Britain’s railways maintain high H&S levels – new report

Britain’s railways maintained high levels of health and safety performance in 2022-23, according to a new report – but there has been a rise in the number of passengers sitting on platform edges and signals passed at danger (SPADs) during the extreme heat of the summer.

The Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) has published its latest Annual Health and Safety Report for Britain’s railways in 2022-23.

The report covers 12 of the most important health and safety subjects affecting Britain’s rail sector, including asset integrity, fatigue, level crossings and workforce safety. The report and the data analysis behind it are now helping the rail industry set priorities for its updated health and safety strategy.

RSSB’s analysis shows the industry is emerging from the Covid pandemic with rising passenger numbers.

The experts also highlighted several key trends for the industry including improvements in workforce trackside safety and better management of asset integrity in extreme weather conditions, thanks to greater industry collaboration on climate change. 

However, the report also identifies an increase in incidents involving people sitting on platform edges and a rise in signals passed at danger (SPADs) during the extreme heat of the summer.

Ali Chegini, RSSB’s director of system safety and health, said: “It’s 20 years since the Rail Safety and Standards board was created to promote industry safety, lead research and development, monitor and report on safety performance and provide guidance and good practice.

“Our latest Annual Health and Safety Report shows how the rail industry has dramatically improved its management of health and safety risks over the past two decades. It also focuses on subjects which are continuing to receive RSSB’s and the rail industry’s attention, including SPADs, over-speeding trains, freight derailments and workforce assaults.

“We are currently working with the rail industry to identify and better understand root causes behind these issues to help support further improvements in safety and health.”