HSC CHAIR ADDRESSES RAIL INDUSTRY ON KEY SAFETY CHALLENGES

HSC press release: C028:03 - 1 July 2003

Bill Callaghan, Chair of the Health and Safety Commission (HSC), today set out key challenges for the rail industry in improving public confidence and emphasised the continuing need to develop a better safety culture.

Addressing the Railway Forum's annual conference, Mr Callaghan also discussed the importance of learning lessons from the recent past and moving on, for example with UK development of the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS).

After a difficult period of criticism, change and uncertainty for the industry, he explained, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and its Railway Inspectorate was also changing, and looked forward to working with the industry towards:

• restored pride and public confidence in the railway;
• better appreciation of HSE's role as independent health and safety regulator; and
• an understanding that where there is potential for catastrophic accidents the public demands firm action to protect them.

"I support this unreservedly", he said. "We want to see a more mature relationship between the safety regulator and the industry - a relationship characterised by mutual respect and shared understanding of the problems and how to solve them."

Mr Callaghan was critical of ongoing delays on major accident investigations. "These delays cast a shadow on management and individuals within the rail industry, as well as being a source of frustration for the bereaved."

He also recognised, he said that rail safety had improved over time, citing examples such as the withdrawal of Mark I rolling stock and the benefits of the Train Protection and Warning System (TPWS) currently being fitted to an HSE-regulated timetable. However, there remained big challenges ahead.

Looking ahead, Mr Callaghan said he was looking to see progress on:

• the Cullen public inquiry's core message on safety leadership and safety culture - which he was concerned was not getting through to the whole industry;
• employee engagement - the unions should be part of the solution, not the problem; and
• trackworker safety.

Although the railway industry has some unique characteristics, HSE believes there are lessons it can learn from how world-class industries successfully manage health and safety", he said. "The chemical and nuclear industries clearly don't carry passengers, but, like the railways, have potential for catastrophic events, have public image challenges and need to manage societal concerns and media perception of risks."

For its part, he said, HSE was:

• not aiming for absolute safety, which is unrealistic and unachievable;
• looking to talk, and listen, more to develop joint problem solving;
• prepared to reconsider requirements now appraised as low risk, e.g. TPWS at certain permanent speed restrictions;
• working with industry to develop better guidance on risk assessment;
• carrying out a fundamental review and evaluation of the safety case regime and a review of approvals and authorisation processes;
• clarifying its inspection approach to focus on key requirements;
• considering the findings of research on stakeholders' perceptions; and
• supporting an overhaul of prescriptive industry standards.

On ERTMS, he welcomed the recent SRA Year 1 Progress report and the establishment of a Single National ERTMS Programme to lead UK trials and development. He emphasised the importance of pressing ahead towards an operational trial of ERTMS Level 2, and said if necessary HSC would reconsider the case for Regulations. "If the industry misses the opportunity of an ERTMS trial before 2008, it will not have restored the trust and confidence of the public."

Recent research, Mr. Callaghan said, showed that HSE could provide independent assurance of a safe railway, based on robust risk assessment and sound health and safety management.

"The challenge", he concluded, "is to make this an industry which can be truly proud of its safety performance - a performance based on actual achievement and real commitment to continuous improvement. An industry which is proud to accept its safety responsibilities and which is trusted by the public to deliver. HSE wants to help the industry achieve these objectives."

Notes to editors

1. Bill Callaghan was speaking at the Railway Forum's Annual Conference 2003 - 'Confidence in our Future: Putting pride at the centre of our industry' - held at Church House Conference Centre, London SW1 today. Mr. Callaghan has been Chair of HSC since October 1999. He is an economist, formerly the TUC's chief economic adviser and a member of the Low Pay Commission. The full text of his speech and slides are available on request from HSE Press Office.

2. The Railway Forum is an industry-wide body sponsored by the majority of train operating companies, Network Rail, all three major rolling stock leasing companies, the Passenger Transport Executives, London Underground, most of the infrastructure maintenance companies and many manufacturing and other businesses serving the UK rail industry. Its key role is to act as a think tank, information exchange and point of contact for those committed to and interested in the industry. http://www.railwayforum.com

3. HSC's advice to Government on ERTMS was accepted by Transport Secretary Alistair Darling and made public. See HSC press release C004:03 of 5 February 2003.

4. HSE's consultation on Network Rail's application for exemption from the requirement to fit TPWS at certain permanent speed restrictions was announced on 26 June and runs until 7 August 2003. HSE is minded to grant the exemption and attach conditions requiring development of a programme of alternative measures which would provide greater safety benefit, and seeks views on this approach. See: http://www.hse.gov.uk/railways/liveissues/tpwsconsult.htm

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