The latest snake oil salesman is Aidan Nelson, Director of Policy and Strategic Initiatives at the Rail Safety and Standards Board (formerly Railtrack Safety & Standards Board) who invites you to the launch of the 'Railway Industry Advisory Committee's Human Factors Working Group, Human Factors web pages' - long title, must be important!

While it is obvious accidents have a human element, 'behavioral safety systems' range from psychobabble to blame the worker systems which fail to nail the more likely cause - bad management. They are very popular with employers because of this.

For more information see Hazards magazine's Bad Behaviour pages (and more)

--------------------------
INVITATION
Launch of Railway Industry Advisory Committee's Human Factors Working Group, Human Factors web pages

21 June 2005

12:50 pm for a prompt 1.00 pm start (Buffet lunch & refreshments available)

Rail Safety and Standards Board, Evergreen House, 160 Euston Road, London, NW1 2DX

"Most incidents that occur on the railway have a strong element of human error among their causes. Human error is also an important contributor to other business risks including the reliability of railway services. Human factors research therefore has potential benefit in most areas of the railway.

"The Railway Industry Advisory Committee is launching its Human Factors web pages at the Rail Safety and Standards Board. The pages provide a wide variety of human factors health and safety information, from design and ergonomic issues, to the risks associated with violence and assaults on railway staff. They are aimed at all those who work in the rail industry to provide help and empower staff, particularly those on the front line, to become more aware of human factors in their work.

"Aidan Nelson Director, Policy and Strategic Initiatives at the Rail Safety and Standards Board will introduce some of the issues covered and how the pages are designed to help industry. There will then follow a navigation through the pages."