It is said that opportunities for communication among field personnel tend to be low, and risk-related information such as the experience and techniques held by individual personnel regarding safety is becoming hard to share in the workplace. Accordingly, the RTRI conducted questionnaire surveys and ascertained the current situation of reduced communication opportunities due to changes in work schedules.

Based on the survey results, the Institute developed Accident Round-table Discussion (ARD) Method to enable the sharing of risk-related information among field personnel and raise safety consciousness in the workplace through small-group discussions on the causes of accidents and countermeasures (Fig. 1, Fig. 2). The RTRI conducted actual trial runs of the planned system at field sites and confirmed its effectiveness through questionnaire evaluation by participants (Fig. 3). Information sharing among personnel and increased safety consciousness can be expected by implementing discussion meetings using the system as part of safety activities at field sites.

Furthermore, to facilitate the introduction of these discussion meetings, the RTRI prepared manuals and training programs for the leaders who will promote them. The purpose of such training is to teach the meeting system through simulated discussion meetings. The technique is now being implemented by a number of railway operators.