Error Types and Potential Mitigation Strategies in Signal Passed at Danger (SPAD) Events in an Australian Rail Organisation

A common safety issue in the rail industry is a Signal Passed at Danger (SPAD) occurrence in which a train encroaches into a section of track without authority, usually by passing a signal at stop. This study aimed to analyze SPADs using the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS) modified to suit the rail industry (HFACS-RR) to examine the human factors involved in the occurrences and identify trends. An analysis of an Australian freight rail organization’s investigation reports (N = 35) into SPADs was undertaken. The analysis revealed at least one HFACS-RR category for each of the events examined. It was found that 97.1% (n = 34) of the events had an ‘operator act’ category, with 74.3% associated with operator errors. Contraventions (e.g. violation of signal approach speed) and distraction (e.g. focus on other non-critical tasks) were the most common types of errors. Mitigation strategies to address these errors are discussed. These include a single methodology to investigate SPADs; train driver performance monitoring; and training strategies focused on route knowledge, all of which have the potential to reduce SPADs and thereby minimize risk and improve safety. Future research into SPADs may include utilizing a larger sample from various organizations and examining potential differences in the frequency and types of errors of single versus two-man crewed trains.

• Record URL:
  • https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2018.05.015
• Record URL:
  • http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925753517310731
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/09257535
• Supplemental Notes:
  • © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Abstract reprinted with permission of Elsevier.
• Authors:
  • Punzet, Lisa
  • Pignata, Silvia
  • 0000-0002-7583-4232
  • Rose, Janette
• Publication Date: 2018

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Features: References;
• Pagination: pp 89-99
• Serial:
  • Safety Science
  • Volume: 110
  • Issue Number: 0
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 0925-7535
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/09257535

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Distraction; Freight trains; Human error; Human factors in crashes; Railroad safety; Railroad signaling; Railroad signals
• Geographic Terms: Australia
• Subject Areas: Operations and Traffic Management; Railroads; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01675848
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 23 2018 2:13PM