Safe Operations l Public Safety Campaigns l Key Issues
Translink’s long term plans in relation to safety are published separately in the Group Safety Plan and focus on the areas of:
A crucial input to the strategies and plans is the compliance with all relevant safety legislation and regulations. Key activity may be summarised;
Safe Operations l Public Safety Campaigns l Key Issues
Safety Development Programme
The Safety Development Programme commenced in 2000 and is now largely completed. It involved investment of £200M and included the Larne line re-lay and the purchase and commissioning of 23 new C3K trains to replace the class 80 trains. 354 new buses were procured during 2005/06 and 2006/07. This has reduced the average fleet age significantly and improved safety standards for bus users. 395 new buses will be purchased during 2007/08 and 2008/09.
New Safety Management System (SMS)
The first phase of a new Safety Management System has been completed including the establishment of new high level standards. The SMS is currently being implemented across the whole of Translink.
Safety Legislation
A programme of new safety legislation is being introduced by Government. Changes in the approach to railway safety legislation from the European Community are reflected in this programme. Included within this is a requirement for formal “safety certification” of NI Railways by DRD. This process is underway.
Incident and Accident Reporting
A new computerised incident reporting system covering both bus and rail divisions has been fully implemented within NI Railways and is currently being commissioned in the bus companies.
Safety Culture / Human Factors
Programmes to improve safety culture have been introduced and are ongoing. Progress was formally reviewed during 2006/07. Safety culture training will commence in 2007/08 along with a renewed approach to Executive Group involvement including safety tours and themed campaigns.
The Health, Safety and Environment department initiated a company consultation process to prepare a Translink ‘No Smoking at Work’ policy. This follows the decision to make all station premises smoke-free environments. This will be implemented in April 2007.
Translink held its 10th annual Health, Safety and Environment Conference in December 2005, focusing on safety management systems. Ninety one delegates attended, representing all areas of the organisation. The 11th conference took place in January 2007 and had the theme of leadership and safety.
Emergency Plan
Updated railway and bus emergency plans were issued in April 2006. These are tested annually and close liaison with the Central Emergency Planning Unit of Government continues.
Accommodation Crossings
Translink continues to improve safety at railway accommodation crossings (non public roads) through a programme of closure, detours, bridge building or other safety measures.
Train Protection Warning Systems (TPWS)
A programme to fit TPWS to the highest risk signals, at an approximate cost of £4M, is nearing completion. This system is already installed on the new C3K trains and is being retrospectively fitted on other rolling stock.
Transport to School by Bus
The funding and approval by Government for Translink to purchase 117 additional buses fitted with seat belts for school transport provision will improve the comfort and safety of children travelling to school by bus. The buses will be delivered during 2007/08 and eliminate standing and use of the ‘3 for 2’ rule’ on schools services.
Safe Operations l Public Safety Campaigns l Key Issues
Safety Bus
Translink continues to bring safety education messages to schoolchildren and community groups. The special ‘Safety Bus’ and its team currently visit around 200 secondary and grammar schools each term, to educate and discuss the problems of stone throwing or unruly behaviour. A new Travel Safe DVD, prepared by Translink during 2005, is now in use on Safety Bus outings
Communications re crossings
Campaigns aimed at students, the farming community and their contractors highlighting proper use of all crossings are ongoing into 2007/08.
Rail safety message
The hard hitting ‘Dead Cert’ advertising campaign launched in August 2005 reinforces the dangers of misusing trains and railway facilities, particularly as the new trains are faster and quieter. This will continue into 2007/08.
Deterring anti social behaviour, vandalism and litter
A number of innovative initiatives were developed and introduced over the last year, each aimed at reducing incidents of anti-social behaviour on board trains and at stations: These continue:-
Translink’s environmental unit also campaigns to deter fly-tipping on the railway line and highlight the problems of litter, graffiti and trespass around the network.
Prosecutions
Translink adopts a determined stance against anti-social behaviour on buses and trains and on our properties. This is reflected in prosecution activity. The number of individuals successfully prosecuted through the courts continues to rise, as does the level of fines awarded by the courts to offenders. These prosecutions are prominently communicated.
Safe Operations l Public Safety Campaigns l Key Issues
Safety Certification
Finalisation of the case to achieve formal safety certification is complex and resource intensive. A key component of this is the auditing of high level standards from the new safety management system. Resource and investment are being applied as necessary to deliver this requirement.
Safety Measurement
An output from many current and completed safety projects notably the incident reporting system, is the development of measurable indicators in respect of safety performance. Population of historic data to facilitate trend analysis requires the passage of a period of time.
Emergency Preparedness
While emergency plans have been recently reviewed and revalidated, and are tested annually, the potential for a major accident always remains for which contingencies are in place. In addition, work is ongoing to finalise contingency plans for the expected Avian Flu epidemic in line with all public bodies.
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