Showing success in assessment and improving safety culture on the DLR (Industrial application)

Requirement KeolisAmey Docklands Ltd (KAD) wished to assess the safety culture on the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) and commissioned Greenstreet Berman Ltd (GSB) to both conduct the assessment, and to support the development... [ view full abstract ]

Requirement

KeolisAmey Docklands Ltd (KAD) wished to assess the safety culture on the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) and commissioned Greenstreet Berman Ltd (GSB) to both conduct the assessment, and to support the development of an improvement strategy and action plan.

KAD hold the franchise to operate and maintain the DLR which operates across London, with 45 stations, 40km of track and 149 carriages. During the 2013/14 year the DLR carried a record-breaking 101.5m passengers.

The assessment aimed to provide a view on the overall safety culture maturity whilst comparing various departments and roles within the business. The objective was to provide an insight into the safety-related attitudes and behaviours of personnel across the business alongside any reasons for this, in order to utilise the information to enhance safety performance and make real change in the business.

Approach to a successful assessment and improvement plan

The assessment included a safety culture questionnaire to measure attitudes and behaviours, followed by diagnostic workshops with employees to identify factors shaping theattitudes and behaviours. A bespoke assessment package was created by GSB in collaboration with KAD, to ensure the assessment was tailored to the operation and maintenance of the DLR.

GSB and KAD collaborated to create a communications plan prior to launch of the assessment, implemented by the KAD management team. A number of activities were conducted to gain engagement and participation in the assessment across the business. Buy-in to the assessment was gained across the Senior Management Team, Union Representatives and Safety Representatives, who endorsed and supported the assessment, which was cascaded through the business.The independence of GSB helped to achieve engagement, particularly with front line employees, gaining their support and participation in the assessment.

Achieving success

The safety culture assessment achieved a high response rate of 63% with good representation across all business areas, roles and grades. This was made possible by a communications plan and earnest support from the KAD management team.

A robust assessment of safety culture was conducted with findings scrutinised by the KAD Senior Management team. Consistent themes were identified throughout the organisation and the assessment identified particular opportunities for development.

The assessment noted many positive areas of safety culture as well as some areas for further development.The assessment findings were shared with staff and safety representatives and were accepted to be true and representative, which was achieved through the strong engagement and communications with the workforce throughout all stages of the assessment.

Following acceptance of the findings, and having decided upon SMART safety culture objectives, the findings were fed into a safety culture improvement plan and actions implemented by KAD.

Application

KAD have since been in action to improve safety performance and culture across the DLR. Examples of improvement programmes include, safety and accident investigation training and Safety Representatives’ roadshows, as well as employee recognition and employee charter schemes.