GM/RC2533. Recommendations for Communication of Emergency and Safety. Information. Uncontrolled When Printed

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1 RC Published by Rail Safety and Standards Board Evergreen House 160 Euston Road London NW1 2DX Copyright 2008 Rail Safety and Standards Board Limited GM/RC2533 Safety Information Issue One: June 2008 Railway Group Recommendations for GM/RT2130

2 Issue Record Issue Date Comments One June 2008 Original document Supersedes parts of sections 5, 6 and 7, sections 8, 9, 10 and 11, all appendices except H of AV/ST9005 Superseded documents The following Railway Group documents are superseded, either in whole or in part as indicated: Superseded documents AV/ST9005, issue two, November 2003 Vehicle Interiors Communication of Safety and Emergency Information Sections superseded Part of sections 5, 6 and 7, sections 8, 9, 10 and 11 All appendices except H Date when sections are superseded 02 August 2008 Supply Other parts of AV/ST9005 issue two are superseded by GM/RT2130, issue one, Vehicle Fire, Safety and Evacuation. AV/ST9005 ceases to be in force and is withdrawn as of 02 August Controlled and uncontrolled copies of this Railway Group Code of Practice may be obtained from the Corporate Communications Department, Rail Safety and Standards Board, Evergreen House, 160 Euston Road, London NW1 2DX, telephone or enquiries@rssb.co.uk. Railway Group Standards and associated documents can also be viewed at Page 2 of 35 RAIL SAFETY AND STANDARDS BOARD

3 Contents Uncontrolled When Printed Section Description Page Part 1 Introduction Purpose and structure of this document Copyright Approval and authorisation of this document 4 Part 2 Safety Information Background Provision of information General signage requirements Information for passengers Review and evaluation Records 16 Appendices 17 Appendix A Emergency and Safety Signs: Check List for Internal Passenger Areas (including areas provided for employees / contractors on non-passenger vehicles) 17 Appendix B Emergency and Safety Signs: Check List For Driving Cabs, Guard, Conductor and Van Areas 19 Appendix C Emergency and Safety Signs: Check List for Vehicle Exteriors 20 Appendix D Define Audience Checklist 21 Appendix E Visual Media Checklist 22 Appendix F Detail Design Guidance 23 Appendix G Design Checklist 28 Definitions 33 References 34 RAIL SAFETY AND STANDARDS BOARD Page 3 of 35

4 Part 1 Introduction 1.1 Purpose and structure of this document This document has been published by Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) to give details of a recommended method which, if followed, would meet the requirements of Railway Group Standard GM/RT2130. Should a railway undertaking choose not to follow the recommended method of meeting the requirements of GM/RT2130 laid out in this document, it should assure itself that the method it is following is as effective, and no less safe, than the method that is recommended here. Relevant requirements in GM/RT2130 are reproduced in the sections that follow. Recommendations are provided as a series of sequentially numbered clauses prefixed RC. Specific responsibilities and compliance requirements are laid down in the Railway Group Standard itself. 1.2 Copyright Copyright in the Railway Group documents is owned by Rail Safety and Standards Board Limited. All rights are hereby reserved. No Railway Group document (in whole or in part) may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or means, without the prior written permission of Rail Safety and Standards Board Limited, or as expressly permitted by law. RSSB members are granted copyright licence in accordance with the Constitution Agreement relating to Rail Safety and Standards Board Limited. In circumstances where Rail Safety and Standards Board Limited has granted a particular person or organisation permission to copy extracts from Railway Group documents, Rail Safety and Standards Board Limited accepts no responsibility for, and excludes all liability in connection with, the use of such extracts, or any claims arising therefrom. This disclaimer applies to all forms of media in which extracts from Railway Group documents may be reproduced. 1.3 Approval and authorisation of this document The content of this document was approved by: Rolling Stock Standards Committee on 18 January This document was authorised by RSSB on 16 April Page 4 of 35 RAIL SAFETY AND STANDARDS BOARD

5 Part 2 Recommendations for Communication of Emergency and 2.1 Background RC001 Evidence from past railway accidents indicates that improvements to signage in rail vehicles would improve passenger safety. Specifically it was found that an improvement to the provision, presentation and commonality of safety information was required. The lessons learnt from accidents and incidents will be partially addressed by the production of this document. This document builds on existing best practice and takes on board some of the findings of research following the Ladbroke Grove Rail Inquiry. Other relevant documents are as follows: ITL/GN0001 ITL/GN0002 Graphics guidelines for safety signs (available at Guidelines for symbol design and testing (available at ATOC Engineering Extranet Site The ATOC Engineering Extranet is an on-line Safety Signs resource that includes documentation and downloadable artwork relating to passenger safety signs and symbols ( This includes the following: A searchable database of signage that has been produced in accordance with ITL/GN0001 and ITL/GN0002 The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 BS 5378: Part 1:1980 BS 5378: Part 2:1980 BS 5378: Part 3:1982 BS 5499: Part 1: 2002 BS 5499: Part 5: 2002 BS 5499: Part 6: 2002 BS ISO 9186: 2001 BS ISO : 2001 Safety signs and colours. Specification for colour and design (superseded) Safety signs and colours. Specification for colorimetric and photometric properties of materials Safety signs and colours. Specification for additional signs to those given in BS5378: part 1 (superseded) Graphical symbols and signs. Safety signs, including fire safety signs. Specification for geometric shapes, colours and layout Graphical symbols and signs. Safety signs, including fire safety signs. Signs with specific safety meaning Graphical symbols and signs. Safety signs, including fire safety signs. Creation and design of graphical symbols for use in safety signs Graphical symbols. Test methods for judged comprehensibility and comprehension Basic principles for graphical symbols for use on equipment. Form and use of arrows DIN Long time afterglowing pigments and products Part 1 and Part 2 RAIL SAFETY AND STANDARDS BOARD Page 5 of 35

