Page 11 - Operation Lifesaver Estonia Annual Report 2011

Railway Safety in Estonia - 9 - Annual Report 2011
trainer’s course held in Las Vegas, USA. The experience
we got cannot be overestimated, as the knowledge
and techniques learnt are priceless. After coming back
to Estonia we organised two presenters’ trainings as a
result of which OLE certified 13 volunteer presenters
making today railway safety presentations in different
educational institutions all over Estonia. In addition to
the presentations our presenters and we participated
actively in Järva County’s, Pärnu County’s and North-
Estonian KEAT (Protect Yourself and Help Others) projects
and safety days all across Estonia.
In 2011 OLE organised traditionally three railway safety
campaigns.
Our Christmas campaign’s traditional message was
„LET THE TRAIN PASS! YOU ARE EXPECTED HOME FOR
CHRISTMAS” This campaign focusing on longing for your
close ones was warmly received also by our cooperation
partners and used by Operation Lifesaver Inc. in the USA.
This campaign focusing on longing for your close ones
was warmly received also by our cooperation partners
and used by Operation Lifesaver Inc. in the USA.
I would like to say a big THANK YOU to the Estonian
Railway Culture Foundation (ERKSA) who funded
last year the purchase of state-of-the-art audio and
video equipment that we can use for creating efficient
campaigns and training materials. Knowledge and
experience do not help much if there is no opportunity to
communicate them to the target groups. The equipment
acquired with the help of ERKSA provides us with tools
for visualising our railway safety messages.
Last year OLE started the preparations for launching
a new training programme targeted at the emergency
response personnel (police and rescue officers,
paramedics) arriving to accident site first. The objective
of the programme is giving knowledge helping to make
right decisions at the scene of an accident. The test
trainings organised have received positive feedback
and in 2012 we shall complete the production of the
necessary training materials.
The more OLE’s activities spread, the more I am asked
whether the positive trends in railway safety statistics are
related to the motivation system of OLE’s management?
If I say no, people often wonder what does make people
to contribute so actively in safety. In my case it is the
reluctance to drive to the sites of tragic accidents that
I have had to do too many times due to my daily work
as the Head of Security of AS Eesti Raudtee (Estonian
Railways). I am convinced that efficient preventive work
gives good results. I am sure that each OLE’s contributor
has his/her personal reasons why to continue dealing
with this matter.
The same applies to companies – there are companies
that consider dealing with the railway safety issues
important due to their scope of activities, companies that
deal with them for other reasons and companies that do
not consider it important even if it would have a positive
affect on their business results and public image.
If I look back at the seven years of OLE’s activities, I
see with the feeling of satisfaction that the small steps
we have taken together with our partners are taking
us closer to our goal – a safer living environment and
the awareness of people about the dangers present on
railways.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all the
members of our organisation, its cooperation partners
and volunteers who have taken railway safety into their
hearts and spread their knowledge and experience with
the objective to keep our families untouched by tragic
events that cannot be reversed.
Presenters’ trainers’ course in the USA, summer 2011