Having a process to confirm that you (as a licensed rail participant) are appropriately considering and managing the safety risk elements of any changes relating to rail activities, provides us (as the regulator) ongoing assurance that you can integrate changes safely and without affecting risks in other areas. It also ensures that you adopt a robust, well managed and risk based approach to change.
Keeping us informed of changes in your organisation that may affect the safety risk of your rail activities works both as a reminder for you that you’re following your appropriate processes, and as a tool for us to maintain oversight of the rail industry (which helps us monitor trends and promote safety).
After checking a notification (or after an assessment), if we determine that a variation is required to your organisation’s safety case, we’ll provide you with a notice, explain the rationale behind the decision and work with you to get the changes made (Railways Act, Section 34(external link)).
