How do you collaborate with other stakeholders on rolling stock safety matters?

1 Identify the safety objectives and requirements

The first step in collaborating with other stakeholders on rolling stock safety matters is to identify the safety objectives and requirements that apply to your project or operation. These may include legal, contractual, technical, operational, and customer-specific standards and criteria. You should consult with the relevant stakeholders to understand their expectations and needs, and to align your safety goals and plans with theirs. You should also document and communicate the safety objectives and requirements clearly and consistently to all parties involved.

2 Establish the safety roles and responsibilities

The next step is to establish the safety roles and responsibilities of each stakeholder and how they will interact and coordinate with each other. This may involve defining the safety management system, the safety assurance process, the safety verification and validation methods, the safety reporting and auditing mechanisms, and the safety risk management framework. You should also assign the safety accountabilities and authorities, and ensure that everyone has the necessary competence and resources to fulfil their duties.

3 Engage in regular and transparent communication

One of the key factors in successful collaboration is regular and transparent communication. You should communicate with other stakeholders on rolling stock safety matters frequently and effectively, using appropriate channels and tools. You should share information, feedback, issues, solutions, lessons learned, and best practices openly and constructively. You should also listen to and respect the views and concerns of others, and seek to resolve any conflicts or disagreements amicably.

4 Involve stakeholders in decision making and problem solving

Another way to foster collaboration is to involve stakeholders in decision making and problem solving on rolling stock safety matters. You should consult with them on any significant changes, risks, or challenges that may affect the safety performance or compliance of the rolling stock. You should also solicit their input and suggestions on how to improve the safety design, operation, or maintenance of the rolling stock. You should acknowledge and appreciate their contributions, and explain the rationale and outcomes of your decisions.

5 Monitor and review the safety performance and compliance

The final step in collaborating with other stakeholders on rolling stock safety matters is to monitor and review the safety performance and compliance of the rolling stock. You should collect and analyse data and indicators on the safety performance and compliance of the rolling stock, such as incidents, accidents, defects, audits, inspections, tests, or customer feedback. You should also compare the actual results with the expected objectives and requirements, and identify any gaps or deviations. You should report and discuss the findings and recommendations with other stakeholders, and implement any corrective or preventive actions as needed.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?