The condition of rail freight vehicles entering the network is a concern for the freight community. Human performance failures may be a significant source of operational risk. An analysis was performed of 31 freight preparation incident and accident reports. These reports were analysed using the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) Human Factors Framework. 27 of 31 reports included a significant human performance failure, identifying 45 human performance factors across the incidents, including 39 occurrences classified as a slip / lapse or decision-making failures. These were generally omissions of checks or actions to release brakes. 137 underpinning Incident Factors played a causal or contributory role. This included �infrastructure, vehicles, equipment and clothing� (n = 43), including maintenance and equipment failure issues � primarily related to wagon condition – and design / usability issues related to a range of assets. Teamworking (8) and resourcing (17) issues were also present, which included factors related to inter-agency working. The paper discusses the implications of these results for improving rail freight safety performance, and emphasises the importance of a systems view of human performance to deliver safe, efficient rail freight.
