STATION TRACKREFURBISHMENT & TRACKSIDE
New Guidance to Encourage More Reporting Recent research in rail has resulted in good practice guidance on overcoming the barriers to reporting safety concerns, explains CIRAS’ Lucinda Neal
The project documents explain in depth how the research was carried out, who was interviewed, and the behavioural models that guided the research and analysis.
Implementation
Before implementing any of the interventions to improve reporting, the team behind the research suggests identifying your organisation’s own strengths and weaknesses first and thinking about its own context. Consider the main barriers to reporting that the research discovered. Which of them apply most directly to your organisation? Which ones would you prioritise improving first, and why? It offers APEASE criteria as a screening tool, so that any choices are appropriate. There’s more detail on this in the project documents, but the criteria are: • • • • • •
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here are practical steps organisations can take to foster a trusting, safe listening culture that results in more safety concerns being reported, says new guidance. This good practice guidance comes from research developed as part of the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) research programme and published at the start of the year in its research catalogue (project T1323: improving workforce-related reporting practice). 44
The research team analysed its interviews with track workers and safety managers for the project to identify the main barriers to people reporting their concerns, and then to suggest targeted interventions to improve this. CIRAS helped in the research and reviewing the findings. For a closer look at the barriers facing reporters, you can also see CIRAS’ article in the May issue of Rail Professional. Although the research project focused on track workers, its insights are helpful for other transport sectors and workers too.
Affordability. Practicability. Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness. Acceptability. Side effects/safety. Equity.
The guidance links the reporting barriers with related potential interventions based on the behaviour change wheel. The barriers are organised according to the COM-B behavioural model, which suggests that behaviour (B) comes from how capability (C), opportunity (O), and motivation (M) all interact.
Capability
This considers the knowledge, skills, resilience, and abilities a track worker needs to engage in safety reporting. Related suggestions for improving the reporting situation include establishing consistent expectations for reporting across all stages of the reporting and response process, so that staff share a common understanding, and providing training that aligns with these expectations.