Safety seminar organised by Western Railway for Chief Loco Inspectors and Traffic Inspectors

Western Railway's Safety Department recently held a seminar on Safety for Chief Loco Inspectors and Traffic Inspectors who are principal supervisors involved in train operations. These inspectors also control the cadre of train running crew and station staff respectively. This seminar was one of its kind held over Western Railway in many years.

According to a press release issued by Sumit Thakur – Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway, the seminar was held in an effort to learn from the views of experienced Chief Loco Inspectors (CLIs) and Traffic Inspectors (TIs). At the seminar, CLIs and TIs shared their knowledge, experience and wisdom with the fraternity. GM Shri Alok Kansal has termed this seminar as a step towards Zero Tolerance (towards safety), one of the Tenets of Philosophy of Indian Railways.

A total of 23 Chief Loco Inspectors and Traffic Inspectors shared their experiences in two sessions of 2 hours each. Both the sessions were followed by a question-answer round. In the near future, more seminars will be conducted for categories of staff for maintenance of assets of fixed nature like track, stations, signaling, overhead traction assets and coaches & wagons in the second part of the series.

Thakur added that WR's Additional General Manager, concerned Principal Heads of Department, DRM Mumbai Central and other senior officers of Western Railway also partook in the seminar and expressed their views. Divisional Railway Managers of 5 divisions along with senior officers attended the seminar through video link. Owing to the power of technology, approx. 650 staff who are undergoing training in different training schools across Western Railway, along with instructors and principals of the training school attended the seminar through live feed on YouTube.

GM Alok Kansal in his address emphasized on the importance of continuous interaction between all stakeholders responsible in the safe running of trains and that supervisors play a critical role in smooth communication between management and frontline officials making the wheels run and smooth, systematic function. General Manager announced a Quarterly Incentive Scheme for the supervisors of five departments based on performance indices in order to inculcate a healthy competition.

The topics covered in discussion for Chief Loco Inspectors varied from the Need for counselling of loco pilots to not lose concentration while running the train, Ascertaining the changing behaviour of loco pilots reporting duty after availing leave to know their mental condition and family issues which may result in loss of concentration, Observation of safety precautions over multiple line sections to avoid passing of red signal, Methods to give route learning to newly appointed pilots for the routes having multiple lines for safe running of trains and Shortening of reaction time of the loco pilots with the proper mind relaxation through Yoga and meditation.

In the sessions for Traffic Inspectors topics such as Avoiding use of shortcuts by railway staff which can result in accidents and Running of trains by observing safety precautions in floods and heavy rains, were extensively covered. Some common topics like the need to address shortcomings in day-to-day working and role of Yoga & Meditation to gain concentration were also highly discussed. All the participants of the seminar gained new perspective and positive energy through these enriching discussions. Principal Chief Safety Officer of Western Railway summarized the seminar by analyzing Actionable Points on Western Railway to further improve safety.