Everyone should be able to do their job without someone threatening, assaulting or harming them. But on the railway’s front line, sadly, that isn’t always the case. In fact, RSSB statistics show that a staggering 94.1% of frontline staff have experienced workplace abuse. In this session, British Transport Police’s Inspector Keith Barnes describes how incidents of violence against railway staff can occur and how to de-escalate them. He also talks about how body-worn cameras can be both a deterrent and an aid to evidence-gathering once an assault has occurred.
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BACK-on-LINE (TM): Digital technology to help rail workers better manage their back pain in work
Back pain is a common issue among rail workers, with as much as 69% experiencing it every month. Currently, access to effective help is limited to hospitals with long waiting lists and requires therapist involvement. Dr Sheeran has developed a new work-based intervention called BACK-on-LINE (TM).
On-Road driving fatigue risk in rail operations
Technological innovation in the automation of vehicles is progressing faster than standards or regulatory bodies can keep up with. The overall market share for automated vehicles is expected to increase to approximately 40% of vehicle travel by 2040. However, automated driving is fundamentally different to manual driving. The driver must be prepared to take over control of the vehicle whenever necessary. This shifts the driver’s role from being actively engaged in the driving task to that of a passive supervisor of the system.
Tips for staying alert and energised during your shift
Deborah Edmonds and Rupert Lown will explore how we can all contribute to improving our alertness when we are working on shifts. Shift working can be a bind, but a bit of thinking and with some small adjustments we can make ourselves more alert – and you won’t need cans of energy drink or treble expressos! Our lives are hectic, we often have young families, caring for parents, grappling to sleep in very hot weather. All of these are things we have to live with, but there are tips and tricks to help us and we will explore these with you.