RSSB, the rail industry’s standards body, has unveiled two new training courses aimed at upskilling frontline workers and enhancing operational decision-making. The initiatives are designed to bolster safety and efficiency within Britain’s safety-critical rail network.
The first course focuses on developing essential leadership skills for frontline rail workers, recognising the crucial role these individuals play in maintaining a safe and effective railway. RSSB research has demonstrated that strong frontline leadership is directly linked to positive safety outcomes, increased staff retention, and improved overall performance.
“Britain’s railway is a safety-critical industry,” said a spokesperson for RSSB. “It relies on a professional and competent workforce that’s undertaken the necessary training to build, develop, and refresh their capabilities. Through our training courses, we share our expertise, helping embed good practice and building the industry’s competencies.”
The new leadership course aims to equip frontline managers with the tools they need to lead effectively in a dynamic and complex environment.
The second course addresses operational decision-making, a critical skill for all rail personnel. It acknowledges that even experienced individuals can struggle to make rational decisions under pressure, particularly in stressful situations or when faced with limited information.
“Even the most experienced people are not always rational decision makers,” stated RSSB. “This is especially true in stressful situations, when information is lacking or when being asked to make safety-critical decisions early in the morning or at the end of a long shift. Our new operational decision-making course equips people with the skills needed to make rational decisions under pressure or when faced with unfamiliar or unusual situations.”
These new offerings join RSSB’s existing portfolio of successful training courses, which have seen thousands of rail industry employees participate since 2019. These include Accident Investigation Training, Non-Technical Skills Training, Human Factors Training, Carbon Literacy for Rail Training, and Mental Health e-learning.
Thanuja Kandasamy, RSSB’s Head of Learning and Development, emphasised the importance of continuous development in the rapidly evolving rail industry. She said: “Developing employees’ capabilities is critical during this period of rapid evolution in the rail industry, as it not only enables them to cope with the pace of change but also instils the confidence needed to navigate new challenges effectively.
“RSSB is dedicated to supporting this by working with the industry to continuously assess skills gaps and create tailored training solutions to address learning needs.
“Our courses are designed and delivered by experts in their field and are regularly updated to reflect the ever-changing environment of the rail sector. As evidenced by the number of attendees and their positive feedback, we are committed to providing training that helps the rail industry build, grow, and refresh employees’ capabilities to navigate this dynamic and evolving landscape effectively.”
