The Bengaluru Division of South Western Railway on Monday organized a comprehensive safety seminar for Loco Pilots, Assistant Loco Pilots, Train Managers, Track Machine Operators, Tower Wagon Operators at Bengaluru.
Addressing the gathering, Praveen Kataraki, Additional Divisional Railway Manager, highlighted the crucial responsibility shouldered by Running Staff—particularly Loco Pilots and Assistant Loco Pilots—in ensuring the safe transportation of passengers. He stressed that along with strong professional knowledge in safe train operations, maintaining good physical fitness is essential for sustaining focus and alertness on duty.
Parikshit Mohanpuria, Additional Divisional Railway Manager, underscored the importance for Running Staff to remain thoroughly acquainted with all signals and safety aspects of the sections they operate in. He appealed to the family members of crew staff to provide a supportive home environment—ensuring adequate rest and a stress-free atmosphere—so that they can perform their duties without distraction.
A key topic of the seminar was the prevention of SPAD (Signal Passing At Danger) cases. Participants engaged in discussions on case studies, remedial measures. Brake pattern analysis, workplace practices, and the influence of the home environment on the performance of Running Staff were also discussed.
The seminar also featured expert sessions on health and wellness. Kumari Bhavana, Nutritionist, spoke on balanced diets, healthy eating habits, exercise, and yoga for holistic well-being. Specialists from NIMHANS provided insights into mental health, the impact of stress, healthy lifestyle habits, and tips for better sleep.
Senior officials including D. Ravishankar, Sr. Divisional Electrical Engineer (Traction Operations); Sudarshan Bhat, Senior Divisional Safety Officer; Akhil Mattu, Divisional Electrical Engineer (Traction Operations); and other officers were present. Loco Pilots, Assistant Loco Pilots, Train Managers, track machine operators, tower wagon operators and family members of crew actively participated in the seminar.
