Strengthening Safety Through Training

A post-training program is crucial so that you can establish a hire-to-retire philosophy. All operators should be seen at least once a year for refresher info and for a pat on the back once in a while. The hands-on management-operator interaction is important.

For the final day, Maiello said there need to be automatic disqualifiers, possibly including things such as curb jumping, heavy braking or excessive speeding. Each agency needs to consider what is it they will or will not tolerate on the final day. “If that potential operator were stopping in front of your house, would you let your family get on?”

Maiello ended his presentation commenting on a topic that hits everyone: funding. “Tell your management, you can pay me now for training or you can pay me later for the funeral of that person run over by the rear wheel.”

Operator Development – A New Approach was presented by Christian DeVoll, integrated risk management specialist with the Washington State Transit Insurance Pool. A complete off-the-shelf course with 29 modules for fixed-route and paratransit was being incorporated into the current safety programs at about 25 transit agencies in Washington.

DeVoll’s presentation targeted the point that “why” is as important as “what” is taught.

He told the story of a bus incident from 2010 where a bus struck five pedestrians between the ages of 18 and 22 in a crosswalk in Portland and two of those died at the scene. Danielle Sale, 22, from Vancouver, was one that died under the vehicle.

Her father, David Sale, was invited to the studio where the safety modules were being produced and he did an interview which was used in three of the modules: safety, customer service and pedestrian awareness. It brought a “real” awareness to each of those segments.

DeVoll said he presented the modules to the trainers at a meeting. He shared David’s story and then afterward, introduced David who was sitting amongst the trainers. “You could hear a pin drop,” he said.

David talked about why this important and why he has been involved. And then, at the session, we learned that David was in the room with us. He has joined the company that produces the modules.

It is easy to become complacent, DeVoll said. “Focus on how we affect people’s lives.”

Susan Murphy, principal consultant, Behavioral Science Technology, Inc. talked about how to improve your organization’s ability to prevent life-altering injuries. She said they’re challenging the paradigm of the Heinrich triangle: H. W. Heinrich’s theory that implies a specific ratio exists between various levels of severity of accidents.

As injuries increase in severity, the frequency goes down. The theory is, reduce exposure to injury – reduce the base of the pyramid – and the whole thing shrinks. It implies one injury reduction strategy will reach all types equally, but current data does not support that old thought-process.

Murphy stressed that exposure is not equal and pointed out that 71 percent of serious injuries or fatalities are related to “safety absolutes” – such things that mandate firing, such as distracted driving.

Improving Your Organization’s Ability to Prevent Life-Altering Injuries & Catastrophic Events
The “injury iceberg,” AKA the Heimrich triangle. They’re challenging that paradigm.
As injuries increase in severity, the frequency goes down. Reduce exposure, reduce the base of the iceberg and the whole thing shrinks. One injury reduction strategy will reach all types equally, but the data does not support this. That’s the old thought-procuess. Which implies that the potential outcomes for injuries are the same. But, exposure is not equal.
71 percent of serious or fatality are related to safety absolutes (absolutes equal things that are mandatory firiings, such as distracted driving)