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U.S. Department of Transportation U.S. Department of Transportation Icon United States Department of Transportation United States Department of Transportation

Impact of CIRAS

Document Series:
Publications
Author:
  • Helen Muir
Subject:
Risk Reduction Program
Keywords:
C3RS
Document
closecalls_muir.pptx (182.39 KB)
       
Workshop: Improving Railroad Safety through Understanding Close Calls
Helen Muir Presentation: Impact of CIRAS

 

Slide 1
Impact of CIRAS CIRAS the Confidential Incident and Analysis Scheme for Rail Industry - Facility to confidentially report safety concerns. - Concerns can be acted upon in constructive manner - Natural reticence to report.

 

Slide 2
Since November 1999 * Currently over 77,000 staff enrolled * Over 2,500 reports received * No instance of breach of confidentiality

 

Slide 3
Mission CIRAS will provide a confidential route for employees in the railway industry to report safety related concerns to an independent body with the expectation that they will receive a considered response. Analysis of all these reports will contribute positively to a safer railway.

 

Slide 4
CIRAS Development * Challenge * Implementation Group * Steering Committee * CharitableTrust

 

Slide 5
Development Plan * Scottish Pilot Scheme * 3 Regions * Safety Critical and Safety Related Staff * Tenders Invited * Regional Centre 1 - Scotland and North of England * Regional Centre 2 - Middle England * Regional Centre 3 - South of England CIRAS National Database

 

Slide 6
Reporting System * Reports to Regional Centres * Regional Liaison Committees * Regional Journals * Information to CIRAS National Database * CIRAS National Reports (2 per year) * Company Reports * Sector Topic Reports

 

Slide 7
National Standards * Training Regional Providers * Rail Staff Briefing * Auditing Performance

 

Slide 8
Enrolment * Drivers, Signallers, Safety Critical and Safety Related of main contractors * Railway infrastructure contractors and main subcontractors * Fourth centre

 

Slide 9
CIRAS Principles * Accepts reports from any employee in rail industry * Any safety related subject (engineering, health, operations) * CIRAS additional to company reporting schemes * Reporters personal details kept confidential * Personal responses available to employees of participating companies * System not for real-time reports * All information property of CIRAS Charitable Trust * Method of operating CIRAS determined by National Steering Group

 

Slide 10

Obligations on Participating Companies * Commit sufficient resources to prepare considered responses to reports * Nominate a company representative * Promote use of CIRAS (briefings etc) * Pay subscriptions * Support National Steering Group

 
Slide 11
Deliverables to Industry Stakeholders * Insights and practices to assist managers * Analysis of reports received * Outlet for responding to individuals safety related issues * Intelligence to assist managers with priorities for actions and to Railway Group Safety Plan

 

 

Slide 12
Use of CIRAS Information * Railway Safety Standard Board * Trades Unions * Train Operating Companies (TOCs) * Track Maintenance Contractors * London Underground * Health and Safety Executive (HSE)

 

Slide 13
Independent Market Research into Effectiveness of CIRAS * 70 interviews from rail staff in 3 regions * High level of awareness of CIRAS and broad purpose * Independent from rail companies * Confidentiality never in doubt * Effective for: raising awareness of safety issues safety valve for staff shaming some companies into action * Strong support for Journals * Not always effective in achieving acceptable response from companies * Not always resolving issues resulting in tangible improvements

 

Slide 14
Achievements and Future Challenges * Establishment of National System * Support, confidentiality and trust * Review of Journals * Changes in Rail Industry * New Technology * Second Generation

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Last updated: Wednesday, April 23, 2003