When it comes to Britain’s railways, few topics have attracted as much debate as the ‘cost of safety’. From ‘safety’ being blamed for cost overruns on major projects, to politicians promising unlimited expenditure in the wake of an accident, emotion and misinformation have often got in the way of calm, informed debate.
When it comes to Britain’s railways, few topics have attracted as much debate as the ‘cost of safety’. From ‘safety’ being blamed for cost overruns on major projects, to politicians promising unlimited expenditure in the wake of an accident, emotion and misinformation have often got in the way of calm, informed debate.
IOSH’s Railway Specialist Group (SG) will host ‘How safe is safe enough’ on 29 November at Glazier’s Hall in London.
Chairman of the Railway SG, Ben Keen, said: “Following the success of our event last year we decided to make this an annual fixture. This year’s topic is about understanding what reasonable practicability means in everyday terms.”
Ben added: “The good work done by the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) in publishing How Safe is Safe Enough, has sought to tackle some of the longstanding challenges the rail industry faces in making consistently safe decisions, every day. In that document RSSB brings together a single overview of good practice in making decisions that affect safety. With a sequel to the document due for publication in late 2006 this year’s IOSH Railway SG event will bring together railway safety professionals and key speakers to network and explore the background to safety decision making on the railways.”
Speakers at the event include:
– Nigel Harris, managing editor of leading industry magazine, Rail;
– Rob Andrews, Office of Rail Regulation (ORR), speaking on ‘Policy and planning — applying reasonable practicability in safety and economic regulation’;
– George Bearfield, Railway Safety Standards Board (RSSB), who will talk about ‘How safe is safe enough’ and update on progress with its sequel.
Additional breakout sessions will provide updates on the newly launched Rail Industry Supplier Accreditation Scheme and the re-launched CIRAS scheme.
More details about the event are available from Colette Walley on 0116 257 3166 or email [email protected]