6 Railway Safety Principles and Guidance: Part 2 Section F Guidance on trains BR/BCT 610 Public information on train safety and emergencies 2.2 Provision of information BR/BCT 610 gives advice and guidance to the designers of information delivery systems. This document draws heavily on that advice and guidance. GM/RT2130 Vehicle Fire, Safety and Evacuation 6.1 Provision of information Emergency and safety information shall be provided to mitigate against the risks to people from the train and from the train operating in its particular environment. RC002 RC003 Suitable and sufficient risk and need assessments should be undertaken to identify risks to people from the train and from the train operating in its particular environment. Such assessments should take account of the following considerations (this is not an exhaustive list): For trains: a) Driver only operation or driver and guard operation b) Other train staff c) Type of door system (internal and external) d) Emergency evacuation devices and systems e) Emergency equipment f) Emergency escape devices and systems g) Evacuation procedures and routes h) Escape procedures and routes. RC004 For stations: a) Staffed b) Unstaffed c) Passenger information systems (auditory, visual or tactile etc) d) Platform / train relationship (gaps, length etc) e) Lighting f) Accessibility. RC005 For routes: a) Overhead electrification b) Third / fourth rail electrification c) Tunnels, bridges, viaducts, embankments, cuttings, proximity of adjacent track and restrictive clearances. Page 6 of 35 RAIL SAFETY AND STANDARDS BOARD

7 RC006 For the type of train service: a) The length of journey and number of stops b) The train destination, for example ports, airports etc c) Inter-city d) Inter-urban e) Commuter f) Urban g) Rural. RC007 For people: a) Train staff b) Disabled people (see Appendix D) c) Elderly people d) Young people e) Expectant mothers f) Non-English speaking people g) Those with reading impairments h) The size and stature of people, as relevant, in the above. 2.3 General signage requirements GM/RT2130 Vehicle Fire, Safety and Evacuation 6.2 General signage requirements Emergency and safety signs shall be provided on rail vehicles to identify to persons conveyed by or working on rail vehicles, and to persons attending emergency situations: a) The location, access and operation of equipment or facilities provided for use in an emergency b) Actions that are prohibited for reasons of safety c) Objects, actions, hazards and situations which affect or could affect safety d) Instructions that are mandatory for the purposes of safety. RC008 Appendices A to C of this document provide general check lists for the provision of emergency and safety signs on rail vehicles. It should be noted that the check lists are not necessarily exhaustive and do not reflect all possible arrangements of equipment and facilities Provision of emergency and safety signs on rail vehicles shall be to a recognised railway standard set to give consistency across the railway and which takes account of the requirements in the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996, supported by BS 5378 and BS RAIL SAFETY AND STANDARDS BOARD Page 7 of 35

8 6.2.3 The railway undertaking shall: a) Ensure that new or additional signs that are provided where other equipment or arrangements exist meet the requirements in the Regulations and in this document b) Approve both the provision and specification of these new or additional emergency and safety signs on a vehicle type basis. RC009 Signage should, where possible, be designed and validated in accordance with documents ITL/GN0001 and ITL/GN0002 respectively (available at They should, where possible, be selected from the validated signs contained in the Safety Signs section of the ATOC Engineering Extranet Site. Where appropriate signs are not available they should be developed and validated in accordance with the above two documents. 2.4 Information for passengers General requirements GM/RT2130 Vehicle Fire, Safety and Evacuation General requirement Emergency and safety information shall be provided for passengers on trains to enable them to act in a foreseeable and pre-determined way. RC010 RC011 RC012 RC013 Such information should be suitable and sufficient, given the risks involved, and standardised as far as reasonably practicable between similar types of vehicle performing similar duties. Due cognisance should be given to the need for consistency across fleets. The safety provisions and systems for each vehicle should be summarised in a single reference poster or equivalent for passenger education and information, and this should be readily available to all passengers. Emergency information should be provided in each passenger carrying vehicle. The information provided should be in a form that can be quickly assimilated by passengers. Wherever possible, visual information provided for this purpose should be in the form of pictograms rather than words. The information should include details of the location and purpose of the passenger communication equipment. The objective of the information design is to guide people to act in a foreseeable and pre-determined way. To achieve this objective, the designer should recognise the five steps involved in people receiving and acting on information, namely that information should be: a) Detected b) Discriminated c) Identified d) Understood e) Interpreted correctly Process of delivery GM/RT2130 Vehicle Fire, Safety and Evacuation Process of delivery Train emergency and safety procedures shall be communicated to passengers in a readily comprehensible manner. Page 8 of 35 RAIL SAFETY AND STANDARDS BOARD

