Safety in Railway Construction - Coursework Example

Railway safety Introduction Safety in railway construction and use is accorded the highest priority by most countries. All possible steps are taken continuously to enhance safety and prevent accidents. Accident prevention strategies include progressively obtaining reduction in accidents that are attributable to human error and failure through introducing modern devices and technologies to mechanize maintenance (Sciutto 76). There are various safety measures employed in railway construction and use. These measures include adoption of suitable technologies for maintaining and upgrading track, timely replacement of obsolete assets, interlocking and signaling systems, rolling stock, greater emphasis on trainings and regular inspections to educate and monitor staff for safety practices and observation, and safety drives (Sciutto 77-78). Railway safety systems and devices have been introduced to prevent accidents. Some of the commonly used safety devices include auxiliary warning systems, block proving axle counters, vigilance control device, train collision avoidance system, fog safety device, train protection and warning system, and anti-collision device among other systems. Despite these devices and systems, railway accidents are still witnessed in many parts of the world. However, some countries have commissions of railway safety that enquire every consequential train accidents depending on the severity (Sciutto 79). In India alone, based on reports of Railway Safety Commission, 59 accidents out of 93 accidents recorded between 2010 and 2011 were attributable to human failure. Ten accidents were due to failure other than human, two were due to equipment failure, 16 resulted from sabotage, four were caused by incidental factors, and two were due to a combination of several factors (Flammini 12-13). There has been a lot of property loss and deaths due to consequential train accidents. These losses and deaths have stirred debates across the world, with many passing legislation to protect the public, and sentence people who are caught with failure or negligence. The federal railway authority of railroad safety regulates and promotes safety in the railroad industry. The office executes inspection and regulatory responsibilities via diverse safety experts and railroad staff. The federal railway authority, in attempts to promote safety, focuses on hazardous material, operating practices, motive equipment and power, track, signal and train control, customer training and railroad safety, employee fatality and accident reporting and investigation, establishment and implementation of safety standards and rules, and partnerships between management, labor, and agencies addressing systemic initiatives (Sciutto 80-81). The commitment of the government to implement railroad safety standards and rules has seen a decline in railway accidents. For example, there about 905 accidents and 1,358 injuries and deaths in 2005, which were a three percent decline and an 81 percent increase with 936 operation accidents and 749 injuries and deaths in the year 2000. However, there have been railroad operation accidents that have resulted into huge social impact. For example, the Joetsu Bullet Train that was caused by earthquake in 2004, the JR East derailment, the Tosa Kuroshio Railway derailment in 2005, the JR East Uetsu Line in 2005, and the JR West Fukuchiyama Line in 2005 (Flammini 16-17). Even though studies have recorded decline in operations accidents in the long-term, serious railroad accidents has taken place and caused significant social impact on the society. These accidents exemplified as a consequence that a single accident does not only interfere with commuter convenience, but also results into great damage. The trust on railway has also declined with many commuters feeling unsafe in the trains. The demand for efficiency in operations is, however, growing because of the sluggish growth of traffic in the recent past. Nevertheless, a number of businesses of local railways are forced into dealing with unfavorable conditions of business because of the aging and declining population along railway lines (Stotts 57-58). With the above reality in mind, the government strongly and comprehensively promotes numerous safety measures, with the cooperation and understanding of the people. The main aim of safety measures in Section Two is to cut the number of commuter deaths to zero and decline the number of operation accidents. The safety measures have seen a decline in operation accidents. It is also evident that measures of safety based on the past fundamental programs of traffic safety have remained effective to some extent. However, many other operational accidents still occur every year, and the problems that underlie particular accidents must be addressed and the past lessons from accidents used in the implementation of safety measures. Therefore, the government needs to promote traffic safety standards and policies from a comprehensive perspective, including securing safe operations of the railway, improving the railway traffic environment, and securing railway vehicle safety (Great Britain, Department of Transport 50-51). In order to curb railroad accidents and promote railway safety, the government must embrace safety measures and standards. The government needs to keep a high level of railway facility reliability such as operational safety facilities, railway tracks, and build safety foundation for the whole railway system. In order to achieve this, safety standards and measure should be implemented by making sure of maintenance management of railway facilities and enhancing the improvement of facility safety operations, as well as the reinforcement of the earthquake resistance of structures of railways. Some of the obvious measures that the government must implement include improving systems of operational safety, reinforcing measures of anti-earthquake for railways, implementing railway operators’ safety audits, and improving quality of and education for safety personnel and railway crew (Stotts 60-61). There is a need to check and improve railway facilities. The upgrade and maintenance