Case study: inconsistent safety briefings
12 September 2024
Important information isn’t briefed consistently within Signalling and Telecommunications (S&T) in Wales, said a reporter.
Technical safety briefings have on occasion been deprioritised for performance-related and other briefings. This interrupts the sharing of information.
It is still shared through information packs, but the reporter believes briefings are more effective, as they allow for discussion and the chance to ask questions. Without them, people could miss crucial shared learning or updates.
Network Rail said every effort is made to ensure the team attends Route Asset Manager (RAM) technical briefings. Updates have been shared through written correspondence in the case of annual leave or unforeseen absence. This is communicated clearly and promptly with the RAM team.
Network Rail mandated briefing attendance to the S&T maintenance engineer, assistant S&T maintenance engineer, technical support, and section manager/supervisor teams.
The most senior person present will continue to brief anyone absent. All RAM technical briefings will be recorded so cascade briefings are consistent and content isn’t lost.
Before the report, Network Rail had reviewed the cascade of information via the technical support team to the frontline. It has an action plan to ensure compliance. This process will be monitored.
The industry needs better, innovative ways to engage with and brief staff, Network Rail added. The RAM technical brief would benefit from a format change to better cascade information to frontline teams. It will work with the RAM team to improve the process. One proposal is a roadshow-style RAM briefing at a central location for all S&T staff.