§ Albert OwenTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many safety risk assessments, in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act, have been carried out by(a) county highways authorities on county roads in 102W England and Wales and (b) the Highways Agency on motorways and trunk roads to identify the number of locations where roads cross railway lines since the Selby train crash; and what action the authorities have taken to prevent accidents at the locations identified. [65219]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 places a general duty on employers to conduct their undertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of the public. In general, this is not enforced where public and worker safety is adequately protected by a more specific and detailed law enforced by another authority, such as the Highways Act 1980 and the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.
We have endorsed the risk ranking guidance produced by Railtrack and the CSS (formerly the County Surveyors' Society) and have commended it to highway authorities and rail infrastructure authorities. Details of risk assessments and any measures installed as a result are not held centrally.