The Digital Railway

The power of tech in rail safety

OnTrac’s Safe Work Pack (SWP) solution is leading the way in first-class rail safety. It streamlines processes that make life safer and more productive, creating a compliant and collaborative working environment

The rail industry keeps our country moving with a network of colleagues who dedicate their lives to the railway. Ensuring the safety of our staff who work on the track has never been more important. OnTrac knows that work must be planned and completed safely, productively and to specification. This is where high-quality safe work packs help protect our most vital asset – our people.

Sites of work are fast-changing environments and rapid communication cannot be achieved with the traditional safe work planning processes. The introduction of mobile devices on sites of work has been a real game-changer. Couple this with innovative software like OnTrac’s SWP solution and we are seeing just how the power of tech is transforming safety within the industry. An industry-first safety solution OnTrac has developed an industry-first use of tech that has the power to improve safety, compliance, productivity and reporting. It is being deployed by thousands of users across the UK including Network Rail, Siemens, Atkins plc and J Murphy & Sons Ltd. September sees the launch of the most powerful software upgrade yet, SWP v.4. It takes safe work planning to another level, giving you significant return on investment from increased efficiencies.

Communication and collaboration Those efficiencies are gained by safer, simpler and more collaborative planning. It is clear that working patterns have changed and SWP v.4 has been designed for easy use across desktops, laptops, tablets and mobile phones. Real-time communication has never been more important. This solution allows key information to flow instantly between workers on-site and in the office. The transition to electronic planning processes allows your workforce to be briefed clearly. It ensures compliance to standards whilst relaying real-time data to colleagues across sites.

Compliance ready Meeting the complex demands of today’s railway compliance is at the top of everyone’s agenda. Digitalising safe work planning processes makes data easily accessible and instantly ready for audit checks, ensuring compliance with industry standards.

September sees the introduction of updates to Network Rail’s latest 019 standard and having robust, compliant and easily accessible workflows are essential. OnTrac has supported the rail industry for over a decade, with their Safe Work Pack (SWP) solution being used by over 600 organisations and 15,500 users across the supply chain. The newly upgraded software guarantees you the peace of mind that you will be compliant with September’s new standard.

Increased productivity The transition to digital technology has been dramatically accelerated by the pandemic. It has been essential to keep businesses, livelihoods, and our economy afloat.

SWP v.4 comes with both Android and iOS applications. On-site processes can be completed without the need for risky and inefficient pieces of paper being passed between staff. By collecting an electronic record of work, insights can be gained through the dynamic reporting functionality.

Mobile-based apps allow colleagues involved in the safe work planning process to collaborate throughout the planning and sign-off phases, accessible at any time. Not only is paper and printing saved, but your own time and that of your colleagues.

Siemens now carry out work on an entirely paperless basis. They have seen

The OnTrac system has proved incredibly popular, as colleagues can work together in real-time, with more than 1,200 users connected. The implementation of SWP has resulted in a £1.5 million saving per annum in labour and printing costs, with an environmental benefit from the reduction in paper used. We have a culture of continuous development to ensure we meet the demands of the rail industry as it changes, both culturally and technically, and we are continuing to work with OnTrac to enhance the system further.’ Mike Sharp – Head of Infrastructure Access, Siemens.

massive improvements in productivity and importantly a significant return on investment. An entire day has been saved in printing time per week and the project has saved the company £1.5 million per year in both labour and printing costs. A return on investment was gained within the first eight weeks of the SWP app adoption.

‘The OnTrac system has proved incredibly popular, as colleagues can work together in real-time, with more than 1,200 users connected. The implementation of SWP has resulted in a £1.5 million saving per annum in labour and printing costs, with an environmental benefit from the reduction in paper used. We have a culture of continuous development to ensure we meet the demands of the rail industry as it changes, both culturally and technically, and we are continuing to work with OnTrac to enhance the system further.’ Mike Sharp – Head of Infrastructure Access, Siemens.

Making the most of data trends In an industry that is notoriously datarich, digitalising rail processes enables vital data to be saved instantly to the cloud. This data can be accessed and analysed to ensure future rail work is carried out in the safest possible way. Technology is making it easier than ever to detect patterns of unsafe behaviours so they can be tackled headon. Data can be accessed 24/7 for years to come, ready for audit checks and ensuring compliance with industry standards.

The power of reporting In addition to SWP v.4, OnTrac is also releasing powerful new reporting functionality – known as RailHub Business Intelligence (BI) Reporting. Leveraging the vast quantity of data contained within existing safe work packs, RailHub BI Reporting allows users to unlock real-time, data-driven insights that will improve safety, productivity, and compliance across your business.

These simple, easy-to-use reports go far beyond the suite of ‘standard’ reporting necessitated by Network Rail’s 019 Standard.

Powered by the latest Microsoft Power BI technology, this solution gives you access to Key Performance Indicators that are important to your business; be that for compliance or improving safe work planning.

This solution will help you drive efficiencies across your organisation. It will save you time and money, improve safety and ensure you are audit-ready, with access to real-time data wherever you are, with upto-date insights from data that is refreshed every 60 minutes.

A fully integrated workspace In today’s challenging economy, workforce safety, productivity, and management of costs are more important than ever. SWP v.4 and RailHub BI Reporting form part of OnTrac’s integrated workspace for access planning, known as the RailHub.

The benefits of integration within the RailHub assist in helping to both keep people safe, whilst improving productivity, and lowering costs. The software includes: • Access to the latest reference materials to help plan and deliver work safely – including sectional appendices and signal diagrams. • Integration with OnTrac’s Work Package

Plan and Task Briefing suite. Users can electronically assign Task Briefings to their packs. • Use of the Access Points mobile apps, providing one-stop visibility of over 10,000 access and egress locations on the network. • Access to the National Hazard Directory, covering over 16,000 track miles of geographically tagged information. This is the most comprehensive and up-todate risk register in the UK.

OnTrac is constantly evolving and keeping ahead of trends by giving its users the confidence that you will remain compliant, whilst ensuring that your most important assets – your people – remain safe.

Coming soon during 2022 are two new features to the OnTrac suite of products: • Fatigue Management. In line with the upcoming Fatigue Risk Management standard, OnTrac is a developing a new

Fatigue Management solution that will be housed within the RailHub – with a complimentary mobile application included. • Integration with Network Rail’s Line

Blockage solution. OnTrac is proud to support Network Rail with the introduction of their own version of the RailHub. Authorised supply chain users will soon be able to interface with Network Rail’s new Line Blockage solution, which is replacing GZAM nationally throughout 2022.

OnTrac’s products are designed by the industry, for the industry after listening to customer feedback. SWP v.4 will be available from September 2022, to coincide with the updated industry standard. To register your interest in SWP v4 get in touch via the contact information below.

Tel: 0191 477 4951 Email: swpv4@on-trac.co.uk Visit: www.on-trac.co.uk