Federal Transit Administration Office of Safety and Security Hazard Management Ways to Improve the Hazard Management Process.

Federal Transit AdministrationOffice of Safety and Security

Hazard Management

Ways to Ways to Improve the Improve the Hazard Hazard Management Management ProcessProcess

Federal Transit AdministrationOffice of Safety and Security

Get Educated

Find opportunities to enhance knowledge and skills:– Take TSI’s Rail System Safety Training Course– Participate in training at the rail transit agency– Read and understand the rail transit agency’s rulebook– Shadow key rail transit agency positions– Look for additional training opportunities

Federal Transit AdministrationOffice of Safety and Security

Formalize the SOA Role

Require monthly or quarterly reports or meetings

Document processes in the Program Standard

Ensure the SSPP and related procedures also document these processes

Monitor corrective action plans

Federal Transit AdministrationOffice of Safety and Security

Meet with RTA Executive Leadership

Explain program requirements and solicit support for implementation

Educate top management on the purpose of the program

Explain the SOA’s role in the hazard management process and Part 659 requirements

Discuss and assess upper management’s commitment to the hazard management process

Federal Transit AdministrationOffice of Safety and Security

Assess and Clarify the Hazard Management Process with the RTA

Hold a meeting with key players from:– Safety– Operations– Engineering– Quality Assurance– Maintenance– Planning and Development– Construction Services– Executive Management– Contractor Representatives

Federal Transit AdministrationOffice of Safety and Security

Assess and Clarify the Hazard Management Process with the RTA

Collect each department’s understanding of the RTA’s hazard management process and identify– Roles and responsibilities– Key procedures and protocols– Resource commitments

Federal Transit AdministrationOffice of Safety and Security

Assess and Clarify the Hazard Management Process with the RTA

Review hazard management process requirements as documented in the Program Standard

Identify the “Who” in the process:– Who is responsible to identify and report hazards– Who is responsible to analyze hazards– Who is responsible for determining the actions to be taken– Who is responsible to implement these actions– Who will track hazard mitigation and elimination efforts– Who will verify hazard resolution– Who will communicate results back to the original reporter

Federal Transit AdministrationOffice of Safety and Security

Assess and Clarify the Hazard Management Process with the RTA

Review hazard management process requirements as documented in the Program Standard

Identify the “What” in the process:– What are the methods for identifying hazards– What protocols and procedures are in place for reporting– What tools will be used to analyze hazards– What tool will be used to track hazards through

resolution

Federal Transit AdministrationOffice of Safety and Security

Assess and Clarify the Hazard Management Process with the RTA

Review hazard management process requirements as documented in the Program Standard

Discuss the “When” and the “How”:– When are hazards reported to the Safety Department– When are hazards reported to the SOA– How does the RTA encourage employee participation– How does the RTA treat employees that report hazards– How are employees trained in hazard management

Revise procedures and protocols as necessary to gain buy-in

Federal Transit AdministrationOffice of Safety and Security

Participate

In Safety Committee Meetings where hazard are discussed

In Rule Committees where rule changes are discussed

Request to be carbon copied on special orders and operating bulletins

Provide available resources to the RTA

Assist RTA in evaluating potential safety issues and concerns in developing rule revisions

Federal Transit AdministrationOffice of Safety and Security

Spend Time Onsite

Become familiar with the RTA and its employees

Observe activities in shops and yards, on the right of way, in the control center, and other work sites

Observe in the field training

When a hazard is identified, actively follow-up to ensure the RTA is following procedures

Observer how the RTA conducts accident investigations

Federal Transit AdministrationOffice of Safety and Security

Use Every Available Source

Ensure the RTA is using all available sources to identify hazards– Passenger reports and complaints– Data mining of control center logs and maintenance

management systems– Special orders and speed restrictions– Employee reports– Review of unusual occurrence reports– Safety statistics reports– RTA internal audit reports– Facility inspection reports– Efficiency/proficiency testing results– Accident investigation results

Federal Transit AdministrationOffice of Safety and Security

Formal Analyses

Formal Analyses can identify hazards that are not visible to the naked eye. Examples include:– Job Safety / Hazard Analysis (JSA / JHA)– Preliminary Hazard Analysis (PHA)– Workplace Risk Assessment and Control (PHA/WRAC)– Hazard and Operability Study (HAZOP)– Fault Tree Analysis (FTA)– Event Tree Analysis (ETA)– Level of Protection Analysis (LOPA)– Failure Modes, Effects and Criticality Analysis (FMECA)– Human Error Analysis (HEA)

Federal Transit AdministrationOffice of Safety and Security

Trust Through Verification

Verify key elements that ensure effectiveness of the hazard management program. Verify:– Safety Department and Safety Committee are

performing hazard evaluation and categorization activities

– CAPs are developed to address identified hazards and identify individuals responsible for implementation

– Safety Department follows-up on outstanding CAPS

Federal Transit AdministrationOffice of Safety and Security

Develop Tools

Use technology to support the tracking of hazards and to help in their identification and management– Email, websites,1-800 services– Excel spreadsheets– Intranet-based systems– Access databases