Managing transport safety in the context of global competition

Over the last decades, all four branches of the transport sector (air, sea, road and rail) have undergone massive changes in response to fierce international competition and new international regulation of safety and competition. This has led to cost-cutting and new models of organisation based on outsourcing and specialisation. The main problem addressed by the project is: How can companies and regulators work to create good framework conditions for transport safety in the context of global competition? We study how various stakeholders of transport safety can adapt to their own framework conditions, how they can create good framework conditions for others, and how they can use their influence to improve the framework conditions for their own safety work. The project studied all four branches of transport as well as interactions between the branches. Data sources have been interviews, document studies and workshops with operators and regulators within all four branches of transportation. The project was executed by SINTEF Technology and Society and NTNU Social Research. The following are some key findings: ? The four branches of transport have not been affected by globalization to the same extent. Maritime operations have been global for centuries, whereas the extent of internationalisation in railway operations is still limited. Strong dependence on infrastructure, as can be found in railway operations, seems to limit the impact of globalisation. ? National transport safety regulators cede authority to international regulators to an increasing extent. Shipowners can even choose between national regulators when registering their fleet. However, new technologies and international collaboration open new opportunities for regulators. ? Some purchasers of transport services have taken responsibility for promoting transport safety, as a means to promote their own reputation. ? Globalisation frequently leads to organisational fragmentation; either as a means for political authorities to promote competition, or as a means for operators to improve profitability. Such fragmentation can be a challenge to transport safety within systems that require rigorous coordination of activities (e.g. railway operations). ? There have been several examples within the transportation sector of deteriorating working conditions (social dumping) or trade unions being outflanked. Civil airlines have, on the other hand, demonstrated a capacity to maintain very good accident records over many years in spite of a demanding economic environment. ? New technologies may provide the regulating authorities with new opportunities for control and in some cases provide for more reliable and robust barriers against accidents. We reached the following conclusions regarding the main problem of the study, i.e. how can companies and regulators work to create good framework conditions for transport safety in the context of global competition? 1. Many buyers of transport services are in a position where they can promote transportation safety. We found examples of this within road transport, and maritime transport related to the oil and aquaculture industries. 2. Regulatory authorities can collaborate internationally to extend their capacity to control of cross border transport operations and internationalised operators. 3. New information technology can be utilised to enhance regulatory monitoring and to establish more robust barriers against accidents. 4. Creating traceability in the transport chain can link the means of transportation more closely to the customer and give the customer stronger incentives to promote transportation safety. 5. Reintegration of fragmented organisations refers to measures taken to compensate for unwanted effects of organisational fragmentation. The means to reintegrate range from highly formal (e.g. contracts) to informal (e.g. developing personal networks). 6. Create vigorous national and local arenas for collaboration between trade unions, employers' federations and regulatory authorities. Such arenas have provided an effective vehicle for improvement work in many sectors of Norwegian working life.

The project studies how internationalization and increased competition affect the ability to manage safety in all four branches of transport. The main problem to be addressed is: How can companies and regulators work to create good framework conditions for safety in the context of global competition? "Framework conditions" are the conditions that influence the opportunities different actors have to control risk. Internationalization is in itself a framework condition, but will also be a key driver influencing other framework conditions for safety. The public debate around the possible safety consequences of internationalization and increased competition is highly politicized. It is the aim of this project to generate more distanced, research-based knowledge of the consequences of this development. Understanding the role of framework conditions for safety involves studying three interrelated aspects: First, most actors are receivers of framework conditions, in the sense that they must adapt to framework conditions that are produced on a higher organizational or societal level. Second, they can utilize different strategies to influence and change these framework conditions. Third, most actors in the risk management chain will produce framework conditions that influence the work of other actors, i.e. they will also be senders of framework conditions themselves. All these three dimensions of framework conditions will be studied. The project will analyze approx. 100 existing interviews, analyze existing survey and accident data, perform 5 workshops, approx. 60 interviews and arrange an international symposium on transport safety. This activity is divided into seven work packages. It is important to underline that all work packages have a parallel aim of understanding both the sector in itself, and the interrelationships and framework conditions that influences the transport system as a whole.