01.03.07
Risk triggered commentary improves rail safety
Halcrow, in partnership with Arriva Trains Wales (ATW), has won the Rail Safety and Security Excellence of the Year award at the HSBC Rail Business Awards 2006 in London. The awards, which are in their eighth year, recognise excellence in business, technology and engineering, safety and security, stations and trains - as well as rewarding individual creativity.
The category won by Halcrow was open to companies involved in the introduction of any safety or security development, product or service in the UK rail industry.
Led by Halcrow's safety director Ray Metcalfe, Halcrow and Arriva Trains Wales have developed a technique called risk triggered commentary (RTC) as a tool to help drivers to improve their memory to reduce the risk of signals passed at danger (SPAD) and operational incidents. RTC improves memory retention and helps control distraction risks through verbal rehearsal during risk situations. It has also been found to help combat fatigue and is equally applicable to other high risk operational activities such as shunting.
Worldwide application of RTC principles
Japan uses a form of commentary where train drivers point at and ‘call out’ the colour of a signal aspect as it is being passed. Commentary is also required at QR in Australia, where the freight trains are double manned. It is also used in Hong Kong when an operator has to carry out an important safety task. This technique requires the operator to point at the equipment used and to state the importance of the task. Irish Rail have recently started a trial to test the applicability of the technique for their shunting operations.
Commentary driving is, however, relatively new to the UK rail industry with documented policies and instructions on how to apply RTC only just starting to emerge
Commitment to safety
The work started in 2005 when ATW approached Halcrow with concerns over the number of start on yellow SPADs. The company was looking to improve safety and was committed to developing best practice for its train crews.
Over the last five years SPAD risk has reduced by approximately 90% compared to the benchmark figure set in 2000/2001. This improvement has principally been achieved by the introduction of the train protection warning system. RTC lowers risks by reducing human error and the likelihood of operational incidents which are not protected by technical systems.
Concept behind RTC
The concept of RTC lies in understanding how the memory functions. The long term memory is thought to have a limitless capacity. However, information enters via the short term memory, which has a limited capacity of between 7 +/- 2 items and can only hold information for between 8 to 18 seconds. Clearly, for train driving, it is important that essential information relating to the safe control of the train is not lost in the short term memory. RTC driving aids the memory using the process of verbal rehearsal and repetition.
RTC involves drivers “speaking out” what they usually just think to themselves when driving. By following this process, drivers can listen to their thoughts and the subsequent actions they are planning to do – allowing them to remember and ‘sense check’ what they should do next and avoid becoming distracted by other influences of less importance
Methodology of RTC
The development and introduction of RTC driving has been carefully managed with Halcrow assisting in the development of the policy and the trial. RTC driving processes have been developed using driver feedback following a structured trial using a cross section of drivers.
ATW held a one month trial on the application using the draft instructions with the objective of assessing the practicability of their application and seeking driver input. As a result, the policy instructions are based on the following principles:
- RTC is recommended, but not mandatory, using a system where the driver speaks the aspect of the signal/indication/hazard and the specific action that needs to be taken
- if the driver does not want to speak, the instructions recommend that the driver uses a technique that is acceptable to them –such as quietly “muttering” this to themselves or silently repeating it back
- it is applied during situations which introduce increased risk - where the signalling or speed profile change is more restrictive/when running on single yellows/having reset the DRA following a cautionary aspect and the signal ahead cannot be seen/when certain degraded conditions apply
- other essential tasks required of the driver will take priority in certain circumstances.
Training
Instructor drivers demonstrate and encourage the benefits of the technique during practical handling training. Trainees will not be expected to apply it until towards the end of the training programme when the trainee has developed train handling skills and then building up the technique as the trainee develops the skills. ATW has incorporated the RTC techniques into their professional driving policy at structured briefing sessions. For new drivers, RTC will be part of their basic training. ATW is confident that, with more new drivers joining the system, an increase in usage will eventually instil a natural use for RTC.
Innovative solutions are key to rail safety
The industry has achieved significant safety improvements and progress in controlling SPAD risk and, with no new technical system on the immediate horizon, innovative solutions to control human error are important. RTC driving is one development likely to become a new technique that the industry will adopt to further improve train driving practice. The technique is however, transferable to other safety activities and is envisaged to help improve operational safety in general.
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