of facilities such as roadbeds and railway tracks must be conducted properly in order to ensure railway safety. Improvements in the protection of railway track equipment should also be promoted in order to prevent facilities and tracks from damage due to falling rocks, landslides caused by heavy rains, and avalanche. In regards to regular inspection, repair of railway structures and maintenance, the government must ensure proper maintenance, regular inspections and management of railway facilities (Sciutto 82-83). It is also in order for the government to promote proper maintenance and repair of the railway facilities and vehicles in small and medium-sized local railways. It should also be based on the program of maintenance and improvement setting out the specifics those railway operators has to implement in order to ensure safety. For underground railways, railway operators must implement improvements on stations that do not comply with the standards of fire disaster for underground railways. There is a need to improve railway safety across the world due to the severity of accidents and number of fatalities. Regarding railway station facilities, the government should give consideration to the safe use of stations by disabled and elderly people. It should also promote the decline of the level differences and the installation of the equipment of fall prevention so as to establish a barrier-free environment for commuters. The government should encourage railway operators to observe safety standards and measures in order to prevent falls from platforms where trains move in rapid succession or at high speed. Some of the measures required in such scenarios include installation of fall detection mats, emergency stop buttons, and the provision of an evacuation space under the platforms (Great Britain, Department of Transport 53-54). In the light of the derailment train accidents recorded across the world, the government should work to improve systems of operational safety through completing the installment of ATS for preventing speeding on sharp curved. Nonetheless, the government should promote the upgrade and improvement of communication devices, and train radio systems. Such improvements will ensure that vital information is transmitted quickly during emergency situations such as earthquakes and accidents. The government should also promote measures that resist earthquakes. In addition, the government should also deliberate on the prevention measures of derailment besides promoting the elevated bridge pillars seismic strengthening for conventional railway lines. Seismic strengthening is vital in major railway stations, as well as provision of equipment with capacity to retransmit disaster information in railways situated underground (Flammini 15-16). The way in which supervision and instruction are given to operators should also be reviewed. The government should promote safety management system building that includes all workforce levels from on-site workers to top management. Nevertheless, the government should introduce a mechanism of safety management assessment where it checks all the safety systems. Measures against gale force wind from both intangible and tangible aspects should also be deliberated and implemented. The quality of the crews and personnel maintenance should also be improved, as well as safety audits. Public awareness is also important in the efforts to curb railway accidents. The government should promote greater awareness through educational activities and publicity (Great Britain, Department of Transport 56-57). Safety measures do not end with systems and railway facilities alone. Education for safety personnel and railways crew is part of the safety promotion. The government should instruct operators to enhance education and training program performances for safety personnel and railways crew. They should be encouraged to conduct regular scientific aptitude tests so as to secure competencies of safety personnel and railways crew. Driving railway tests should also be conducted among train operators so as to secure quality. In an attempt to improve operation quality, there is a need to study the ideal education from train operators and how to improve the environment of work. These measures will ensure a decline in operation accidents, and promote railway safety. The government should cooperate with train operators to improve contact procedures and expand systems of communications. This will ensure that train operators can collect and communicate information more accurately and quickly in the event of an emergency or disaster. Railway operators should also improve operation management systems in order to quickly take proper measures in the event of a disaster. This can be ensured through making emergency contacts, accurately assaying conditions of train operations, taking prompt emergency measures, giving proper information to commuters, and improving emergency transportation systems. These measures are likely to reduce social impacts caused by disorder in train transport (Flammini 19-20). The government should also lead train operators in strictly implementing safety standards and measures in the workplace. These safety management procedures can include checking psychological and physical conditions of safety personnel and railways crew so as to ensure they are fit for performance of duties and safe operations. It is also in order to assess the possibility of systemizing train operators quality management and implement measures of reaching a decision. Promoting knowledge diffusion about safety of railway traffic is also necessary to promote railway safety. It is necessary to transmit knowledge concerning safe passage at railway crossings in order to prevent railway accidents. Railway crossings are common with accidents resulting from external factors such as railway obstruction from rocks on the tracks. The government should, therefore, instruct railway operators to conduct educational activities and publicity in schools, among road transport companies, and among people living along railway lines. Railway operators should take thorough safety measures to protect railway workers and constructors