PTS Accident and Incident Reporting 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When a track worker witnesses a near miss, what should they do first?
- Continue working and report the near miss at the end of the shift
- Inform the COSS and complete an incident report as soon as possible (Correct answer)
- Only report it if the near miss involved a moving train
- Discuss it informally with colleagues but take no official action
Correct answer: Inform the COSS and complete an incident report as soon as possible
Near misses should be reported to the COSS immediately and documented as soon as practicable so that risks can be assessed and controlled without delay.
Question 2: What is meant by a 'dangerous occurrence' under RIDDOR in the railway context?
- Any situation where a worker feels unsafe even if nothing happens
- A near-miss or specified event defined in RIDDOR that must be reported even if no one was injured (Correct answer)
- An occurrence that results in property damage only
- A minor incident recorded only in the site safety log
Correct answer: A near-miss or specified event defined in RIDDOR that must be reported even if no one was injured
A dangerous occurrence is a specified near-miss or event listed in RIDDOR (such as a train running through red signals or a structural collapse) that must be reported regardless of whether anyone was injured.
Question 3: Which of the following details is essential when completing an accident report for a track worker injury?
- The injured worker's home address and personal financial details
- The date, time, location, nature of the injury, and how the accident occurred (Correct answer)
- The names of witnesses who were not on site at the time
- The shift supervisor's personal opinion on who was at fault
Correct answer: The date, time, location, nature of the injury, and how the accident occurred
An accurate accident report must include the date, time, exact location, the nature of the injury sustained, and a factual account of how the accident occurred to support investigation.
Question 4: What evidence should be preserved at the scene of a track accident before any investigation?
- Only photographic evidence — physical items should be cleared for safety
- Physical items, positions of equipment, and environmental conditions should all be preserved where safe to do so (Correct answer)
- Nothing — the priority is to resume track operations as quickly as possible
- Only the track worker's personal protective equipment
Correct answer: Physical items, positions of equipment, and environmental conditions should all be preserved where safe to do so
Preserving the scene, including positions of tools, equipment, and environmental factors, is critical for an accurate investigation — as long as this does not create additional risk.
Question 5: A track worker slips and falls but says they feel fine and do not want the incident reported. What should the COSS do?
- Respect the worker's wishes and not record the incident
- Record the incident in the site accident book regardless of the worker's preference (Correct answer)
- Only report it if the worker loses time from work that same day
- Wait 24 hours to see if the worker develops symptoms before reporting
Correct answer: Record the incident in the site accident book regardless of the worker's preference
All accidents and incidents must be recorded in the accident book regardless of whether the worker appears injured at the time, as symptoms may develop later and the record protects both parties.
Question 6: What is the 'no-blame' culture in railway safety reporting?
- A policy where no one is held accountable for any accident, regardless of negligence
- An approach that encourages honest reporting by focusing on systemic issues rather than punishing individuals for genuine mistakes (Correct answer)
- A rule that prevents workers from naming colleagues in incident reports
- A legal protection that makes all accident reports confidential from employers
Correct answer: An approach that encourages honest reporting by focusing on systemic issues rather than punishing individuals for genuine mistakes
A no-blame culture encourages workers to report near misses and incidents honestly by focusing on identifying systemic failures rather than punishing individuals for non-deliberate errors.
Question 7: Which body should be notified in the event of a fatality on a railway construction or maintenance site?
- Only the site manager and company HR department
- The local police only
- The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the employer must also notify the RAIB if rail operations are involved (Correct answer)
- The train operating company whose infrastructure is affected
Correct answer: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the employer must also notify the RAIB if rail operations are involved
A workplace fatality must be reported to the HSE under RIDDOR immediately; if rail operations were involved, the RAIB must also be notified as they have jurisdiction over railway incidents.
PTS Accident and Incident Reporting 2
When a track worker witnesses a near miss, what should they do first?