategy and Transformation. Together, we'll explore some of the issues inherent in the adoption and implementation of new technology, our initiatives in this area, and some of the most promising new technological advancements. Find out more at: https://www.rssb.co.uk/our-business-plan | |||
| On Track—Staying Safe | 14 Apr 2022 | 00:19:06 | |
This episode was originally published to the RSSB at the Front Line stream in June 2021. It features Nick Millington, Director of the Safety Task Force at Network Rail. He talks about recent accidents on the mainline railway, and what the task force is doing to reduce open line working. We talk about the removal of lookouts, night shift working and fatigue, what more possessions will mean for signaller workload, and the aspiration for more effective work planning. 01:02 About Nick and his role in the railway. 02:27 Numbers of near misses, track worker fatalities, and open line working. 04:30 Equipment and technologies to replace lookouts. 08:07 Removing the lookout competence, new roles, and better protection. 10:20 Signaller workload, better planning, and collaboration for safe systems of work. 13:00 Increased night shifts, wellbeing and fatigue; and more efficient work planning. 16:38 Future plans, integrated signal-controlled protection and warning systems, and the search for innovations. Resources related to this episode: Nick Millington's video report on LinkedIn of his May 2021 visit to North West and Central regions to talk health and safety with those on the front line Network Rail Front Line Focus episode 96 Infrastructure Safety Leadership Group Leading Health and Safety on Britain's Railway—Workforce Safety web page | |||
| Road Driving for a Safer Railway—Driving and riding safely for work | 24 Mar 2022 | 00:13:41 | |
Do you, or your employees, drive or ride a vehicle for work? The HSE's guidance on Driving and riding safely for work tells you what you need to know to comply with current legislation. Nicola Jaynes, HM Inspector of Health and Safety, talks about what the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) does, and about its most recent, update to guidance for those who employ people to drive or ride for work, and for those who do the driving and riding. About Nicola Jaynes and the risks involved in driving and riding for work [01:28] About the HSE, as inspector, regulator, guide, advisor, and sometimes prosecutor [03:20] About the new guidance, which is now available on an easily updateable microsite [05:38] The new content differs from previous guidance, here's what's available [06:53] What you need to know as a user of a 2-wheeled vehicle [09:02] About drivers' health and wellbeing and fatigue [09:52] Collecting data about road traffic incidents [11:24] Driving when self-employed, in the gig economy, and in the grey fleet [11:59] Close [13:05]
You may find these useful: Driving and riding safely for work (HSE microsite): https://www.hse.gov.uk/roadsafety/ Occupational Road Risk Management (RSSB web page): https://www.rssb.co.uk/safety-and-health/leading-health-and-safety-on-britains-railway/occupational-road-risk-management Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1974/37/contents Driving for Better Business Rail Sector gateway: https://www.drivingforbetterbusiness.com/rail-sector/ THINK! Road safety campaigns: https://www.think.gov.uk/ The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (HSE site): https://www.hse.gov.uk/legislation/hswa.htm A guide to workplace transport safety (INDG382) (the 2014 edition): https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsg136.htm | |||
| Freight Safety—The Condition of Freight Vehicles on the Network | 03 Mar 2022 | 00:20:03 | |
Checking that freight vehicles are safe to go onto the rail network is not an easy task. It's work that's often done in difficult conditions, and the consequences of mistakes can be costly. The role of ground staff in freight depots and yards has changed dramatically over recent years. The conditions in which they work, in freight depots and yards where they carry out their vital and often challenging work, need to be improved. 01:53 About Devon. 02:34 About Dave. 04:07 About the Condition of Freight Vehicles on the Network (CFVN) Working Group. 05:39 How the freight sector has engaged, and the various stakeholders collaborate. 06:42 The CFVN project's strategic activities, and two core workstreams. 08:28 How the train preparation and loading workstream has been structured. Survey responses from freight ground staff as they engage in the project. 10:33 Open and honest ground staff describe situations and propose solutions. 11:29 Some of the specific themes that came out. 13:58 Training for ground staff roles. Better non-technical skills and working facilities. Two quick wins. 16:40 What the CFVN Working Group will do with the data. 18:16 Hopes for the project—reducing delays, standardising preparation and loading procedures. Leading Health and Safety on Britain's Railway – freight derailment chapter https://www.rssb.co.uk/safety-and-health/leading-health-and-safety-on-britains-railway/freight-derailment Annual Health and Safety Report 2020-21 https://www.rssb.co.uk/safety-and-health/risk-and-safety-intelligence/safety-performance-reports RAIB: Summary of learning – 5. Freight train derailments (see Section 3.2) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/summary-of-learning-5-freight-train-derailments/summary-of-learning-5-freight-train-derailments | |||
| Lone Working—Your Health, Safety and Wellbeing | 16 Feb 2022 | 00:14:34 | |
In this episode we talk about lone working, and how it can affect health, wellbeing and personal safety. I talk with Joana Faustino, Senior Work Psychologist at RSSB, and Rachel Rowlinson, Associate Director at Britain Thinks, who has a special interest in health matters in the rail industry. 01:56 About Rachel and her role in the railway. 02:34 Who and what was involved in the research. 03:14 Guidance for lone workers and their managers, and just who is a lone worker. 04:55 How many people just might be lone workers? 05:35 How Covid-19 has influenced the number of lone worker roles. 05:54 Are you a lone worker if you work from home? 06:40 What makes you a lone worker? 07:25 The down side of lone working. 08:12 Things about lone working that can affect health, wellbeing, and safety. 09:17 What organisations can do to better support lone workers. 10:19 What lone workers can do to support their own wellbeing—some top tips. 11:22 Top tips from the guidance for physical health and safety. 12:35 The Lone Worker's Wellbeing Action Plan—what keeps lone workers happy and healthy at work, and what causes stress or anxiety 13:31 Sources of support available to lone workers. Resources mentioned in this episode: RSSB webpage: Keeping Lone Workers Safe and Secure. This page has links to all three of the guidance documents talked about in this episode. Related resources: T1213 Understanding the Health, Safety and Wellbeing Risks and Impacts of Lone Working in Rail—Project Report https://www.rssb.co.uk/research-catalogue/CatalogueItem/T1213 Contact a Samaritan https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/ or call 116 123. | |||