Meet the team - becoming an RAIB inspector
One of our inspectors talks about their role and the different challenges they had to face when they started working at RAIB
Richard Harrington
This year marks my 17th year working for the RAIB.
I remember my first day at RAIB like it was yesterday. I arrived at our office in Woking (we have since moved to Aldershot) on a crisp, cold October morning. I was thinking . . . had I done the right thing? I had been in the railway industry since 1989, working as a shunter, freight guard, train driver, driver instructor, competence assessor and accident investigation manager. But this was a big change, working for the Government as an inspector of rail accidents.
I soon settled in and found RAIB to be a very welcoming place to work. The training was intense and required periods of staying away from home, but the training was excellent and prepared me well for what lay ahead. The training covered many areas of the railway I had little experience of: track maintenance, signalling design, heritage railways, tramways and underground train networks, and general areas such as how to interact with the media.
RAIB training also covered giving evidence at inquests and engaging with bereaved families, seriously injured people, and people that have witnessed traumatic events. This element of RAIB’s work, while emotional and at times stressful, can be rewarding and is a further motivator to investigate accidents to improve the safety of railways for everyone.
Due to the nature of RAIB’s operations, there is on-call commitment, and you can find yourself deployed to any part of the UK at very short notice, often requiring staying away from home. The on-call roster covers 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, so that can include being on call on bank holidays, Christmas and New Year as well as birthdays and other special occasions. But fear not, sometimes a colleague may also be looking to swap an on-call turn to attend a special event, so mutual swaps are usually possible.
Being an accident investigator means many hours of ‘desk work’ after the site phase. From reviewing statements, meeting notes and reports to viewing CCTV images, analysing data from tests, trains and trams, and signalling systems Then report writing. The training provided, and the experience and support of your colleagues means this is a very interesting and rewarding part of the job. But, be expected to be challenged on your work. This can feel a little daunting at first, but challenge is an important part of ensuring RAIB’s investigations and recommendations are based on solid foundations.
The level of detail of the work of RAIB is incredible, and I work with truly amazing people who all share the same aim to make the railways safer for everyone. There is a wealth of experience, knowledge, and support from colleagues. Everyone is happy to help you and feeling included, and your wellbeing are both very important to RAIB.
So, 17 years in, what do I think? Well, I feel extremely privileged and proud to work for RAIB and when I wake up each working day, I am looking forward to the day ahead. Would I do it all again? Absolutely.
If you are naturally inquisitive, are able to deal with last-minute changes to your plans and want to make the railways a safer place for everyone, this could well be the career for you.