Caught between a rail and a hard place: a two-country meta-analysis of factors that impact Track Worker safety in Lookout-related rail incidents

King of the castle: organisational influences on authority gradients between network controllers and other team members

The rail system relies on the effective coordination of multiple disciplines and teams situated within an operational hierarchy to meet a single operational objective-the safe and timely movement of rail traffic. Power and status dispersals across these teams and the various roles within them impact interaction and communication. This study drew on the perceptions of network controllers, to identify organisational factors influencing power imbalances that generate authority gradients between network controllers and other team members. Network controllers (N = 55) across eight Australasian organisations engaged in interviews using the Scenario Invention Task Technique to explore perceptions of risk. Thematic analysis revealed relationships between teams were affected by: (1) the accountability mechanisms adopted by organisations; (2) the way power was vested in roles; and (3) the status attached to roles. This insight into organisational power hierarchies and the generation of authority gradients provides opportunities for understanding teamwork error.Practitioner summary: Communication is impaired by authority gradients across teams in rail and is a contributing factor in incidents occurring on the network. This paper explores the organisational influences on power hierarchies across teams from the perspective of the network controller, pointing to an adversarial culture, resulting in tribalism impeding team interactions.

The use of Bayesian Belief Networks (BBNs) to probe deeper into railway safety management systems - Two studies from Great Britain and Italy

The importance of Safety Management Systems (SMS) to the railway industry is underlined by the fact that all organisations operating on UK railways are required by law to have one. Analysing SMSs can provide a reliable systemic tool to identify hazards and weaknesses within complex systems like the railway, making it possible to significantly increase safety, reducing the odds of near misses and accidents. However, there is little empirical research evidence to determine the impact on safety of a structured SMS. The current paper describes two studies which use Bayesian Belief Networks (BBN) to conceptualise SMSs and their impact on front-line performance. The paper presents the usefulness of BBNs to compare complex systems and reconcile cultural differences within the railway industry, identifying factors that are deemed vital within Italy and Britain. The two studies allowed us to identify the most influential factors within a SMS and how they interact with each other, as well as the strength of the identified relationships. A BBN is particularly useful in estimating how changing some of the node states (e.g., by making safety leadership present) affected the other factors. The current study showed that safety leadership has an impact on the SMSs of the British and Italian railway industries.

One-track mind: Investigating positive and negative applications of non-technical skills in rail network control

It is not just a rail driver but a "system" that drives a train and network controllers apply non-technical skills to facilitate their role as part of a team. However, because of siloed and distributed working, scenarios exist where network controllers may inadvertently increase operational safety risks. The aim of this study was to generate a better understanding of non-technical skill application in network controllers by identifying which skills and behaviours were associated with problematic ways of working, and which abilities were used to address error-producing scenarios, and thereby reduce risk. Use of a scenario technique and behavioural markers analysis of 61 scenarios generated from 55 network controllers in 8 organisations across Australia and New Zealand revealed a large and diverse application of non-technical skills. Careful consideration must be given to the way in which deficiencies in abilities and skills are addressed. Future research directions are given.

Understanding the systemic influences on maritime pilot decision-making

Maritime incidents occurring during pilotage are of international concern. Maritime pilots control most pilotage operations worldwide, yet despite the safety criticality of their role, research examining pilot decision-making processes during these complex and dynamic operations is scarce. This article describes the findings from two studies that utilised an integrated systems thinking framework to understand how pilots make decisions and what factors are perceived to influence their decisions. Interviews were held with 22 pilots (Study 1) and 17 maritime safety stakeholders (Study 2) in the New Zealand maritime context. The findings illustrate the challenges pilots face during pilotage and provide insights into their decision-making processes and the systemic factors that can be addressed to improve maritime safety. Given the multiple causal pathways to incidents occurring during pilotage identified by this research, it is suggested that multiple systems-wide interventions are needed, which is likely to require a long-term, strategic approach.

Impact of Railway Critical Incidents on Train Drivers and Effectiveness of Critical Incident Management and Support Protocols: A Recovery Trajectory Analysis

OBJECTIVE

Train drivers are regularly involved in railway critical incidents (CI) and critical incident management and support protocols (CIMSPs) have been developed to support them. This study describes the impact of CIs and evaluates the effectiveness of CIMSPs.

METHODS

We interviewed 74 train drivers 1 week, 1, 3, and 6 months after a CI. We performed Linear growth model analyses to describe recovery paths and the effect of CIMSPs, considering the effect of CI complexity, proximity to victims, social support, self-assessment of health, use of resources, and attribution of responsibility.

RESULTS

CIs have a significant negative impact on train drivers. Recovery paths can be explained by the level of implementation of CIMSPs, and other contributing factors.

CONCLUSIONS

CIMSPs are effective in reducing the negative impact of CIs and should be implemented rigorously by employers.

Winging It: Key Issues and Perceptions around Regulation and Practice of Aircraft Maintenance in Australian General Aviation

The very diverse character of General Aviation (GA) within Australia poses challenges for its effective management of risk and safety in the sector. Improvements for human performance and perceptions of safety within the maintenance environment are among the areas which regulators have targeted for continuous improvement. This paper provides a timely empirical exploration of maintenance engineer perspectives around: (1) Changes in the role of the regulator/regulation that have impacted the sector and diminished safe operations; and (2) specific practical and operational challenges that the GA industry must deal with to sustain safe operations going forward. A thematic analysis of transcribed qualitative data revealed five key themes and identified a number of key issues from sector changes including a decline in training and education, drift in working practices, and wider power-distance gap. Issues with auditing and bureaucratization, negative safety climate, and underlying values and philosophies were also found. Practical and operational challenges going forward included an array of concerns associated with safety, the mismatch between GA and commercial aviation, workforce development and the financial burden in the sector. The results draw attention to the interconnectedness between various components of the GA system, and carry timely implications for regulation in the GA sector. Future research directions are discussed.