NR RT/LS/G/001 ISSUE 1 PDF

PURPOSE OF THIS DOCUMENT

This document has been produced to help managers in Railtrack manage safety risks. A riskbased approach to managing safety is a legal requirement under the Health and Safety at Work Act, and a vital component of Railtrack's management processes, underpinning Railtrack's Railway Safety Case. It also informs negotiations with other organisations in the Railway Group and with regulators.

Within Railtrack Line, the Assurance & Safety Directorate provides a central resource for strategy, planning, and advice on risk management. However in a large, devolved company like Railtrack, risk-based safety management will only be a reality if a pro-active and consistent approach to safety risk is applied throughout the company. To achieve this:

• An understanding of basic risk principles is needed by people across the organisation;

• A number of people within each Business Unit (e.g. Zones, Major Projects, Major Stations, Property) should have a deeper knowledge and broader experience of risk management. Such people will be able to take the lead on the management of risk within their part of the organisation, and to provide advice to others (including help with managing work on risk carried out by consultants).

In this respect, safety risk management is similar to other aspects of business management such as finance or contracts: a basic level of competency is required across the organisation, with additional support being available at the Business Unit level and centrally. This document is intended to help promote improved competencies in safety risk management.