Middleton Railway Trust Ltd. (MRT) Policy Directive

Reference: HS/1 (2/15)

Subject: Health and Safety.

For the attention of: All Council Members, All Senior Engineers, All Engine House Duty Managers. This Directive forms part of the Safety Management System.

Revision History

Previous versions of this Directive were as follows. Reference 5/93/1 was the initial version.

Reference 2/15/1 replaced this, to take account of changes in the MRT’s organisation and in the external regulatory environment.

This version implemented the revised numbering scheme for directives, but made no other changes to the content.

Content Summary

This Directive contains the following sections: Publication

Introduction

The Role of The Council Officers

Risk Assessments

Publication

1. The following summary of this policy is authorised for publication to members of the MRT’s staff.

“(i)  The health and safety of all staff of the MRT, whilst working for it in any capacity, is a matter of vital concern to the MRT’s Council. The Council is therefore determined to provide for all staff conditions of work which are as healthy and safe as is reasonably practicable, and to promote and operate safe working practices throughout the railway.

• To assist in achieving this goal, the Council has appointed one of its members to have overall responsibility for the management of health and safety.
• As part of achieving this goal, the Council has created and documented the MRT’s Safety Management System, and has assigned to the Senior Engineers and the Commercial Manager detailed responsibilities for the implementation of those aspects of this system that are relevant to their roles.
• The Council encourages all staff to recognise their personal responsibility for the health and safety of all, both members of the public and members of staff.
• The Council therefore requires all staff to work to the highest practicable standards of health and safety, and to work in accordance with the Safety Management System, and particularly:
  • in accordance with the Company Rulebook and Train Operating Regulations;
  • in accordance with the requirements for conducting and documenting risk assessments for any activities that may give rise to particular risks; and
  • in accordance with the requirements for raising any concerns that they may have about health and safety, and in particular for reporting to the responsible officers any health and safety hazards that may come to their attention.”.

Introduction

• The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 requires every employer to prepare a written statement of their general policy with respect to the health and safety of employees, including the organisation and arrangements for carrying out that policy. An initial policy was approved by the MRT’s Council on 10th April 1975, and subsequently replaced by Policy Directive 5/93/1 on 11th May 1993. This Directive is a revision of that one, made in accordance with the MRT’s procedures for revision of policy directives (as set out in its Policy Directive GEN/1), in order to take account of changes in the organisational structure of the MRT and of changes in the regulatory requirements for the management of health and safety.

• Whilst the MRT is a volunteer run organisation and does not normally employ any persons, it considers the health and safety of its volunteers to be of paramount importance, and so for the practical purposes of this legislation it treats all such volunteers as though they were employees. Thus, in the context of this Directive, the term staff is to be interpreted as in the Company Rules, as including all volunteers as well as any employees.

• In accordance with the procedures in Policy Directive GEN/1, this Directive will be reviewed at least once every five years. It and the policy defined in it are therefore next due for review in 2020, unless circumstances should arise that make it appropriate to review it earlier than that.

The Role of The Council

• The health and safety of all staff of the MRT, whilst working for it in any capacity, is a matter of vital concern to the MRT’s Council, which therefore:
  • is determined to provide for all staff conditions of work which are as healthy and safe as is reasonably practicable, having regard to the need to maintain and operate museum equipment which, by its very nature, cannot necessarily be brought up to currently acceptable standards; and
  • has created, documented and published a Safety Management System (SMS from now on), as required by “The Railways and Other Guided Transport Systems (Safety) Regulations 2006” (UK SI 599:2006), where this Directive forms a part of this SMS.

