Risk-based approach

Using risk assessment to determine appropriate methods for learning and competence assessment

Effective risk assessment provides a critical input into decisions about developing and maintaining the competence of safety critical workers: Which activities that people perform should we focus our attention on? What parts of the learning programme should be a high priority? What methods of delivery will be appropriate for different parts of a learning programme? What methods will be appropriate for assessing competence?

Our approach to answering these questions has been developed over many years from research into adult learning and practical application in the rail industry. We now have a methodology that uses sound risk management principles and matches industry best practice guidance.

In essence, what we help our clients do is understand what is ‘reasonably practicable’ given the risk associated with the safety critical activity. For example, high risk activities that occur frequently (e.g. driving a train over simple track layouts) can be delivered through practical application but with appropriate controls in place to ensure that the safety of others is not compromised. For high-risk activities that occur rarely (degraded and emergency situations) different solutions will be required as practical experience of a real situation is unlikely to be possible. The objective is still to get as close to reality as possible, so in such cases some form of simulation is likely to be required.