Suicide prevention in railway systems: Application of a barrier approach

This study is part of a broader research program aiming at safer railway systems with regard to suicide risks. The specific aim of this paper is to theoretically derive and categorise a set of railway suicide prevention strategies with special regard to measures under the potential control of the railway system-owners.The methodological approach departs from synthesizing generic accident and suicide prevention models. Secondly, potential barriers are identified by means of fault tree analysis (FTA), and thirdly results from this analysis are validated against Haddon’s ten energy-based injury prevention strategies.Our results include 20 separate preventive strategies, of which most are in reach of railway system-owners themselves. Four of them aim to reduce perceived attractiveness and availability, nine aim to influence accessibility to track areas and the potential of collision, five strategies aim to mitigate consequences of collision, and three encompass medical survival and recovery strategies.To evaluate the barriers’ practical feasibility, etc., is beyond the aim of this study. However, technological development and innovations may turn less realistic alternatives today into more realistic possibilities tomorrow, as has been proven in other fields.