• In accordance with its responsibilities under this SMS the MRT’s Council therefore:
  • will bring to the attention of all staff their obligations under the Health and Safety at Work Act and other relevant legislation and under this SMS;
  • has approved and issued a Company Rulebook and Train Operating Regulations to define the basic health and safety requirements for all staff;
  • requires all staff to work in accordance with the Company Rulebook and Train Operating Regulations and to the highest practicable standards of health and safety;
  • will promote and operate safe working practices throughout the MRT, and especially in any aspects that are not covered by the Company Rulebook and Train Operating Regulations;
  • will ensure that adequate risk assessments are conducted for any activities that may give rise to particular risks, and that where necessary these assessments are documented and published;
  • will define the standards of competence that are required for staff who are to undertake particular duties, and particularly safety-critical duties;
  • will ensure that where necessary staff are provided with appropriate training to enable them to safely carry out their duties;
  • will ensure that adequate assessments are carried out of the ability of staff to undertake particular duties, and particularly safety-critical duties;
  • will ensure that staff are provided with protective equipment where necessary to enable them to safely carry out their duties, apart from items of personal protective clothing that staff are required to provide for themselves, such as boots or overalls;
  • will endeavour to ensure that resources are made available as necessary to provide working conditions which are as healthy and safe as is reasonably practicable;
  • will endeavour to ensure that appropriate liaison is maintained with affiliated organisations on matters of health and safety;
  • will take account of recommendations and views expressed by staff on matters of health and safety and, where considered necessary, will take such action as appropriate to implement them;

• will ensure that regular inspections are carried out with regard to health and safety;
  • will maintain procedures for the investigation and reporting of any accidents or other dangerous occurrences;
  • will appoint officers with responsibility for the various activities undertaken by and on behalf of the Trust and lay down their spheres of responsibility;
  • requires all officers of the railway to be accountable for ensuring that operations within their sphere of responsibility are carried out in a safe and healthy manner;
  • will ensure that the topic of health and safety is an item on the agenda for every meeting that it holds; and
  • will ensure that the business at every meeting that it holds will be managed so as to give adequate time for the discussion of any matters that are relevant to this topic.

Officers

• In accordance with clause 6(xv) above the Council will appoint the following officers to exercise responsibility on behalf of the Trust, and in accordance with clause 6(xvi) above these officers are required to exercise responsibility for the following specific aspects of health and safety. The Council will also ensure that one of its members is appointed to have overall responsibility for the management of health and safety.

• The SAFETY OFFICER is responsible to the MRT’s Council for ensuring that, amongst other duties and in conjunction with other officers as appropriate:
  • advice and information is provided as necessary to the Council and to the MRT's officers on matters of health and safety;
  • adequate liaison is maintained with Her Majesty’s Railway Inspectorate, with the Rail Accident Investigation Branch and with any other bodies having regulatory roles for relevant aspects of health and safety;
  • the documentation for the SMS is properly maintained and published;
  • adequate assessments have been made of the risks arising from all of the MRT’s normal operations, in accordance with clause 6(v) above;
  • appropriate definitions are in place for the standards of competence that are required for staff who are to undertake particular duties, and particularly safety-critical duties, in accordance with clause 6(vi) above;
  • appropriate procedures are in place for training, for assessment of competence and for recording the outcomes of assessment of competence for staff who are to undertake particular duties, and particularly safety- critical duties, in accordance with clauses 6(vii) and 6(viii) above;
  • adequate liaison is maintained with the Heritage Railway Association and any other bodies having advisory roles for relevant aspects of health and safety, in accordance with clause 5(xi) above;
  • the health and safety inspections required by clause 6(xiii) above are carried out; and
  • the investigation and reporting of any accidents or dangerous occurrences is carried out to a satisfactory conclusion, in accordance with clause 6(xiv) above.

• The MECHANICAL ENGINEER is responsible to the MRT’s Council for ensuring that, amongst other duties and in conjunction with other officers as appropriate:
  • advice and information is provided as necessary to the Council and to the MRT's officers on matters of health and safety connected with mechanical engineering work;
  • all statutory and other requirements that affect health and safety in the use of mechanical equipment are properly applied and implemented;
  • adequate schemes are in place for the maintenance of mechanical equipment, and that these schemes are properly implemented;
  • adequate records are maintained of mechanical engineering work that is carried out, and particularly in respect of safety-critical items of rolling stock and equipment;
  • adequate risk assessments are conducted for any mechanical engineering work that may require them, and that where necessary these assessments are documented and published, in accordance with clause 6(v) above; and
  • high standards of mechanical engineering and maintenance are practised for all rolling stock and mechanical equipment and work on them, and in all other mechanical matters pertaining to health and safety at work, and particularly those relating to any operations carried out in the workshop.

