A cross-industry initiative to better understand how health and safety concerns are reported across the UK’s light rail networks has reached a significant milestone, following the completion of focus groups with frontline tram staff.
Led by the Light Rail Safety and Standards Board (LRSSB) in partnership with the confidential safety hotline CIRAS, the project is examining whether health and safety issues and hazardous events may be under-reported, and if so, why. The work is focused on listening directly to employees, understanding barriers to reporting, and identifying practical ways to improve both reporting channels and feedback mechanisms.
Frontline staff from four UK light rail networks took part in the research sessions, sharing candid views on their experiences and offering ideas on how organisations can better support a strong reporting culture.
Laura Reardon, Head of Safety Risk Management at LRSSB, said the project is about ensuring decisions are grounded in a full and accurate picture of risk.
“This work will help establish whether there is evidence of under-reporting of health and safety concerns and incidents on the light rail frontline, and explore the factors that may be contributing to that,” she said.
“The project follows a structured, three-stage approach: analysing existing LRSSB data, undertaking fieldwork with drivers, tramway staff and safety teams, and then reviewing anonymised findings to identify appropriate actions. It’s vital for any organisation that relies on data-led decision making to understand where gaps may exist, and we’re grateful to the workforce for engaging so openly.”
The initiative aims not only to identify any reporting gaps, but also to develop clear recommendations that networks can use to strengthen trust, encourage openness and improve learning from incidents and near misses.
Susan Gray, Stakeholder Manager at CIRAS, said the collaboration reflects a shared commitment to building a listening culture across light rail.
“We’re delighted to be working so closely with LRSSB on a project that aligns so strongly with our values,” she said. “Understanding potential under-reporting and listening to frontline voices is essential if operators are to create environments where people feel confident to speak up about safety.”
The findings from the research will now be analysed, with outcomes expected to support both LRSSB and individual tramway operators in enhancing their approaches to health and safety reporting, and ultimately improving safety performance across the sector.
