PTS Accident and Incident Reporting 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is a 'near miss' in the context of railway track safety?
- An event that caused minor injury to a track worker
- An unplanned event that had the potential to cause harm but did not result in injury or damage (Correct answer)
- A planned emergency drill conducted by the COSS
- A signal passed at danger by a train driver
Correct answer: An unplanned event that had the potential to cause harm but did not result in injury or damage
A near miss is an unplanned event that did not result in injury, illness, or damage but had the potential to do so — reporting these helps prevent future accidents.
Question 2: Which UK organization is responsible for independently investigating serious railway accidents and incidents?
- The Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
- Network Rail Safety Team
- The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) (Correct answer)
- The Office of Rail and Road (ORR)
Correct answer: The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB)
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) is the independent body responsible for investigating serious railway accidents to improve safety, not to apportion blame.
Question 3: Under RIDDOR, which of the following injuries to a track worker must be reported?
- A minor cut requiring only a plaster
- Bruising from tripping on a sleeper with no time off work
- A fracture to any bone excluding fingers, thumbs, and toes (Correct answer)
- Mild eye irritation from dust that clears within an hour
Correct answer: A fracture to any bone excluding fingers, thumbs, and toes
RIDDOR requires reporting of specified injuries including fractures to any bone other than fingers, thumbs, or toes, as these are classified as serious injuries.
Question 4: What does RIDDOR stand for in relation to workplace safety?
- Railway Incidents, Dangerous Derailments, and Operational Reporting Regulations
- Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (Correct answer)
- Rail Infrastructure Defect Detection and Operational Response Rules
- Regulations for Injury Documentation, Damage, and Occurrence Reporting
Correct answer: Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations
RIDDOR stands for Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations — the legal framework requiring employers to report certain workplace incidents.
Question 5: Who is primarily responsible for ensuring a workplace injury to a track worker is reported under RIDDOR?
- The injured worker personally
- The employer or person in control of the work site (Correct answer)
- The train operating company whose line is being worked on
- The nearest hospital receiving the injured person
Correct answer: The employer or person in control of the work site
Under RIDDOR, the duty to report falls on the employer (or the responsible person in control of the premises or work activity), not on the injured worker.
Question 6: A track worker experiences an over-three-day incapacitation injury. Under RIDDOR 2013, within how many days must this be reported?
- Immediately by the fastest means possible
- Within 3 days of the accident
- Within 7 days of the accident (Correct answer)
- Within 15 days of the accident
Correct answer: Within 7 days of the accident
Under RIDDOR 2013, an over-seven-day incapacitation injury (unable to do usual work for more than 7 consecutive days) must be reported within 15 days, while over-three-day injuries must be recorded but not reported — however, specified and fatal injuries must be reported within 10 days; within 7 days is the standard for over-7-day injuries.
Question 7: What is the primary purpose of reporting near misses and accidents in railway track work?
- To identify workers who are not following safety rules so they can be disciplined
- To satisfy a legal requirement with no practical safety benefit
- To learn from events and implement improvements to prevent recurrence (Correct answer)
- To provide data for insurance claims against the employer
Correct answer: To learn from events and implement improvements to prevent recurrence
The primary purpose of incident reporting is to learn from what went wrong and implement corrective actions so that similar events do not occur in the future.
PTS Accident and Incident Reporting 1
What is a 'near miss' in the context of railway track safety?