9 RC014 RC015 RC016 RC017 Passengers should be made aware of the issues surrounding train emergency and safety procedures before such situations arise by a process of delivery of emergency and safety information. Where this is to be achieved by exposure to the message even prior to boarding the train, for example posters at stations, information on pocket timetables and advertising literature etc, a consistent and recognisable format should be taken at each stage. It is likely that a combination of media will be required to deliver safety and emergency messages. However, symbols and pictograms should be used wherever practicable. Further guidance on the effectiveness of various media is given in of this document. The design of the information delivery system should consider all issues required, ensuring that it is effective. This should include the following phases: a) The pre-design phase - determining information content, audience and contextual constraints b) The design phase - formulating draft designs and alternatives c) The post-design phase - evaluating the design and identifying any amendments required and incorporating them into the design. RC018 RC019 This document gives recommendations on these issues. The elements of this process will have implications for how the messages are sequenced, how and where they are delivered and what assumptions need to be considered Determination of information content GM/RT2130 Vehicle Fire Safety and Evacuation Information content Before an information system is designed, an analysis shall be undertaken of what the passenger needs to know and how this information is to be provided. RC020 RC021 Passenger data should normally be collected by survey, observation or questionnaire to identify passenger expectations and assumptions. Passenger interviews over a representative cross-section of the population will help to elicit additional information. The content of the passenger information should be considered after conducting a task analysis of the required passenger behaviour. This should be done in a hierarchical manner, such that the desired passenger top-level goal is stated first, for example Travel to destination B. This should then be broken down into functions detailing up to eight sequential activities that need to be achieved to perform the top level goal, for example go to station, buy ticket, go to platform, board the train, etc. These activities should be analysed and broken down further if necessary. When warning messages are required then these should be used to alert, inform and state the required action. Informing passengers in this sense describes why they need to behave in a certain way. As this is an opportunity to give relevant safety and emergency data, the message should remain short and simple and not instil panic. Informing is normally reserved for situations where the action is counter-intuitive or particularly hazardous. For each message that is considered necessary the designer should consider and formulate answers to the following questions: a) What message is being portrayed - is it general or specific? b) Why is the message required (purpose)? c) What outcomes need to be achieved to inform, to instruct, to prohibit, to warn, etc (function)? RAIL SAFETY AND STANDARDS BOARD Page 9 of 35

10 d) What is the hazard (description)? e) What should passengers do (action)? f) What should passengers not do (avoid)? g) What will happen (effect)? h) What should passengers do next (subsequent)? Limitations of content RC022 The designer should make provision for the following possible limitations concerning the content of the message: a) Lack of understanding - the message should be designed for maximum comprehension and clarity to avoid misinterpretation, and should be clearly laid out and accurate. b) Over-demanding requirements - actions should be within the individual s capabilities. Instructions should be simple, noticeable, and positioned for usability. Information should be provided in several locations where necessary, to ensure that if it is missed once it is seen or heard elsewhere. c) Action interruption - if individuals are interrupted whilst performing an action it is likely that part of this action sequence will be forgotten. Visual instructions should be placed where they are to be used and the action sequence made obvious. d) Social influences - information should be made available at various locations to encourage readership. It should be designed to encourage personal responsibility. e) Random mental processing - passengers may hear or read information but not consciously process it. They may also have mental blocks so that they do not activate the right action sequence. Instructions should be timely, clear and simple, conspicuous and positioned effectively if visual. f) Uninformed action - risks should be clearly explained, enabling passengers to take appropriate action in the event of an emergency. g) Memory retention - instructions should be timely, clearly and simply laid out, and positioned effectively User variability GM/RT2130 Vehicle Fire Safety and Evacuation User variability The railway undertaking shall take account of likely passenger limitations, behaviours and expectations to anticipate realistically how information will be acted upon. The role of the information is to explain the situation and potential risks to enable the passengers to decide the appropriate action they should take. RC023 RC024 Warnings and general information often do not lead to the required behaviours. The reader makes a cost / benefit analysis (cost of compliance versus risk of not complying). The result of this analysis identifies that person s behaviour. Even the best warning signs will not override the beliefs and expectations that the individual brings to the situation. The passenger population in rail travel is extremely varied. The checklist in Appendix D of this document considers the passenger population and factors that may lead to undesirable behaviour. As a design rule, unless otherwise agreed for special circumstances, the designer should assume that all the groups identified in Appendix D of this document are present in the passenger population and should be catered for. Pre-design analysis and testing of prototype messages should represent a cross section of these limiting users. Page 10 of 35 RAIL SAFETY AND STANDARDS BOARD

