AGENDA ITEM: A3
MEETING:
RSSB Board Meeting
DATE:
03 July 2014
SUBJECT:
Station Safety
SPONSOR:
Chris Fenton
AUTHORS:
John Abbott and Helen Costello
1.
Purpose of paper
1.1
To inform the board about the scale and nature of total safety risk at railway
stations to complement the arrangements for addressing the Platform-Train
Interface (PTI) Strategy Project presented to the May board. The paper also
provides an update on the PTI project and invites the board to provide leadership
input to System Safety Risk Group (SSRG) in relation to its plans to address the
wider aspects of railway station risk management.
2.
Station safety risk
2.1
The total system risk, as measured by RSSB’s Safety Risk Model version 8
(SRMv8) is 143.4 fatalities and weighted injures (FWI) per year, excluding
suicide/suspected suicide. Of this, 14.1 FWI concerns rail users and workforce at
the PTI and other station risks account for 57 FWI. Half of the latter derives from
slips, trips and falls involving rail users. See Fig 1 below for a breakdown by
accident type.
Rail user accidents at
PTI
12.8
9%
Other risk
72.3
50%
Workforce accidents at
the PTI
1.3
1%
Slips, trips
and falls
(workforce)
4%
Other
accidents
(rail users)
4%
Assault (rail
users)
9%
Contact with Manual
handling
object
(workforce) (workforce)
Other
1%
2%
accidents
(workforce)
Assault
<1%
(workforce)
3%
Other station risk
57.0
40%
Trespass
27%
Total system risk
Slips, trips
and falls (rail
users)
50%
Other station risk
Fig 1: Station risks broken down by accident types and shown in the context of
total system risk (excluding suicide and suspected suicide)
2.2
Major stations with large volumes of people may provide the location for high
consequence events although such events are of very low frequency. These
could include major crowd control issues (e.g. Hillsborough stadium, 1989), fire
(e.g. Kings Cross, LUL, 1987) or structural failure (e.g. roof collapse – Riga
supermarket, 2013).
RSSB Board Meeting Final: 03 July 2014
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AGENDA ITEM: A3
3.
PTI Strategy
3.1
At the May 2014 RSSB board meeting, members were provided with a progress
report on the board sponsored project to develop a PTI strategy, including
advance notice of the PTI strategy outline report, which will be published to
industry in July 2014. The Platform Train Interface Strategy Group’s (PTI SG’s)
terms of reference were accepted, with the board noting that it should explicitly
include accessibility and the potential for multi-fatality incidents resulting from
crowding. The core aim of the PTI strategy is to reduce safety risk and optimise
operational performance and availability of access in a manner that promotes the
long-term best interests of the mainline railway system.
3.2
PTI SG will produce the first draft of the strategy for review and consideration at
the September 2014 meeting of the RSSB board. A further update will be
provided at the November meeting, with an aim to present a final version for
endorsement at the January 2015 RSSB board meeting. This is an accelerated
timescale recognising its business importance1. The resources required to meet
these timescales are being addressed.
3.3
The board is asked to note that the PTI SG and programme team will be
organising a number of industry roadshows between June and September 2014.
Members of the programme team will attend industry meetings to present on
progress, share the outline strategy and gather feedback. If a board member
would like to arrange a visit to their organisation, please contact
Helen.Costello@RSSB.co.uk or indicate your interest at the meeting during
discussion of this paper.
4.
Wider station safety risk- History
4.1
The Operations Focus Group first recognised station risk as an emerging issue in
2010 and in response RSSB set up the Station Safety Improvement Project. A
project manager was seconded from East Coast Trains to lead the programme
and support the Station Safety Improvement Group (SSIG) which was established
to provide cross-industry input and direction.
4.2
The SSIG sponsored the production of a risk assessment template that was
introduced into the second issue of the Railway Industry Standard for Passenger
Train Dispatch and Platform Safety (RIS-3703-TOM) and station related research
and development (a full list of R&D related to stations and personal security is
presented in Annex A). It also organised a cross-industry workshop with the ORR
in May 2013 in light of the RAIB recommendation from the investigation into the
Liverpool, James Street fatality and it actively encouraged the sharing of good
practice including the creation of a dedicated area on www.opsweb.co.uk.
4.3
In 2003, RSSB created the Rail Personal Security Group (RPSG) to increase
awareness of physical assaults, threats and verbal abuse of staff and passengers
at stations and on trains. It sponsored relevant research and development as well
as developing and sharing good practice in recording, reducing and mitigating the
associated risks.
1
Neal Lawson, chair of the PTI SG, was consulted on 20 June 2014 and agreed to the revised date
RSSB Board Meeting Final: 03 July 2014
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AGENDA ITEM: A3
5.
Wider station risk- Today
5.1
The RSSB board sponsored Modernisation of Safety Co-operation project has
caused a major refocus around systemised risk review. This is now led by the
System Safety Risk Group (SSRG) which addresses 100% of system risk and in
turn, SSRG has sponsored the creation of a number of expert groups to consider
particular elements of risk (Figure 2).
