NR NR/L3/ENV/044 ISSUE 4 PDF

This work instruction specifies a standard approach to be used in the planning and execution of enhancements, renewals and maintenance work that involve the removal of both hazardous and non-hazardous used railway ballast and other excavated infrastructure waste.

Any differences in requirements between England, Wales and Scotland are clearly stated.

It applies to all parties involved in:

a) the planning, design and removal of used ballast and rail network excavated infrastructure waste from the track, either by train or road; and

b) its transport and delivery to the nominated Network Rail Aggregate Handling Depots (AHDs) or an authorised non Network Rail waste management facility. The work instruction aids:

a) the identification of hazards in the waste;

b) waste classification; and

c) the subsequent appropriate disposal route. The work instruction helps users to identify presence of non-acceptable waste:

a) Asbestos Containing Material (ACM) waste;

b) invasive and injurious plant species; and c) other types of non-acceptable waste for AHDs

NOTE 1: Refer to the requirements set out in NR/L2/CIV/168 for work with asbestos. Refer to guidance on Safety Central for removal of invasive and injurious plant species. It does not:

a) cover health and safety legislative requirements associated with waste and waste handling;

NOTE 2: Follow a safe work pack for protecting the safety of people at work on or near the line.

b) cover infrastructure materials that are not defined as waste through legislative definitions e.g. sleepers, bearers, chairs, rail, and track panels. These infrastructure materials should be handled using the process set out in NR/L2/CPR/306.

Purpose

This work instruction sets out the process to:

a) correctly identify and handle used ballast and other excavated infrastructure waste when disposing of it from rail worksites; and

b) comply with the requirements of waste management legislation.

It allows Network Rail to:

a) guard against pollution;

b) fulfil statutory requirements;

c) promote best practice in the way that the waste is handled;

d) identify hazards that pose risk to the environment;

e) reduce, reuse and recycle the waste for environmental sustainability benefits;