11 The document BS ISO 9186 provides assistance to the designer when testing for comprehensibility of signs and especially graphical symbols Contextual constraints GM/RT2130 Vehicle Fire, Safety and Evacuation Determine contextual constraints The contextual constraints appropriate to the vehicle operation shall be determined and taken into account. RC025 Factors considered should include, but not be limited to, the following: a) Vandalism - visual information which has been defaced offers either no information or the wrong information. Information should be located in areas where abuse is less likely to occur. In addition, signs and posters should be maintained appropriately, for example cleaned or replaced when damaged. b) Sensitive information - in certain situations it is permissible to hide sensitive information until it is required. Although the concerns about abuse are reasonable, there is little point in providing safety equipment without adequate instructions. c) Dirt - visual information which is dirty loses its intended impact. Signs and posters should be cleaned or replaced when necessary. d) Post incident and emergency conditions - all emergency signs, as well as signs that remain relevant during an emergency, should remain visible under conditions of demised light without a train power supply. These requirements should cover such features as train escape and exit points, routes to exits, door releases, emergency hammers, emergency and first aid equipment including fire extinguishers. Where these requirements are to be met with the use of photo-luminescent materials they should comply with the minimum requirements of DIN Part 1 and Part 2 and be compliant for a class B material. e) Space availability - where the optimally sized sign or poster cannot physically fit in the most appropriate space available, the decision should prioritise the visibility over the precise location at the point of need. f) Ambient noise - a particular constraint for auditory information delivery is the extent of the ambient noise level, for example when fast trains pass through stations. Opening windows in trains and particular operational situations (such as during acceleration or passing through tunnels) should also be considered. Consideration should be given to where and when information will be most audible. g) Aesthetics - aesthetic considerations should not prejudice the effectiveness of a sign. The functional design of a sign or information system should have priority over the aesthetic consideration of the sign and its placement. h) Sequence - delivery of information should follow the sequence of activities that passengers will perform. This is to ensure that information is placed where it will be seen and where and when it will be needed. Visual messages should be placed where they will attract sufficient attention and portray the information required at the time of greatest need. An instruction on how to operate a piece of equipment should be so placed that it is still readable whilst obeying the instruction. i) Number of messages - the number of messages should be considered by reviewing how passengers will perform their required activities and how they might miss information. j) Obscuration - the designer should consider whether messages might be obscured during operation of the vehicle, for example by luggage. RAIL SAFETY AND STANDARDS BOARD Page 11 of 35

12 2.4.7 Media options and combinations GM/RT2130 Vehicle Fire, Safety and Evacuation Media options and combinations The railway undertaking shall consider the most appropriate media for transmitting train emergency and safety information General RC026 People receive information about the environment through their senses. As such, these channels represent different means of communicating information to passengers. RC027 RC028 RC029 RC030 Auditory and visual methods are the most common means of transmitting information. However, use of other sensory means may be required for special circumstances. The choice of media should be appropriate for the information to be portrayed, the target audience and the environmental conditions. In each case, the information is likely to be missed by someone; therefore consideration should be given to combining different methods, for example poster campaigns supporting signage, occasional public address announcements, leaflets or signs on train seat backs etc. In all cases, information should be presented clearly, consistently and logically throughout. In addition, evaluation should take place regarding how much information is retained by passengers (refer to of this document). Guidance is set out below with detailed design guidelines outlined in and Appendix D of this document: a) Signs and labels - the most common use of visual information is through the use of signs and labels. They can be used to deliver general and specific information. They are particularly useful for delivering specific information at the point of need (refer to Appendix E of this document for guidance). The current best practice for signs and labels can be found on the ATOC Engineering Extranet site Safety Signs. b) Public address - the most common use of auditory information is through the use of acoustic signals and public address systems. Public address announcements providing safety or emergency information should be made according to a pre-defined script wherever possible. This will help to avoid potentially confusing or ambiguous messages being given out, particularly under times of stress for both the member of staff and the passenger. However, the requirements of of this document should be taken into account. c) Audio-visual media - safety and emergency information can be transmitted using audio-visual media, such as television screens or information screens with video playback facilities. Screens can be placed in ticket halls, waiting areas, on trains or on platforms where the audience is most likely to be captive. Use on board trains may become annoying to certain passengers who are otherwise occupied. d) Tactile media - some messages will always be missed by visually impaired passengers. Consideration should be given to the use of textual coding, or targeted audio-tactile media. Page 12 of 35 RAIL SAFETY AND STANDARDS BOARD