1. The ELECTRICAL ENGINEER is responsible to the MRT’s Council for ensuring that, amongst other duties and in conjunction with other officers as appropriate:
   1. advice and information is provided to the Council and to the MRT's officers on matters of health and safety connected with electrical engineering work;
   1. all statutory and other requirements that affect health and safety in the use of electrical equipment are properly applied and implemented;
   1. adequate schemes are in place for the maintenance of electrical equipment, and that these schemes are properly implemented;
   1. adequate records are maintained of electrical engineering work that is carried out, and particularly in respect of safety-critical items of rolling stock and equipment;
   1. adequate risk assessments are conducted for any electrical engineering work that may require them, and that where necessary these assessments are documented and published, in accordance with clause 6(v) above; and
   1. high standards of electrical engineering and maintenance are practised for all electrical equipment and work on it, and in all other electrical matters pertaining to health and safety at work and particularly those relating to operations carried out in the workshop and relating to the electrical systems in the Engine House building.

1. The CIVIL ENGINEER is responsible to the MRT’s Council for ensuring that, amongst other duties and in conjunction with other officers as appropriate:
   1. advice and information is provided as necessary to the Council and to the MRT's officers on matters of health and safety connected with civil engineering work, and with the condition of the MRT’s premises and railway track;
   1. all statutory and other requirements that affect health and safety in the condition and maintenance of the MRT’s premises and railway track are properly applied and implemented;
   1. such areas of the Moor Road Depot site as are open to the public do not present to them any hazards for health and safety;
   1. adequate schemes are in place for the maintenance of premises and railway track, and that these schemes are properly implemented;
   1. adequate records are maintained of civil engineering work that is carried out, and particularly in respect of the track and associated control equipment;
   1. adequate risk assessments are conducted for any civil engineering work that may require them, and that where necessary these assessments are documented and published, in accordance with clause 6(v) above; and
   1. high standards of civil engineering and maintenance are practised for all buildings, track and associated control equipment and work on them, and in all other civil engineering matters pertaining to health and safety at work.

1. The TRAFFIC MANAGER is responsible to the MRT’s Council for ensuring that, amongst other duties and in conjunction with other officers as appropriate:
   1. advice and information is provided to the Council and to the MRT's officers on matters of health and safety connected with the operation of trains;
   1. all train operations are properly authorised, and are carried out in a safe manner and in compliance with the MRT’s Company Rulebook and Train Operating Regulations;
   1. any temporary or permanent instructions or requirements affecting the safe working of trains that become necessary are brought to the attention of all staff who may be concerned with them;
   1. adequate risk assessments are conducted for any train operations that may require them and for which such assessments have not already been conducted, and that where necessary these assessments are documented and published, in accordance with clause 6(v) above; and
   1. assistance is provided as necessary with the investigation and reporting of any accidents or dangerous occurrences that arise during the operation of trains, in accordance with clause 6(xiv) above.

1. The COMMERCIAL MANAGER is responsible to the MRT’s Council for ensuring that, amongst other duties and in conjunction with other officers as appropriate:
   1. advice and information is provided to the Council and to the MRT's officers on matters of health and safety connected with commercial activities, and particularly activities within the Engine House building;
   1. all statutory and other requirements that affect health and safety in the conduct of commercial activities, and particularly activities within the Engine House building, are properly applied and implemented;

• adequate risk assessments are conducted for any commercial activities that may require them and for which such assessments have not already been conducted, and that where necessary these assessments are documented and published, in accordance with clause 6(v) above; and
  • high standards of hygiene are maintained throughout the Engine House building, and in particular are practised for all activities that involve the handling or preparation of food.

Risk Assessments

1. In accordance with clause 8(iv) above, the Safety Officer is responsible for maintaining a general assessment of the risks arising from the normal operations of the railway. This assessment forms part of the SMS and should be published as part of it, and this assessment should be reviewed every five years.

1. If any activity is to be undertaken that is not covered by the general risk assessment, then the person responsible for undertaking that activity must first assess the risks that may arise from it, and if necessary should seek advice from the appropriate officers as to the severity or likelihood of the risks, and as to any control measures that may need to be put in place before the activity is commenced.
   1. If the activity will involve more than two or three people, or the risks from it may affect more than just those people undertaking it, then the results of the assessment must be written down, and a copy of this must be communicated to the officer most directly responsible for that activity.
   1. If the activity is likely to need to be carried out more than two or three times, or the risks from it may affect members of the public, then the written results of the risk assessment must be added to the published records of risk assessments that are maintained as part of the SMS.

Drafted by S. J. Roberts, A. Gill and A. J. Cowling, and approved on 17th February 2015.