NR NR/L3/RSE/0003 ISSUE 1 PDF

This standard applies to the Safety Verification process required under Network Rail's Health and Safety Management System (H&SMS) for projects undertaken on Network Rail managed infrastructure as specified in RoGS. This does not include a consideration of occupational health and safety which is generally covered in other Network Rail standards.

NR/L3/RSE/0001 covers the process by which a project team determines whether safety verification is required prior to project authorisation and arranges for the appointment of a Competent Independent Person (CIP) to undertake this. It sets out a company process for categorising projects as:

• Category 0 – project is out of scope of RoGS for example due to it being concerned with a depot, siding, commercial premises or car park;

• Category 1 – safety verification audit by a CIP not required;

• Category 2 – safety verification by a CIP required;

• Category 3 – interoperable projects or projects for which safety verification is required, but because of the nature of the project a bespoke safety verification process is appropriate; and

• Category 4 – Whilst Network Rail is undertaking the project and physical works it beholds to another dutyholder to determine if safety verification is required for example at a leased station for which the TOC will be the infrastructure manager and hold an appropriate Safety Management System.

This standard only applies to the generic safety verification process for CIPs appointed by Network Rail Acceptance Panel (NRAP) for category 2 projects and for any other projects at the decision of NRAP. This includes situations in which a Project Safety Verification Group may be formed to support a safety verification as described in NR/L3/RSE/0001.

Purpose

The purpose of safety verification is to assess independently the extent to which Network Rail projects that intend to alter Network Rail Infrastructure are:-

• Compliant to relevant legislation;

• In accordance with standards (unless deviated);

• Following the principles and processes set out in the corporate Health and Safety Management System;

• Delivering a railway transport system which is as safe as is reasonably practicable for the purposes of ongoing operation and maintenance; and

• Producing a suitable documentary trail of reviews and decisions to demonstrate that the above items were integral to the project's development and implementation.

• Discharging Network Rail's duty of cooperation under the Railways and Other guided Transport Systems (Safety) Regulations 2006 (RoGS) using Railway Group Standard GE/RT8270 issue 2 as the framework. Appendix A provides guidance on this.

Safety Verification audits the processes and documentation used by a project, but does not, in itself, guarantee that a project is producing a safe railway system. Safety Verification does not absolve Clients, Sponsors, Project Managers, Project Engineers or Designers (including specifying engineers or system designers) of their responsibilities to design and implement a railway which is as safe so far as is reasonably practicable.