13 Visual media RC031 The designer should consider the use of visual media to convey information to passengers in the following circumstances: a) The message is complex b The message is long c) The message will be referred to later d) The message deals with specific locations in space e) There is no immediate call for action f) The auditory system is overburdened g) The ambient noise level is high h) To communicate with passengers with hearing difficulties i) When passengers are likely to remain in one position for a period of time j) When the public address system may not be available Guidance on the form and the location of visual media is given in Appendix E of this document Auditory media RC032 The designer should consider the use of auditory information in the following situations: a) The message to be conveyed is simple b) The message is short c) The message will not be referred to later d) The message deals with specific events in time e) There is an immediate call for action f) The visual system is overburdened g) The ambient light conditions are too bright or too dark to read visual messages h) To communicate with passengers with visual impairments i) When passengers are likely to be continuously moving j) Where the integrity of the power supply is unlikely to be a significant factor Visual information RC033 The detailed design of information dissemination systems should comply with the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 and GM/RT2130. For advisory and regulatory issues concerning visual information, see 2.1 of this document - in particular, the ATOC Engineering Extranet site Safety Signs which provides a repository for documentation on passenger safety signs and labels. For guidance on the detail design of information dissemination systems see Appendix F of this document. RC034 The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 require that when a risk cannot be mitigated by any other method, a sign should be provided to give warning of RAIL SAFETY AND STANDARDS BOARD Page 13 of 35

14 the risk and give further guidance. This sign should be in the form of a pictogram wherever possible, with supporting text if necessary. RC035 RC036 RC037 All signage used to convey safety or emergency information should be identified on a schematic diagram of each type of vehicle operated, defining the locations and types of signs fitted as a result of the risk assessment referred to in RC001 to RC006. It should be noted that vehicle owners, including leasing companies, have developed appropriate schematics for vehicles within their fleets. The railway undertaking should obtain source documentation prior to undertaking its own work in this area. It should be noted that the effectiveness of the on-train information is enhanced by the provision of information provided prior to the passenger boarding the train, such as: a) Station posters containing general train safety / emergency advice b) Company literature / documentation, such as tickets, timetables and on company internet sites. RC038 To be effective, however, all such information should be presented in a style consistent with the on-train information system Auditory information RC039 Auditory communications should be reserved for warning passengers and when visual information is inappropriate or inadequate. Refer to Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 for further information. RC040 RC041 RC042 The railway undertaking should document the policy for announcements, adopted in determining the provisions under the requirements of this document, in order to maximise their effectiveness in use. The policy should define the types of emergency and safety announcements to be made via the public address system. The need for announcements could be determined by specific hazardous conditions (for example slippery platforms, defective lighting on platforms, short platforms or extra gap between platform and vehicle) or services likely to carry a large proportion of irregular passengers whose attention it is deemed necessary to draw to the on-train emergency information. The use of acoustic signals should be limited by the designer to just those that are necessary. They should be consistent each time with previously used signals. Acoustic signals should be tested with the user population for detection and discrimination. Consideration might be given to providing acoustic signals for the blind, for example, go-no-go can be portrayed by varying signal rate and pitch as someone approaches a dangerous situation. Acoustic signals should be pitched at mid-range frequencies to avoid the extremities. Although high-pitched sounds are associated with emergencies, very high-pitched sounds are startling and may degrade behavioural responses. Lower pitched signals travel further and have greater ability to bend around major obstacles or pass through partitions. The choice of frequency will depend on the ambient noise environment and steps should be taken to ensure that the signal is easy to discern from other ongoing audio information. Speech systems comprise five parts; the speaker, the message, the transmission system, the noise environment and the hearer. It is important for the designer to consider each of these elements when formulating the message system: a) Speaker - clarity of speech is associated with longer syllable duration, greater sound intensity, fewer pauses and voice modulation. It is recommended that speakers are given training and that synthesised speech is used sparingly. The use of male or female voices will depend on the noise environment and obstacles in the environment. Page 14 of 35 RAIL SAFETY AND STANDARDS BOARD

15 b) Message - the message should be relayed in 2 stages: an attention-getting signal followed by the verbal message. The message should be short and simple, using familiar words. Use standard scripted sentences to ensure consistent delivery, especially word order. Avoid excessive repetition. c) Transmission system - in general, auditory information needs to gain the attention of the listener, hence the importance of the clarity of the speaker and the message. The performance of any vehicle speech communication system should preferably be defined in terms of speech transmission index (STI) or rapid speech transmission index (RASTI) under all the conditions of the vehicle operation. The STI or the RASTI between the speech input at any microphone or input to any system and the ear of the intended listener should exceed: i) 0.6 where the intended listener is in a crew only area ii) 0.7 where the intended listener is in a passenger area. No communication system should be capable of producing a maximum C-weighted sound pressure level at the listener s ear of more than 120 db when measured using a meter set to fast response. d) Noise environment - the designer should consider the noise environment and timing of messages, for example, messages on a platform will be more audible when highspeed non-stopping trains are not passing through the station. Opening windows in trains and particular operational situations (such as during acceleration or passing through tunnels) should also be considered. In addition to ambient noise levels, the designer should take account of reverberation. e) Listener - the hearing ability of passengers should be considered Tactile media RC043 For people with disabilities consideration should be given to alternative means of communication such as tactile media. Any proposal should first be consulted with the Mobility and Inclusion Unit at Department for Transport. RC044 Textural information can provide information regarding safe or unsafe condition, for example, walkways. Variations on this theme are not necessarily expensive, but could have advantages for reducing risk. 2.5 Review and evaluation General GM/RT2130 Vehicle Fire, Safety and Evacuation 6.6 Review and evaluation Safety and emergency signs shall be subjected to a recognised validation process of review and evaluation designed to demonstrate a high probability of comprehension on the part of the travelling public. A suitable validation process is described in GM/RC2533. RC045 The review and evaluation stage is necessary to ensure the adequacy of the information design. For symbols to be designed within the categories of Safe Condition, Fire Equipment and Passenger Alarm / Communication Devices (categories referenced in BS ) additional information can be found in document ITL/GN0002 (available at Again a suitable cross-section of the passenger population should be tested, in particular the user limitations identified in of GM/RT2130 and RC006 and Appendix D of this document: a) General - information should be tested for detectability, discriminability, understandability and subsequent effect on behaviour. RAIL SAFETY AND STANDARDS BOARD Page 15 of 35

