Post-incident assessments
The OPC recognises the increasing importance of human factors in helping train drivers remain safe in their day-to-day driving. We have therefore used our expertise to develop a range of programmes and workshops for managers in the driver function whose drivers have had Safety of the Line (SOL) incidents. These are designed to assist them in helping their drivers get back to driving and remain safe.
1. Psychologist surgery
Our experience tells us that when an OPC psychologist undertakes a review of a train driver’s safety incident they often identify human factors that could have played a role in causing the incident that were not identified from the organisation's own investigation. The psychologist surgery is therefore designed to give the investigators of a SOL incident real time access to a psychologist during a live investigation. The psychologist surgery is provided by phone, online via Teams and email and it gives investigators expert human factor help. It will also help investigators to ask the right questions to draw out the key human factors that may have contributed to the safety incident.
2. Post-incident workshop
The post-incident workshop is designed for drivers that have had minor SOL incidents. The workshop is typically delivered to a group of drivers and introduces them to human factors and their impact on train driver incidents. During the workshop each driver is encouraged to prepare his/her own Non-Technical Skills (NTS) development plan for implementation back at work with the support of their manager. Then, the day after the workshop a follow-up meeting takes place with the driver manager, the driver and the psychologist to finalise the driver’s development plan.
3. Post-incident assessment
The post-incident assessment (PIA) is designed for drivers that have had more serious SOL incidents. In addition, many organisations use the PIA when existing coaching and action plans implemented by them have failed to stem the driver’s incidents. The OPC offers three different levels of PIA depending on the depth and detail the client is looking for and they can be undertaken in person or remotely via Teams. However, they all contain four essential components:
- A review of the safety incident(s) prior to the assessment – this will involve the OPC psychologist reviewing the investigation paperwork and discussing with the driver’s manager what he/she would like to achieve from the assessment.
- An assessment using psychological tests and exercises e.g. ability, concentration, motivation and/or personality. The assessment is designed to identify any psychological issues that might have contributed to the driver’s safety incident(s).
- A report summarising the psychological assessment and what was found including strengths and weaknesses for the driver.
- A bespoke NTS development plan that the driver can implement back at work with support from his/her manager and it includes a menu of practical NTS solutions that can help keep the driver safe when (or if) they return to driving.
4. Post Incident Workshop with Managers
The post incident workshop with managers is a short complimentary workshop offered to driver managers, operations specialists and depot managers to help them better understand the range of post incident options offered by the OPC. This workshop also draws on case studies form OPC’s work with UK and international train drivers following SOL incidents.
To review some articles and case studies of our post incident assessments, please click below:
- Successfully undertaking remote PIAs, August 2020
If you're not sure as to which option is best for your organisation, or you would like to know more about how we could assist you with post-incident assessments, then contact the OPC today.