Paul Leach
RSSB
Paul is a Lead Human Factors Specialist with Chartered Occupational Psychologist status. For over 10 years he has been applying his expertise across a range of safety critical industries, including rail, nuclear, oil and gas, energy, utilities, defence, emergency services and healthcare. His work at RSSB focusses on: Supporting members implement non-technical skills through training, guidance, development of learning materials and advice Leading Human Factors work in relation to safety management at the Platform Train Interface Delivery training in psychometric testing for train drivers and providing industry with advice on psychometric assessment Delivering industry training and support for the Risk Based Training Needs Analysis Supporting European Agencies enhance safety culture across member states
The platform train interface (PTI) is one of the biggest areas of risk on GB Rail, with six fatalities occurring at the platform edge in 2015/16 and a total of 40 fatalities occurring in the last ten years[1]. Drivers,... [ view full abstract ]
The platform train interface (PTI) is one of the biggest areas of risk on GB Rail, with six fatalities occurring at the platform edge in 2015/16 and a total of 40 fatalities occurring in the last ten years[1].
Drivers, guards and platform staff all play a critical role in helping to manage safety at the PTI, through customer communications and interactions, monitoring passenger behaviour and the completion of dispatch duties.
To do this successfully, requires the development and on-going application of technical skills and knowledge and non-technical skills. For example, to undertake dispatch duties, staff need to understand the procedures, be able to use relevant equipment and apply non-technical skills such as maintaining concentration, anticipating risk, managing high workload and prioritising.
In the past a significant amount of work has been undertaken to develop the non-technical skills of drivers with less focus on guards and platform staff.
In recognition of this and the publication of the Office of Rail and Road guidance on competence development[2], RSSB has been working with industry to create learning materials and techniques that operators can use to help facilitate the development and on-going application of non-technical skills for guards and platform staff.
The paper will describe these materials and techniques with particular focus on developing non-technical skills using videos and animation and applying these skills through Risk Triggered Commentary.
In addition, this paper will describe:
The methodology used including how the RSSB Risk Based Training Needs Analysis (RBTNA) was used.
Examples industry application along with additional suggestions for application within the competence management system.
Reported and perceived benefits
[1] RSSB (2017) Annual Safety Performance Report. A Reference Guide to Safety Trends on GR Railways 2015/2016.
[2] Office of Rail and Road (ORR) (2016) Developing and Managing Staff Competence
Staff selection, competence and training , Platform-train interface