16 b) Text and symbol - text and symbols should be tested for discriminability. c) Text - textual statements should be tested for readability, comprehension and memorability. d) Symbols - experimental testing of symbols is essential even if a standard symbol has been copied, but from a slightly different context. Three types of trial can be used: i) Recognition - users are presented with symbols and must describe their meaning in a limited number of words ii) iii) Matching - users must match a list of symbols to a list of meanings Preferences and opinions - this involves collecting user preferences and / or opinions Tests RC046 Tests should also be carried out to assess ease of learning, familiarity and physical discrimination. The general criterion for acceptance for all subjects is 66% (ISO 9186). If a picture is not understood it should be altered. 2.6 Records RC047 a) Passenger behaviour - consideration should be given to possible undesirable behaviours during user testing. Refer to RC006 and Appendix D of this document. b) Visual cues compatibility - the individual and combined use of visual cues should be tested for compatibility and comprehension. c) Auditory information - testing should include variations of speaker, message intelligibility and comprehension, output location and public address system quality and subsequent effect on behaviour. d) Tactile information - tests should involve visual and hearing-impaired passengers as well as other passenger information types. Additional cues for disabled people should not confuse the general population. e) Assumptions - assumptions should be checked, for example do not state open door in normal way for an emergency situation, if the normal way requires passengers to wait for an electrically controlled sign to come on. Records should be maintained of the arrangements for communicating safety and emergency information for the lifetime of the vehicle. These should be updated if there is a change of use of the vehicle, or if the information dissemination systems of the vehicle are changed. RC048 Railway undertakings should, for each type of vehicle operated, maintain the schematic diagram of the vehicle referred to in RC034 and RC035 of this document, defining the current locations and types of signs fitted. Page 16 of 35 RAIL SAFETY AND STANDARDS BOARD

17 Appendix A Emergency and Safety Signs: Check List for Internal Passenger Areas (including areas provided for employees / contractors on non-passenger vehicles) The content of this Appendix is for information only. RC049 The word in bold type at the end of each clause (for example warning, mandatory ) states the format category of the safety sign, to conform to BS 5378 (Part 1 and Part 3) and BS A.1 Passenger communication apparatus (PCA) RC050 a) A sign is located on or adjacent to each PCA identifying it as an emergency alarm and providing instructions for its use. White text on a red background. b) Where an alarm device cannot readily be seen from within a passenger area an additional sign is provided informing persons in that area of the location of the nearest alarm. White text on a red background. A.2 External doors RC051 a) Signage located on or adjacent to manually operated slam doors discourages passengers from: i) Attempting to open or close doors when the train is moving. Prohibition. ii) Leaning on the door while the train is moving. Warning. b) A sign located adjacent to manually operated slam doors informs persons of the procedure for opening them. Mandatory. c) A sign located on or adjacent to doors with opening windows warns persons not to lean out of the window while the train is moving. Warning. d) A sign adjacent to or on emergency door release devices identifies the device, provides instructions for its operation and identifies any restrictions on its use. Where the device is located away from a door it controls, a sign is provided adjacent to the door identifying the location of the device. Where power operated doors or doors with central locking are not provided with an emergency release device, a sign adjacent to the door identifies the location of the nearest door with this facility. Safe Condition. e) A sign located adjacent to power operated doors warns passengers not to alight or obstruct the doors while the doors are closing. Signage instructs persons to use the PCA if anything becomes trapped in the doors and to use the door emergency override only in an emergency. Warning. A.3 Fire equipment RC052 All fire equipment is identified by signage with instructions on its operation and precautions to be taken before operating it. Fire Equipment. A.4 Staff access / egress doors RC053 Signage located on the passenger side of internal staff access / egress doors adjacent to passenger areas, instructs passengers not to obstruct that area and to vacate it when requested to do so by traincrew. Mandatory. RAIL SAFETY AND STANDARDS BOARD Page 17 of 35

