Meet the System Safety and Risk group
This cross-industry risk group is shaping a safer future for rail.
Sarah Shooter Editorial Content Manager, RSSB
Each month we spotlight the work of cross-industry group or committee. This month, it's the System Safety and Risk Group (SSRG).
The SSRG champions cross-industry collaboration to reduce risk and strengthen safety in rail. Their mission is to deliver improvement on the key risk areas in the Rail Health and Safety Strategy (RHSS). They provide strategic monitoring of the industry’s collaborative progress towards this goal. To realise the benefits of the RHSS, all parties need to work together. This SSRG is making this happen at the national level through its cross-industry, risk-focused, and safety groups.
The SSRG advises RSSB on work related to risk analysis and safety data. Their expertise, leadership, and promotion of co-operation on rail-related risk benefit of the whole sector.
The SSRG is supported in this task by a network of industry groups. These groups are aligned to the risk themes of the RHSS. They undertake detailed monitoring and analysis in their specific areas, then return to the SSRG to share their findings. The chair of each group is a member of the SSRG. This creates a powerful research-grounded overview of risk and safety on the railway.
Ellie Burrows of Network Rail chairs this top-level group, which is observed by Department for Transport (DfT) and the Office of Rail and Road (ORR). Other members hail from across the industry, as well as RSSB.
We support the specialist safety risk groups that monitor the risks and capabilities set out in the strategy. We also monitor and review the strategy. We reflect on industry progress, building on the work of the risk groups, and ensure industry collaboration continues to mature.
Asset Integrity Group
Infrastructure Safety Leadership Group
Level Crossing Strategy Group
National Freight Safety Group
People on Trains and in Stations Risk Group
Road Risk Group
Train Accident Risk Group
Trespass and Suicide Prevention Strategy Group
Work Related Violence Strategy Group
Human Factors Integration Group
Rail Health and Safety Strategy Editorial Board.
It’s already a legal requirement for rail organisations to co-operate with each other, but the RHSS goes beyond that. The key word is collaboration.
The SSRG encourages rail organisations to look at the strategy, consider their own risk profiles, find projects they can leverage, and learn from other companies. This way, companies can solve their problems together.
The strategy asks industry leaders to recognise that there are different levels of maturity of organisations across the network, and they all have different problems. Then, to engage with the strategy and find the areas that speak to their needs.
Collaboration itself is a measurable form of success. ORR’s inspections look at how mature a company’s safety compliance is. Collaboration and cross-industry learning is a way to demonstrate maturity in this area. It can also be achieved by getting involved in the SSRG’s work, and the risk groups.
The SSRG works to ensure that we take a whole-system approach to managing safety. It recognises that collaboration allows organisations to learn from each other, and—when necessary—coordinate actions and approaches for the overall benefit of the whole railway system. Ensuring consistency, as opposed to uniformity, and common understanding is the goal.
To deliver on its purpose and remit, it needs decision makers at the top level. If you’re a top-level decision maker motivated to improve system safety in rail, reach out and see how you can get involved.
Visit our website for more information about SSRG and its subgroups.
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