How many acronyms can you have in one headline?! This is all about a pioneering project that will streamline the processes for statutory incident reporting which is seeing RIDDOR incorporated into the LRSSB’s evolving, sector-wide reporting system.
The Light Rail Standards and Safety Board (LRSSB) have been working closely with the Office for Rail and Road (ORR) to enable RIDDOR (Reporting Incidents, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations) to be incorporated into a reporting system.
Launched in 2023, the upgraded Tram Accident and Incident Reporting system (TAIR) has already delivered a major boost for sector safety, standardising the way hazardous incidents are reported whilst also providing invaluable data about the risks faced by operators. And this will now be taken to another level with the ability to generate RIDDOR reports and submit them directly to the ORR.
Carl Williams, LRSSB Chief Executive, said: “As well as reflecting our close partnership with the ORR, this landmark project also demonstrates how the LRSSB continues to embrace innovation and technology to deliver clear benefits for operators and other key stakeholders while ultimately enhancing safety across the sector. Now tram operators are able to utilise a bespoke system for seamlessly submitting RIDDOR documents that’s fully integrated with a sector-wide reporting process.”
Mark Ashmore, LRSSB Head of Safety and Assurance, added: “Over the past few months, this new process has been trialled by tram operators from across the UK who have used both TAIR and the ORR’s webform to submit reports. This period of intense testing has enabled the cross-referencing of entries from both systems to ensure all incidents are captured correctly and include the required information.”
The upgrades to TAIR went live at the start of May and will mean that whereas previously RIDDOR reports had to be made separately on the ORR’s online webform it can now be done automatically, saving time and making the process more efficient.
Dominic Long, Principal Inspector of Railways for the Trams and Light Rail Team at the ORR, commented: “This is an excellent step forward for tram operators and the Office of Rail and Road. Integrating TAIR with our existing data repository allows us to remove some of the regulatory reporting burden on operators and enables us to view safety incident reports in a more timely manner.”