We are pleased to announce that we have two more rail incident investigation training courses taking place this year.   This is your chance to follow in the footsteps of previous delegates and earn an IOSH certificate in Rail Incident Investigation, which will make you stand out from the competition.

Attending our training courses can offer a wide range of benefits, both professionally and personally. Here are some key advantages:

Professional Benefits

Skill Enhancement
Acquire new skills or improve existing ones, making you more proficient in your role and receive an IOSH certification that is recognised globally.

Increased Productivity
Improved skills and knowledge can lead to more efficient investigation processes and better performance.

Networking Opportunities
Our courses provide a platform for you to meet and connect with other like-minded professionals that can lead to new collaborations, and professional support systems.

Personal Benefits

Increased Confidence
Mastering new skills can boost self-confidence and job satisfaction and make you feel more competent and assured.

Personal Growth
We will help you to enhance your personal development, such as leadership, communication, and teamwork skills.

Enhanced Problem-Solving Skills
Our training focuses on critical thinking and problem-solving. These skills will help you to approach your investigations more effectively.

Adaptability
Our training equips individuals with the knowledge to adapt to changes in the work environment or industry.

Organisational Benefits

Improved Employee Performance
Well-trained employees perform tasks more efficiently and effectively, leading to better overall organisational performance.

Employee Retention
Offering training opportunities to staff, can improve job satisfaction and loyalty, reducing turnover rates, because employees feel valued when their professional development is prioritised.

Compliance and Risk Management
The rail industry has regulations and standards that must be adhered to; our training courses ensure employees understand and comply with these requirements.  This can reduce legal risks and enhance organisational reputation.

Overall, attending our training courses can be a valuable investment for individuals seeking to enhance their skills and career prospects, as well as for organisations aiming to improve performance and retain top talent.

Find out more by emailing us here or you can book on our next training course here.

T&A Safety Services are reflecting on another successful week when we recently had the pleasure of delivering the IOSH approved Incident Investigation in the Railway course for our valued client, VolkerRail Limited.

Over five days, we equipped their cohort with the analytical tools to improve their investigations and write effective corrective actions. We took them through an immersive practical trackside accident scenario, and gave them the opportunity to practise their interview skills with actors. We also steered them through an exercise for writing all their findings into an investigation report, giving them the confidence to take all of their learning back into the workplace. Following the course, we carried out a peer review of their investigation reports and gave 1-2-1 feedback to all delegates, ensuring that the learning was embedded and identifying any areas for improvement.

We have been working with VolkerRail for several years now, training many of their staff, at all levels within the organisation, across several disciplines. If you would like to find out more about how we can support you in a training programme that will help your organisation improve the outputs from investigations, and ensure safety improvements, then you can contact us here.

It was an honour to be invited to take part in a recent collaboration between ISLG, RSSB and the University of Portsmouth who held a workshop session at The Helicon in London, to help us link past and present, through learning from past accidents and incidents.

Read below, the words shared by Stuart Webster-Spriggs, HSQES Director of VolkerRail and current chair of ISLG.

“Whilst today’s rail industry has an excellent workforce safety record, sadly near misses and incidents do still occur. Upon investigation, it is sometimes found that similar cases have happened before – so how can we make use of those cases to help improve the present?
A collaboration between ISLG, RSSB and the University of Portsmouth saw a workshop session held at The Helicon to help us link past and present through learning from the past.

Guided by Greg Morse (RSSB), Mike Esbester (Railway Work, Life & Death project/ University of Portsmouth) and Stuart Webster-Spriggs (ISLG), and drawing on the experience and insights from invited attendees that included Heads of Health & Safety, Human Factors Specialists and Rail Investigators, we examined 7 cases from 1901 through to 1931 of railway worker incidents which have parallels or implications for current practice. We collectively assessed what happened in those cases and what similarities they have to present day issues (Margam, management of change, fatigue to name but a few!).

Whilst personal responsibility featured heavily as you would expect, we successfully identified the organisational accountabilities of planning and management to be the root causes in many of the cases. This drove the resulting learning points from the past with the intention of influencing current safety practices and challenging accepted norms which could be argued have had little effect on safety improvements in 100 years!

Look out for a future publication where the details will be shared and challenges to industry made…….”

Writing a good investigation report is crucial for any business, and here’s why:

• Transparency and Accountability: A well-written investigation report promotes transparency and accountability within the organisation. It communicates the investigation process, findings, and actions taken to relevant stakeholders, demonstrating the organisation’s commitment to addressing concerns and ensuring accountability for any identified shortcomings or violations.
• Communication: An investigation report serves as a communication tool, conveying complex information in a clear, concise, and coherent manner. It enables stakeholders, including management, employees, regulators, and other interested parties, to understand the incident, its causes, and the recommended actions for prevention or mitigation.
• Decision-Making: A good investigation report provides the necessary information and analysis for informed decision-making. It helps stakeholders evaluate the severity of the incident, assess risks, allocate resources, and determine appropriate corrective actions or preventive measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
• Risk Management: Investigation reports contribute to effective risk management by identifying vulnerabilities, weaknesses, and gaps in existing processes, procedures, or systems. By addressing these root causes, organisations can mitigate risks, prevent recurrence of incidents, and enhance overall resilience.
• Continuous Improvement: Investigation reports support a culture of continuous improvement by identifying opportunities for learning and enhancement. They provide valuable insights into organisational strengths and weaknesses, enabling the implementation of targeted improvements to prevent future incidents and enhance operational performance.
• Legal and Regulatory Compliance: In many cases, organisations are legally or regulatory required to conduct investigations and maintain documentation of the findings. A well-written investigation report ensures compliance with legal and regulatory obligations, reducing the organisation’s exposure to legal risks, penalties, or sanctions.
• Reputation Management: Effective handling of incidents and transparent communication of investigation outcomes can positively impact the organisation’s reputation. By demonstrating a commitment to accountability, integrity, and responsiveness, organisations can preserve stakeholder trust and maintain a positive public image, even in the face of challenging situations.