18 A.5 Emergency equipment designated for passenger use RC054 a) Signage informs passengers where emergency equipment designated for passenger use is located. The signage: i) Is provided in each vehicle informing passengers of the location and direction in which emergency equipment may be found (location only for vehicles forming non-fixed rake formation trains). Safe Condition. ii) iii) Informs passengers of what emergency equipment is provided (for example First Aid, tools, ladder). Safe Condition. Where appropriate, supplies instructions for its use. Safe Condition. b) Where access to the equipment is via a door not normally for passenger use, instructions on how to open the door are provided. Safe condition. c) Following industry research (see research project T424) it is recommended that emergency hammers are no longer provided. The project identified that windows breakable for emergency egress are also liable to break during an accident and result in passenger ejection (see RC055 b) below). A.6 Emergency egress routes RC055 a) Signage identifies doors dedicated to emergency egress. Where opening the door requires operation of a device, signage also instructs on its operation. Safe Condition. b) Windows requiring to be broken as an emergency egress route are not considered to be compatible with the need to contain people in the event of an accident, and to protect against penetration of the windows by derailment debris. As a result, they are no longer considered to be a safe route of exit. c) A sign located on internal sliding doors indicates the direction of opening. Safe Condition. Page 18 of 35 RAIL SAFETY AND STANDARDS BOARD

19 Appendix B Emergency and Safety Signs: Check List for Driving Cabs, Guard, Conductor and Van Areas The content of this Appendix is for information only. RC056 The word in bold type at the end of each clause (for example warning, mandatory ) states the format category of the safety sign, to conform to BS 5378 (Part 1 and Part 3) and BS B.1 Access door to track RC057 a) Adjacent to the inside of doors a sign mandates that high visibility vests are donned before going on the track. Mandatory. b) Adjacent to the inside of doors a sign warns of third rail electrical traction supply on vehicles regularly operating over routes so equipped. Warning. B.2 Fire fighting equipment RC058 a) A sign located near to the fixed system controls identifies them and instructs on operation. Fire equipment. b) A sign identifies portable equipment. Fire equipment. B.3 Emergency equipment RC059 a) Sign indicates location of emergency brake valve. Mandatory. b) Signage informs of the location of emergency equipment. Safe Condition. c) Signage instructs that track circuit operating clips are to be used first when protecting the line. Mandatory. B.4 Diesel engine room door RC060 a) Signage located on the staff accommodation side of the door mandates that ear protection is to be worn in the engine room. Mandatory. RAIL SAFETY AND STANDARDS BOARD Page 19 of 35

20 Appendix C Emergency and Safety Signs: Check List for Vehicle Exteriors The content of this appendix is for information only. RC061 The word in bold type at the end of each clause (for example warning, mandatory ) states the format category of the safety sign, to conform to BS 5378 (Part 1 and Part 3) and BS C.1 Emergency shut down / isolation controls RC062 Signage which is capable of being read from platform and track level identifies the function, location and instructs on operation if not readily apparent. Safe Condition. C.2 Fixed fire fighting equipment RC063 Signage which is capable of being read from platform and track level identifies the function, location and instructs on operation if not readily apparent. Fire Equipment. C.3 Doors and adjacent to doors RC064 a) A sign is located on power operated doors warning passengers not to attempt to board while the doors are closing. Warning. b) A sign is located adjacent to or on door emergency release devices identifying its emergency function and instruct on its use. Safe Condition. C.4 Overhead line electrification equipment RC065 A flash sign that warns of overhead line electrification equipment (OLE) shall be located on or adjacent to every cab door, on the nose ends of driving cabs, and at all other points where provision is made for people to gain access to upper areas of rail vehicles (see GM/RT1041 for details of appropriate signs). This sign is also used where an OLE warning line on the vehicle is terminated to avoid an obstruction in accordance with GM/RT2181. Warning. C.5 Electrical equipment RC066 Typical triangular warning signs and supplementary labels in use on rail mounted vehicles are shown on the British Rail drawings B3-A , B3-A and B3-C The triangular warning sign and the supplementary label can be combined as one sign. RC067 Certain covers or doors are exempted from the requirements because of their unique locations or arrangements. These are: a) Traction motor commutator and connection box covers - it is not necessary for the commutator or connection box covers of traction motors to be labelled if the only access to these covers is from the underside of the vehicle. b) Domestic fittings - it is not necessary to fit labels to 240 V domestic fittings for example socket outlets to BS 1363, shaver supply units to BS 3535, etc. c) Shoegear and shoefuses - it is not necessary to label the shoefuse or any equipment on the shoebeam on third or fourth rail vehicles. d) Inverters rated at 100 watts or less - it is not necessary to label any inverter rated at 100 watts or less or any associated exposed equipment. e) Track circuit actuator (TCA) - it is not necessary to label TCAs operating at a voltage level up to and including 57 V ac at 165 khz. f) Roof mounted 25 kv equipment - this document does not apply to the siting of roof mounted, exposed 25 kv current collection equipment. Page 20 of 35 RAIL SAFETY AND STANDARDS BOARD

