The Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) has published new guidance aimed at improving the reporting of work-related violence (WRV) within the rail industry. Developed in consultation with the industry’s Work-Related Violence Group, led by the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) and chaired by Network Rail, the guidance seeks to address the significant issue of underreporting.
The rail industry recognizes that no employee should face violence or trauma while at work. However, current statistics reveal that over 94% of frontline rail staff have experienced some form of WRV, with 25.6% reporting physical assaults. Following a period of decline, incidents of violence on the railway have unfortunately been on the rise since 2015.
A key challenge in tackling WRV is the underreporting of incidents and the lack of comprehensive data. This hinders the industry’s ability to fully understand the root causes and develop effective solutions. The RSSB’s new guidance is a crucial first step towards improving data collection and analysis.
The report offers practical advice and is designed for ease of use, particularly for senior leaders and managers. It includes:
- A summary of common barriers to reporting WRV.
- Practical tips for organizations to encourage and facilitate proper reporting.
Joana Faustino, RSSB’s Principal Health and Wellbeing Specialist, said:
“Work-related violence is a big issue for our frontline staff, with devastating consequences. But research has consistently shown it to be highly underreported. With limited data, comes an impaired understanding of the issue and limitations to preventing and addressing it effectively.
“We need our frontline staff to consistently report their experiences of work-related violence. All of them. But we need to start by understanding why they may not always report. This new document compiles evidence on barriers to reporting, while also offering practical ways to address them, to support rail organisations in creating the right environment for staff to report.
Work-related violence should never be part of the job. The publication of this document is another step towards tackling it.”
