Emergency Planning, Mishap Management and Investigation
This module covers the principles involved in planning for emergencies, and how they are put into practice in the event of a railway accident. Specifically, it seeks
- to enable students to explore how they might handle such events, and
- to present the methods of investigating and reporting accidents, with a view to preventing a recurrence.
Module Syllabus
During this module students will cover to varying degrees the following:
- Statistical sources and trends
- Planning for emergencies
- Interfaces with railway and other agencies
- Communications
- Site management
- Purpose of investigations
- Forming the team and project-managing the investigation
- Types of evidence and evaluation techniques
- Theories of causation
- Human factors
- Principles of effective report-writing
Module Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
- analyse an Emergency Plan for fitness for purpose, including scoping, addressing risks, identifying responsibilities and meaningful presentation.
- distinguish and evaluate critically the interfaces, structures and objectives of the various organisations which may be involved in the event of a railway accident, in relation to the organisational issues which may arise.
- critically evaluate a remit for an accident investigation, and specify the criteria for acceptance/rejection of a report of an investigation.
- critically reflect on and analyse your personal reactions, decision-making, professional judgement, and appreciate the wider consequences, in a hypothetical complex accident.