Workforce Safety (Accident Frequency Rate)

Definition

All injuries that are statutorily reportable under RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations) for all Network Rail staff and contractors working on Network Rail’s managed infrastructure, normalised per 100,000 hours worked. This measure provides information to help monitor and control accidents and injuries to the workforce.

Results

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Note: from 2009/10 we will report on Workforce Safety through a new KPI on Fatalities and Weighted Injuries (FWI) per million hours worked. This aligns more closely with the PR08 Workforce Safety metric.

Commentary

The Accident Frequency Rate for Network Rail employees and contractors for 2008 was 0.231. This is a 1.8% increase over the figure in 2007, reversing the improving trend seen in previous years. These figures compare favourably to the national rate for the UK construction industry which, in 2007/08 stood at approximately 0.435.

There was one Network Rail employee fatality and two Contractor employee fatalities during 2008. On 11 June, three Network Rail staff were carrying out overhead line equipment repair work on the Down line at Margaretting when the working platform on a road-rail vehicle became detached from the mounting points and fell a distance of 15 feet onto the track. All three were injured, two seriously, one whom later died as a result of injuries sustained in the incident. On 24 June at Brigg, an AMCO employee working as a banksman, sustained fatal injuries after being trapped between two vehicles, a JCB and a dumper tuck. On 12 July at Rugby, a Leda employee was struck by an on track machine and sustained fatal injuries.

Key initiatives during the year which contributed to the management of workforce safety were:

• The ‘Safety 365’ safety awareness campaign continued throughout 2008/09 with a variety of track worker and general safety topics covered using a variety of media. Subjects included: a “speak up” campaign to encourage employees to apply the work-safe procedure. The media used included: briefing packs for use by line managers; DVDs; posters; booklets and pocket cards. A future campaign in 2009 will address the hazards of falling and flying objects.
• In order to increase the effectiveness of workforce briefings, a training module on ‘effective briefing’ was developed and introduced to the COSS training course. The object of the module is to raise the delivery standards for COSS briefings and increase knowledge transfer. The aims are to raise workforce awareness of worksite hazards and control measures and, indeed, to raise the workforce’s expectations of a good briefing.
• New Lookout Operated Warning Systems (LOWS) technologies were trialled during 2007. New equipment has been purchased during 2008. This new equipment has enhanced the safety of both the lookout and the group being protected by providing both audible and visual warning throughout the worksite using modern radio technologies.

  A Network Rail steering group has been established to review and guide the implementation of LOWS equipment and address any issues that arise. This steering group has representation from ergonomics, radio engineering, equipment users and functional groups. Champions have also been identified for each route in Maintenance to give consistency to the introduction of the equipment.

• A safety league table has been introduced for all maintenance delivery units. This table provides internal competition between the delivery units and it rewards teams for proactive safety activities and for improving their safety performance. Points are awarded for positive safety behaviours, including:
  • Management safety tours
  • Safety inspections undertaken by union safety reps.
  • Planned general inspections done by managers and employees.
  • Improvements to training and competence of staff
  • Increasing the amount of green zone working

  The league table has been very effective at improving behaviours and there has been a steady improvement in this leading indicator over the last 12 months.

• The Maintenance Task Risk Control Manual was introduced during 2008. This manual contains generic risk assessments and control measures for all work undertaken in Maintenance. The manual includes functional specific Risk Control Sheets including Signalling, Telecommunications, Track, Overhead Line, Distribution and fixed Plant, Off Track and Operational Property. These are supported by Generic Risk Control sheets for General Activities, Small Plant, Mobile Plant and Live Working which may be applicable to most activities carried out.
  The controls in the manual are those identified through the risk assessment process and are kept up to date from information provided from accident investigations and recommendations, introduction of new plant and activities, Delivery Unit reviews and general feedback. A second major issue of the manual is being planned for 2009.
• All Maintenance Delivery Units have developed and implemented their own local accident reduction plans. These are designed to focus on local issues that have been identified through work activity risk assessments and local accident investigations. They give local ownership to local issues and empower people to deliver local resolution of safety issues. Achievements against the plans are monitored within the line through the Monthly Business Review (MBR) process in an effort to achieve understanding of trends, consistent application of best practice and delivery against plan commitments.
• A national risk-based programme to install fixed lighting at junctions, where a high risk to track workers from slips, trips and falls had been identified, was initiated in 2007. Roll out of this project started during 2008.
• Work has been undertaken with Network Rail’s small plant and tool suppliers to reduce exposure of track workers to noise and vibration, and to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). This has included the redesign and modification of some existing plant and tools, as well as the sourcing of new plant and tools designed to reduce the potential effects of vibration. The methods of work employing the plant and tools have also been examined with a view to reducing exposure to hazards while maintaining or improving productivity. Guidance on limits of use has been included in the Risk Control Manual.
• Work continues to redesign activities to reduce manual handling, and to automate lifting wherever possible. A number of initiatives have been introduced this year including:
  • on-going training for staff using the Pristine Condition techniques
  • a programme of training for Delivery Unit champions to monitor the effective use of the manual handling techniques
  • periodic Route reviews of significant manual handling accidents to check that root cause is correctly identified and the appropriate corrective action taken.

  These initiatives are intended to further reduce the incidence of musculo-skeletal disorders.

• In order to improve the availability of suitable and sufficient welfare facilities for track workers, a phased plan has been developed and implemented for the provision of permanent welfare facilities at strategic locations. This plan was initiated in 2007 and the installation of new facilities commenced during 2008. This programme will continue during 2009 and 2010.
• In response to the increasing trend in accidents involving mobile plant a working group was established under the leadership of the Director, Mechanical & Electrical Engineering, to consider the design and future strategy for On Track Plant and On Track Machines. This group will report during 2009.