who are engaged in maintaining railway facilities (Flammini 21-22). There is also a need to implement safety audits of railway operators. Safety audits should be conducted on regular basis. Based on the audit results, proper instructions are provided to the railway operators concerning the management and maintenance of trains and facilities, training and education of railway crews, railway operation procedures, and safety management systems. The safety audits should be strengthened and improved through follow-ups on the guidance provided in the past, and implanting measures on which decisions are made. Railway safety liaison conference should also be regularly held and information exchanged on safety measures and accident prevention measures. Guidance is necessary to secure transport safety for railway crews and to improve in-house reporting system (Great Britain, Parliament House of Commons and Transport Committee 39-40). Weather information is also vital in implanting safety measures. Weather conditions and other natural phenomena that could cause rail accidents must be understood. Efforts to improve quality of weather information such as advisories and severe weather forecasts, warnings, tropical cyclone, tsunami, earthquake, heavy rain, and volcanic eruptions must be implemented. Such information should be conveyed in a timely manner to avoid accidents. Railway companies should work fast to collect and interpret such meteorological information and reflect on operations management in order to reduce accidents and damage on railway facilities. It is also necessary to construct facilities for observing such weather conditions in order to curb accidents and damage that they cause. Information sharing should also be promoted among disaster management institutions. The knowledge of people concerning meteorological phenomena should also be improved, promoted through seminars and publicity in order to ensure railway safety (Stotts 62-63). When all the safety systems are implemented as discussed above. The railroad industry can be sure of safety. However, railway safety cannot be guaranteed if causes of previous accidents are not fully investigated and determined. There is need to improve specialized techniques of investigating railroad accidents in order to investigate the causes of railway accidents. The investigation system can be improved through reinforcing staff. The government needs to use the latest technological and scientific advancement to review technical safety standards concerning the equipment and structure of railway vehicles. The method and substance of inspection should also be enhanced in order to improve and maintain railway vehicle safety (Great Britain, Parliament House of Commons and Transport Committee 42-43). Technical safety standards for equipment and constructions of railway vehicles should also be improved. The government should reflect the latest railway vehicle technology and the causal analysis result of malfunction in technical standards. This will ensure that the accuracy of railway vehicle inspection is promoted. Inspection can be enhanced by introducing new inspection instruments that use information technology and other new technologies. Education and training programs for inspectors should also be upgraded in the process. Inspection data and malfunction data analysis should be done in order to prevent malfunction of railway vehicle through reflecting results in the management and maintenance (Sciutto 85-86). In the event of an emergency, disaster, there is need for rescue and emergency evacuation systems. This means that the government should enhance prompt and effective rescue, evacuation and emergency services in the event of an accident. Disaster drills should be promoted at railway stations, and strengthens closer liaison systems and cooperation between railway crews and medical institutions, fire services, and other relevant organizations. There is also the need to promote victims’ support. The government should improve assistance activities for claims of compensation and implement measures that are sensitive to the feelings of those affected, victims. Most specifically, in case of a railway accident, medical institutions, the police, local authorities, and support groups should cooperate to support the victims (Great Britain, Parliament House of Commons and Transport Committee 45-46). Conclusion In conclusion, there is a need to implement R & D to promote comprehensive research studies and prevent accidents through investigating the accident causes. The R & D should be directed at preventing accidents (Stotts 70). Due to the recent railway accidents in the past, there is need to promote developments in technology that contributes to promoting railway safety. In addition, comprehensive studies that investigate causes of railway accidents should be implemented. This can be done through improving the knowledge obtained from the previous accident investigations. Immediate remedial measures should be taken in order to reduce railway accidents and ensure safety. There should be appropriate responsibility and accountability. Railways should be operated and managed professionally. Automatic signaling systems and modern advanced technologies should be implemented in all railway stations. Mechanical failures should be avoided through sorting expert advice. Works Cited Flammini, Francesco. Railway Safety, Reliability, and Security: Technologies and Systems Engineering. Hershey PA: Information Science Reference, 2012. Print. Great Britain, Department of Transport. Railway Safety: Report on the Safety Record of the Railways in Great Britain. London: H.M.S.O, 2005. Print. Great Britain, Parliament House of Commons and Transport Committee. Personal Passenger Safety in Railway Stations: Oral and Written Evidence. London: Stationery Office, 2006. Print. Johnsen, S. O., et al. "Cross Border Railway Operations: Improving Safety at Cultural Interfaces." Cognition, Technology & Work 8.1 (2006): 76-88. Sciutto, G. Safety and Security in Railway Engineering. Southampton: WIT Press, 2010. Print. Stotts, Ryan. "Railway Meets with Cities on Safety Plans." La Crosse TribuneMar 12 2009   Read More