National suicide prevention programme and railway suicide

A systematic review of the literature on safety measures to prevent railway suicides and trespassing accidents

“…Outcome variable: number of subway suicidal behaviours (suicides and suicide attempts) one-metre deep (Bhui et al, 2013). The ditch may decrease the contact between train and body (Beskow et al, 1994), but even when present, if the casualty has not fallen into it then he or she is unlikely to survive (Coats and Walter, 1999). This measure is popular in underground systems which have pits for water drainage.…”

“…In addition to the front geometry (Routley et al, 2004), this can be achieved through smooth surfaces, shock absorbing structures, deflecting devices (Rådbo et al, 2008), or trains with more ground clearance (Coats and Walter, 1999). Specific examples include nets on trains (Ladwig et al, 2009), the redesign of the axel box dampers along the sides of the rolling stock (Rådbo et al, 2012a), and inflatable airbags mounted in front of trains (Beskow et al, 1994;Kerkhof, 2003;Rådbo et al, 2012a). An airbag, which inflates after the use of an emergency brake, can cushion and reduce the impact of collision between a body and a train, and a rigid skirt can prevent the body from falling underneath the train (Clarke and Poyner, 1994).…”

“…Akkaş et al, 2011;Lerer and Matzopoulos, 1996;Matzopoulos and Lerer, 1998;Nixon et al, 1985). The train front should be designed to dissipate the collison energy as greatly as possible, considering the human tolerance of mechanical impacts: instead of a blunt crash into persons on the tracks redesign of fronts may help to push them aside (Beskow et al, 1994). In addition to the front geometry (Routley et al, 2004), this can be achieved through smooth surfaces, shock absorbing structures, deflecting devices (Rådbo et al, 2008), or trains with more ground clearance (Coats and Walter, 1999).…”

“…The design of tracks to reduce the injuries to people hit by trains (Beskow et al, 1994;Rådbo et al, 2008) is also taken into account. One recommendation is to place the third electric rail further from the platform (Hawton, 2007) to decrease the chances of electrocution, but it is yet unknown if this measure would really make a difference.…”

Självmord som skada - en profylaktisk entré

“…Ifråga om fordonsrelaterade självmords-risker kan t ex följande studier nämnas: Ett arbete gällde kolmonoxidrisker och ledde till förslag gällande konstruktion och utformning av bilars avgassystem (Öström et al 1996), ett annat gällde suicidrisker på järnvägar och skadereducerande åtgärder genom modifikationer av dragfordonens fronter; i detta arbete demonstreras rätt tydligt en neutral, skaderiskminskande ansats (Beskow et al 1994).…”