21 Appendix D Define Audience Checklist D.1 Age RC068 The content of this appendix is for information only. Children may not understand information conventions as adults do. Elderly populations may process information more slowly, forget information, be slow to make decisions, be confused or may learn more slowly. D.2 Foreign visitors RC069 Foreign visitors bring different cultural and stereotypic expectations and therefore may be unfamiliar with common English and / or transport conventions. Visitors may have a poor command of the English language. D.3 Experience RC070 Frequent travellers, particularly commuters, develop established habits and take less notice of their surroundings. This population is likely to be complacent. Infrequent travellers may be more likely to become confused by the proliferation of information. D.4 Mental aptitude RC071 It cannot be assumed that all travellers have a high degree of mental ability and / or common sense. Not all passengers are literate. D.5 Disabilities RC072 A large percentage of the population have disabilities such as dyslexia, blindness or visual impairment and hearing difficulties. Wheelchair users are restricted to certain areas on trains and may have less access to visual information. D.6 Mental state RC073 This refers to people and their reaction to time or other pressures just as it refers to people under the influence of drugs or inebriated people, who will be more inclined to take risks, misinterpret information, forget and abuse the system. Stress has many influences on behaviour. It is therefore essential that information is positioned and designed appropriately. RAIL SAFETY AND STANDARDS BOARD Page 21 of 35

22 Appendix E - Visual Media Checklist E.1 Use of visual media on trains E.1.1 RC074 Static signs Signs are the most common way of communicating information to passengers, both on board trains and at stations. Signs can be used to deliver general and specific information. They are particularly useful for delivering specific information at the point of need. Signs can easily be supported by the use of additional media. E.1.2 RC075 E.1.3 RC076 Passenger information displays Dynamic displays are used for transmitting train information, for example train stopping points or other route information. These could also be used for transmitting safety information. Warnings shall be visually differentiated from ordinary information. The text height that shall be used in association with passenger information systems is given in the Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations Leaflets and safety cards Leaflets and safety cards are transportable and can be given to or placed before passengers for them to be able to read at a convenient time. They are likely to produce important improvements in understanding emergency information, particularly in relation to general principles. E.2 Use of visual media on stations (optional) E.2.1 RC077 Safety posters Safety posters are particularly useful when passengers may have some time to spare, for example when waiting on platforms, however their importance should be identified to the passenger to discriminate them from other general information posters. Safety posters are likely to produce important improvements in understanding emergency information, particularly in relation to general principles. This approach is also particularly important where a passenger may not consider counter-intuitive actions, such as staying on board a train following an accident or leaning out of a train to release a door handle. E.2.2 RC078 E.2.3 RC079 Timetables Messages in timetables can be used to highlight specific information relative to passenger safety, for example regarding train doors being centrally locked 30 seconds prior to a train s departure. Company literature Opportunities exist to insert safety and emergency messages into company literature available for public consumption. Particular examples of this are company magazines that are available in rail vehicles and at stations. Page 22 of 35 RAIL SAFETY AND STANDARDS BOARD

23 Appendix F Detail Design Guidance The content of this appendix is for information only. F.1 Detail design RC080 This section provides guidance to the designer for the detail design of visual, auditory and tactile information. For additional information and guidance, refer to the documents ITL/GN0001 and ITL/GN0002 available at F.2 Visual information F.2.1 RC081 Sign conventions When signs are used, sign conventions should always be adhered to as mandated by the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 and GM/RT2130. For advisory and regulatory issues concerning visual information, see 2.1 of this document. F.2.2 RC082 F.2.3 RC083 F.2.4 RC084 RC085 Visual coding Visual messages should incorporate means of coding information (additional cues). This can be achieved through the use of shape, size, signal words, orientation, colour, position and layout. Visual cues Visual cues such as colour and shape should be compatible with one another when combined, for example a green triangle transmits safe and unsafe messages in the same sign. Green indicates safe conditions, triangles stipulate warning. Single and combined cues should be used consistently. Colour Colour should never be the sole means of transmitting information due to possible deterioration or confusion of colour information. For regulatory issues concerning the use of colour see 2.1 of this document. Selection of colour should take account of the following: a) Red on blue, blue on green or grey on red or vice versa should not be used b) No more than five different colours should be used on one display c) Blue should not be used for fine detail d) The colour contrast between symbol / text and background should be maximised. F.2.5 RC086 F.2.6 RC087 Size Although size is a powerful cue, space constraints are likely to limit coding by this method. Signal words An alert message, title or caption conveys appropriate information about the importance of the message. Some caution should be used however, as signal words and colour information interact, therefore if they are not used compatibly they may weaken the message. Some testing should be performed to identify the perceived risk portrayed by different captions. These should then be used appropriately so the message is not weakened through over-use. RAIL SAFETY AND STANDARDS BOARD Page 23 of 35