In their speeches and publications, industrial safety experts often state that the human factor is the most significant element influencing the level of safety culture in an organization. At JSC "Russian Railways" (RZD), we share this perspective and believe that training and engagement activities are the most effective ways to influence the human factor. One of the initiatives in this area is the JSC "Russian Railways" Professionals Championship, which consists of qualifying stages and a final held once every two years.
The JSC "Russian Railways" Professionals Championship was created as a domestic format of the Corporate Professional Excellence Championship based on the WorldSkills methodology — RZDSkills.
In the field of HSE, our company features competitions between HSE specialists, as well as blue-collar workers who demonstrate knowledge of safety rules during technological processes. These tasks involve professional risks, such as locomotive operation, railway track repair and maintenance, catenary maintenance, car maintenance and repair, and others.
From July 17 to 21, 2023, the first final of the JSC "Russian Railways" Professionals Championship was held in Yekaterinburg. Over 2,000 railway workers representing 65 specialties and 279 Russian cities participated. Forty competitions across eight tracks were prepared for them, held at four venues: Yekaterinburg-Passazhirsky station; Shartash station; the production base of the Sverdlovsk Civil Engineering Division; and the Sverdlovsk Children's Railway. During the competition, 2,870 units of equipment and 77 simulators were utilized.
To ensure the safety of participants at the championship venues, HSE instructions were developed, and HSE briefings were organized.
In the "HSE" competence, 32 HSE specialists competed, representing various business sectors of JSC "Russian Railways" and regions: two representatives from each of the 16 railways. At the final competitions, each participant was represented by an expert who, on one hand, evaluated other participants and, on the other, represented the interests of their protégé in case of disputes. A chief expert was also present on-site to coordinate the activities of experts, contestants, and the competition venue during the championship final. For the experts working at all championship venues, an automated participant evaluation system was developed, accessible via mobile devices.
The competitions were held over four days across several modules: documentation list formation; HSE training; professional risk assessment and mitigation; employee work permits; first aid and accident investigation; monitoring of working conditions and HSE requirements; functioning of the HSE management system; and implementation of safety culture.
In accordance with the approved competition task, HSE specialists competed in disciplines such as identifying professional risks and hazards, developing preventive measures to reduce industrial injuries and occupational diseases, selecting regulatory documents, providing first aid to victims of industrial accidents, and many others.
For the first aid competitions, two simulators with realistic injuries were purchased, including limb amputations, burns, and cuts; blood substitute was also used. It must be said that working with such simulators was a real test even for experienced specialists who are themselves first aid mentors.
The championship events allowed for the identification of both the participants' strengths in industrial safety and areas for development, providing valuable feedback for managers responsible for HSE issues. Regarding development areas, attention should also be paid to universal competencies, which are as necessary for every specialist as professional ones.
Specialists who showed the best results form an unofficial talent pool within the company and may be considered for higher positions in HSE departments.
We are currently organizing regional stages to select contestants for the next final in 2025, where the 16 best HSE specialists will compete. The competition system motivates specialists to study professional issues more deeply, interact with one another, and demonstrate their best qualities. Beyond the competitive aspect, the final allows all participants to discuss professional topics, network, and immerse themselves in the atmosphere of a large-scale team-building event.