Figure 2: Reporting structure of the cross-industry safety groups
5.2
The People on Trains and at Stations Risk Group (PTSRG), has recently been
established to focus on risks to passengers, public and the workforce in stations
and on-board trains across Network Rail managed infrastructure. Causes of these
risks would include trespass, assault and other crime and anti-social behaviour, on
board injuries, slips trips and falls as well as the PTI. The group is chaired by
Steve Enright, Group Head of Safety and Environment, Abellio. The group’s terms
of reference can be found at http://www.rssb.co.uk/groups-and-committees/rssbboard/safety/system-safety-risk-group/people-on-trains-and-stations-risk-group
5.3
The PTSRG has representation from across the industry, including Network Rail,
train operating companies (TOCs), the Association of Train Operating Companies
(ATOC), British Transport Police (BTP), the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR),
Passenger Focus, Transport for London (TfL), trades unions and RSSB. Four
members of PTSRG also sit on the PTI SG.
5.4
The group has met twice and identified the following objectives and priorities:
Item
Review, understand and analyse all the causes and
consequences of risks that are in scope for PTSRG and identify
areas for improvement
Priority
1
Review data collection and analysis methods
1
Facilitate cooperation between operators and infrastructure
managers to maintain and improve high levels of safety
1
Seek out and recommend good practice in managing risks
2
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AGENDA ITEM: A3
Item
Priority
Horizon scanning; look forward to consider how risks might
2
change over the next ten years and identify ways to prepare for
threats and opportunities that might result
Identify where legal boundaries are for corporate and personal
responsibility and lobby on behalf of the Industry where
education or legislation might help reduce risks
2
Undertake effective internal and external communication,
making use of existing channels and develop new ones as
appropriate
2
Identify and review existing research and commission new
research as necessary
3
5.5
Once the PTI strategy is finalised and endorsed by the RSSB board, the PTI SG
will cease to meet. It is currently proposed that the ongoing review of the strategy
will be led by SSRG through PTSRG.
6.
Recommendation
6.1
The board is invited to:



NOTE the totality of railway station risk including the non-PTI components
SUPPORT the accelerated time scales for development of the PTI strategy
CONFIRM SSRG with a steer and input concerning the objectives and priorities to
address wider station safety risk
RSSB Board Meeting Final: 03 July 2014
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Annex A
Summary of RSSB Managed R&D into Station Safety and Personal Security
Title
Status
T1065 Identifying and developing best practice in the making
In development
of on-train emergency announcements
T1062 Platform recess – review of requirements
In development
T1059 Evaluating the use of on-train DOO(P) monitors during In development
station departures
T1057 Investigating the risks posed by luggage to
In development
passengers and staff on trains and stations
T1055 Improving accessibility and safety for mobility scooter
In development
users travelling be rail
T1054 Evaluating platform gap fillers to reduce risk at the
In development
platform-train interface
T1037 Train passenger footsteps investigation to support
In development
research into the reduction in passenger stepping distances
and gauging constraints
T1029 Designing a tool to support duty holders in the
assessment of platform train interface risk
T1025 Supplying good quality information to passengers on
Due to be published
October 2014
Out to tender
driver only operated train services
T1026 Improving platform operational signage
Going out to tender
T1021 Getting the most from complementary policing, other
In progress
rail staff and private security; sharing good practice
T1012 Developing a good practice guide for managing
In progress
personal security on board trains
T992 Safer stairs and escalators in public places
RSSB Board Meeting Final: 03 July 2014
Stairs report published
July 2013; escalator
report published
November 2013
Page 1 of 3
Annex A
Title
Status
T981 Use of rock salt for de-icing of platforms and station
Published March 2014
surfaces
T901 Understanding guidance and operational practice of
Published 2011
lone worker personal security
T866 Investigation of platform edge positions on the GB
network (Annex A)
Complete October 2011
and used to inform T1037
T862 Station safety seminar
Completed 2009
T764 Evaluation of the benefits of yellow lines on non high-
Published 2009
speed platforms
T759 Improving the methods used to provide access to and
from trains for wheelchair users
T749 Protecting People from the Aerodynamic Effects of
Passing Trains.
T743 Improving the arrangements for train dispatch from
Published 2012; Good
practice guides published
June 2014
Guidance published 2012
& will be used to update
RGS GI/RT7016
‘Interface between
Station Platforms, Tracks
& Trains’
Completed 2009
stations
T704 The contribution of alcohol to personal safety and
Completed 2010
security risk on the railways
T667 Research into security at stations
Published 2010
T610 An assessment of the cost and benefits of adopting a
Completed 2008
standard uniform platform height of 1115 mm
T592 Management of football fans on the railway
Published 2006
T542 Conflict avoidance training for front line railway staff
Published 2006
T426 Minimisation of accidents at the platform-train interface
Completed 2006
RSSB Board Meeting Final: 03 July 2014
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Annex A
Title
Status
T322 An investigation into trespass and access via the
Published 2005
platform ends at railway stations
T157b Safer surfaces to walk on - reducing the risk of
Completed 2006
slipping
T158 Use of tactile surfaces at rail stations
Completed 2005
T103 Assessing the cost of assaults
Published 2004
T047 Fears and experiences of assault and abuse on the
Published 2004
railway
T039 Reducing assaults on railway staff
RSSB Board Meeting Final: 03 July 2014
Published 2004
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