In preparation for this year’s Rail Safety Summit, we sat down with leading figures from the rail safety industry and asked them a series of pressing questions about safety practices within the rail industry.
Today’s question is:
Many train-crew, contractors and agency staff still travel large distances to work. Does this increase the risk of accidents and what could be done to reduce the travelling?
Answers:
Willie Baker, Emergency Incident Consultant:
It is right for managers to be aware of the time and distance some people spend commuting to work but it need not necessarily be a bad thing or something that poses a risk.
I was not alone when I spent many years commuting large distances on a daily basis, but I managed my time so as to make the commute to work part of my working day, and part of my daily relaxation on the way home.
By all means talk this through with staff, and ensure their wellbeing but don’t be surprised if they are more on top of their emails, and have read more books or enjoyed more music than you!
Seamus Scallon, Safety Director, UK Rail, FirstGroup:
Fatigue is obviously a factor here and the main controls currently are applied through recruitment, proactive management and monitoring. However, given the current economic position, people will seek work wherever they can.
Controlling the risk through a restriction in travel times to book-on points may also lead to loss of the best staff, therefore adversely affecting performance in other ways.
Where practicable flexible working and remote signing on may be ways to reduce travelling, although in other scenarios perhaps some solutions could arise through a partnership approach with the Trade Unions.
Steve Diksa, Assurance Services Director, Bridgeway Consulting:
Devolution is an opportunity here, with the routes being able to engage local suppliers, who live locally and that know the area.
The identification of skills gaps (specific competences and geographical areas) has further compounded the travelling time issue, with staff with key skills being utilised on key projects that may mean them travelling long distances.
Longevity of contracts would encourage companies to invest in the recruitment and training/development of local staff. There are a number of big projects planned over the next 10 years and it is important that we identify and fill the skills gaps.
There needs an industry understanding that travelling to and from work can and does have an impact on operational and safety performance.
There is also the potential increase of road traffic accidents which may be a result of staff travelling long distances to get to and from work. We also have to recognise that the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) means that potentially there is less work available and people will travel where the work is.
Catherine Behan, Head of HS&E Capital Programmes, Transport for London:
It has the potential to, if fatigue arises. However, distance isn’t necessarily the whole story, the nature of the journey is important too in determining the impact that it will have.
Some organisations place limits on travel time, though this is difficult to police.
Reviewing rosters and policies to ensure that they reduce rather than increase the potential for fatigue is an action that employers can take. There are other factors that may impact on fatigue and we should take a holistic view; for example, although travelling further, does the more affordable housing / a settled family life reduce stress levels and promote wellbeing, potentially reducing the number of accidents.
Ultimately staff have a personal responsibility to present themselves as fit for duty and where we are not assured we need to work with them to resolve the issue to maintain their safety and that of others.
Steve Enright, Head of Safety and Operational Standards, Southern:
Yes it does increase risk, generally because of the time taken and the mode of travel that may be used, but the circumstances may be specific to each individual.
Travel time / distance is something for considering when recruiting new employees and managing this during their career may assist in reducing travel time.
Dr Liesel Von Metz, HM Inspector of Railways:
Fatigue arising from travelling long distances needs to be managed. ORR has recently revised its guidance on managing rail staff fatigue and this now includes suggestions on good practice for managing staff travel time.
To read yesterday’s interview click here
Today marks the end of our ‘We ask the rail safety experts’ feature. To hear more from these individuals, come along to the Rail Safety Summit.
The Rail Safety Summit is taking place on April 19th 2012 in Loughborough.
For more information, please visit www.railsafetysummit.com
