§ Ms ShortTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what checks the Health and Safety Executive makes on the working practices of safety-critical rail staff. [23118]
§ Mr. WattsInspecting officers of Her Majesty's railway inspectorate frequently visit railway sites such as signalboxes, maintenance depots, track work and signalling installations. At such times, and when travelling in driving cabs, they consider, among many other matters, the competence of, and working arrangements for, persons carrying out safety-critical work. In addition, they look at managers' arrangements for monitoring compliance with the Railways (Safety Critical Work) Regulations 1994, and provide advice and guidance.
§ Ms ShortTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures are taken by Railtrack to ensure that staff carrying out designated safety-critical work, employed by Railtrack or its contractors, are fit to do so. [23119]
§ Mr. WattsThe Railways (Safety Critical Work) Regulations 1994 place responsibility on employers for ensuring that their employees are competent and fit to undertake safety-critical work.
Railtrack has railway group standards in place which set out competence and medical fitness standards, and which apply to its own staff, staff of train and station operators and staff of infrastructure contractors, who carry out safety-critical work on the Railtrack network. Group standards require employers to monitor fitness for work on a regular basis. Periodic re-examination of medical fitness and reassessment of competence is also mandatory.
Railtrack's safety and standards directorate carries out audits of compliance with group standards by the Railtrack zones, and operators and contractors.