Rail safety

Confidential Independent Reporting and Analysis System (CIRAS)CIRAS is an alternative way for rail industry staff to report safety concerns that they feel unable to report through company safety channels. It is a completely independent and confidential way to report safety concerns without fear of recrimination.

European Railway Agency - ERTMSEuropean Rail Traffic Management System

Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)Makes known and enforces rail safety regulations; administers railroad assistance programs; conducts research and development in support of improved railroad safety and national rail transportation policy; provides for the rehabilitation of Northeast Corridor rail passenger service and consolidates government support of rail transportation activities. The FRA funds a significant amount of human factors research and allows download of many reports.

Human Information Processing Research Branch (NASA)This division of NASA is creating and applying a new understanding of how individuals and teams assimilate and act on information in pursuit of goals critical to the success of NASA missions. The site provides access to research details and downloadable reports. The main focus is on human information processing, human automation integration and system safety.

Rail Research UKThe Universities centre for railway systems research (RRUK), provides a strong and coherent engineering science base for railway systems research in the UK, located in a number of universities acting in a coordinated way. It brings together researchers, representatives from industry and policymakers to help define, prioritise and guide research, and use the results to challenge policy, inform policy development and improve industry practice. It is supported by EPSRC.

The Human Factors Research and Engineering Groupprovides scientific and technical support for the civil aviation human factors research program and for human factors applications in acquisition, certification, regulation, and standards. It develops and assures implementation of human factors policies, regulations, programs, and procedures which promote the safety and productivity of the national airspace system. It also formulates and manages the aviation human factors research program and provides human factors support to acquisition and regulatory activities.

The Yellow Book - Engineering safety managementThis website describes engineering safety management for the UK's railways and has an electronic version of the Yellow Book. There is a series of application notes, each providing more detailed, practical guildance on a particular topic. One of these is called "Human Error: causes, consequences and mitigations".

Transport Canada - Transport Development CentreProvides access to Transport Canada's R&D programme which focuses on the human factors affecting operator performance and on the ergonomic design of systems and equipment. covering all transportation modes, the research is designed to optimize the safety, productivity, and capacity of human-machine systems.

Transportation Research Board (US)A Division of the US National Research Council searves an independent adviser to the federal government and others on scientific and technical questions of national importance. Its mission is to promote innovation and progress in transportation through research.

US Transportation Safety BoardNTSB is an independent Federal agency charged by congress with investigating every civil aviation accident in the US and significant accidents involving other modes of transport - railroad, highway, marine and pipeline. The issue safety recommendations aimed at preventing future accidents.

Volpe National Transportation Systems Center - Operator Performance and Safety Analysis Division (OPSAD)OPSAD resolves problems across all transportation modes by performing research to analyse relationship between human behaviour and transportation safety and productivity. Research reports relating to rail Human Factors issues can be downloaded.