In summary, writing a good investigation report is essential for documenting incidents, promoting transparency and accountability, facilitating communication and decision-making, managing risks, driving continuous improvement, ensuring legal and regulatory compliance, and protecting the organisation’s reputation. It is a critical component of effective incident management and organisational resilience.

T&A Safety Services offer an additional, optional day on our IOSH approved incident investigation training courses, where delegates learn how to write a comprehensive investigation report, based on the scenario that they have just investigated.

The report that delegates produce provides a clear account of what occurred, links to all the evidence, serves as an official record of the incident, and provides all the information needed for legal, regulatory, and compliance purposes. We can even bespoke this part of the training to suit your company processes and procedures. Don’t let a poorly written investigation report result in ineffective learning!

More Info

T&A Safety Services are proud to have delivered our IOSH Approved Rail Incident Investigation training course to a fantastic group of professionals.

Attendees included representatives from MTR Elizabeth Line, Ex-Test UK Ltd, and Network Rail. This course provided them with the opportunity to improve their investigation skills and knowledge in this critical area, supporting industry learning and the potential for future prevention of accidents and incidents. Who doesn’t want that!

If you’re interested in learning more about our courses or booking a dedicated course for your team, you can contact us here to find out more.

Our IOSH approved investigation training courses cater to individuals working in all industries, across several disciplines. Check out this list of just some of the job titles of those who have already attended our training courses:

⏺ Chief Engineer
⏺ Engineering Manager
⏺ Professional Head of Design
⏺ Head of Performance & Strategy
⏺ Construction Manager
⏺ Programme Manager
⏺ OTP Engineer
⏺ Professional Head of Civil Engineering
⏺ Rail Investigator
⏺ Regional Director
⏺ Quality Manager
⏺ Quality Engineer
⏺ Project Manager
⏺ Operations Development Manager (TOC)
⏺ Operations Standards Manager (TOC)
⏺ Environmental Manager
⏺ Mobile Operations Manager
⏺ Health & Safety Manager
⏺ Operations, Logistics & Resource Manager
⏺ HSQE Director

In the world of accidents and incidents, investigations are not just related to health and safety but can be anything from engineering, environmental or quality incidents. Our course supports all areas of your business and is designed to equip your staff with the skills they need to investigate any incident that may occur in the workplace.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to enhance the investigation skills for you or your staff. Get in touch with us at training@tasafetyservices.com to find out more about our investigation training courses.

Have you ever had to investigate a complex infrastructure incident, such as a wrong side failure?

At some point, we’ve all encountered complex infrastructure incidents such as wrong side failures, that require a thorough investigation.

These incidents can be overwhelming, with multiple interfaces, several companies, and convoluted timelines adding to the complexity of the investigation. However, with the right tools and techniques, you can conduct a structured investigation, get to root cause, and ensure effective corrective actions are put in place.

If you’re looking to enhance your analytical skills and learn in-depth incident investigation techniques, our incident investigation training course is just what you need. In just four days, we’ll teach you how to use analysis tools to guide you through a structured approach towards getting to the root cause.

Don’t let complex incidents slow you down. Sign up for our IOSH approved rail incident investigation training course and take your investigation skills to the next level.

T&A Safety Services have enjoyed a successful start to 2024, delivering the IOSH approved incident investigation training course to a number of staff, working in a wide range of disciplines, across several companies!

So far, we have had the pleasure of delivering our courses to staff from VolkerRail, MTR Elizabeth Line, Ex-Test UK Ltd, and Network Rail, equipping each cohort with the best tools to improve their investigations and ensure effective learning from their findings.

We also:

• deliver several non-rail IOSH Approved courses. Find out more here
• develop and deliver bespoke incident investigation courses specific to your organisations needs
• provide independent investigation services to support your business in undertaking an unbiased investigation.

By booking one of our courses, you are making a great investment for you and your business and most importantly for improving workforce safety through effective incident investigations. We are confident that this will be a strategic move for your own personal development as a new or established incident investigator or for your business and how you undertake future investigations within your organisation.

Contact us here if you’re interested in booking a full dedicated course for your organisation, or if you would like a space on one of our open courses.

At T&A Safety Services, we believe that our investigation training courses are best in class, and that is only made possible by applying many innovative ways of teaching that ensure a truly immersive, practical and enjoyable course.

We take pride in offering what we consider to be the best investigation training courses for any industry. Our secret ingredient for success? Collaborating with Mandy Disney of AD Safety, Steve Willis of Rainy Days Hub, and David Grindley of Stephenson Steam Railway.

Together, we have brought creative and innovative approaches to T&A Safety Services training courses, providing delegates with a truly immersive, practical and enjoyable experience. By having access to a track environment, and adding actors to our training courses, we’ve been able to take our teaching to the next level.

This collaboration has allowed T&A Safety Services to develop a strong product, while contributing to the professional and personal development of all involved. We believe that leveraging the collective intelligence and skills of a group can achieve more than what individuals could accomplish alone.

We have been delivering these courses for several years now and are excited to continue delivering these courses for many more years to come. We encourage you to check out Stephenson Steam Railway and Rainy Days Hub to see what they can do for your business.