Work-related violence in rail – part one

Recent incidents across the rail network highlight the growing pressures faced by frontline staff and the wider social challenges now reaching stations and trains. Many workers encounter hostility, intimidation and, in some cases, serious harm while carrying out their everyday roles. This session brings together industry insight to explore current realities, share lessons learned and consider how the sector can strengthen protection and support for its people.

In this two-part webinar series, with the support of the Rail Delivery Group, the IOSH Railway Community aims to shed light on the violence and aggression directed at railway workers and to explore practical steps to protect them. It will highlight the very real impact for those on the front-line, what is happening today to counter the threat, and plans to go further in the future.

While there is no single solution, we all share the responsibility to work together in addressing violence against rail staff. By collaborating across the industry and with law enforcement partners, we can strive towards a common goal: keeping our people safe.

The webinar series will cover:

• lived experience on the front-line
• policing, what the data tells us, and the importance of reporting
• overview of the Work-related Violence Group and its industry-wide aims 
• the industry's strategy to find and implement effective ways of tackling work-related violence
• potential changes to legislation
• the role of body-worn video and launch of the new BTP/industry training videos 
• guidance on how to encourage reporting 
• conflict avoidance training and sharing of best practices
• there will also be an opportunity to discuss the issues raised and ask questions of the speakers.

Given the significance of the subject matter and the range of insightful speakers, the webinar will take place in two parts. The first session, on 05 March, will focus on the scale of the problem, the need for improved reporting and provide an outline of the industry’s strategy to tackle the problem. The second session, on 13 March, will delve deeper into the measures we can implement now, and in the future, to better protect our people.

This free event is open to members and non-members.