HSE publishes new leaflet for the railway industry

HSE Press Release E159:02 - 12 August 2002

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published a new guidance leaflet for the railway industry on its arrangements for evacuation and escape from trains.

While aimed mainly at train operating companies developing railway safety cases, the leaflet will be of use to those who manufacture or lease rolling stock. It brings together and updates previously published HSE guidance and some new material on evacuation and escape from trains. Its goal is to help duty holders to take account of key safety issues related to the provision and location of emergency equipment, and the efficiency of evacuation procedures. The leaflet also implements a recommendation made by Lord Cullen in his Report on the Ladbroke Grove Rail Inquiry.

HSE drew up the leaflet in consultation with key players in the rail industry, including passenger interest groups.

Notes to editors

1. The guidance leaflet comprises four sections, each drawing from published or planned HSE guidance on evacuation and escape from trains. They are:

(a) the Railway (Safety Case) Regulations 2000 including 2001 amendments, Guidance on Regulations, available from HSE Books ISBN 0 7176 2127;

(b) Safety Case Assessment Manual, available on the HSE website at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/railway/criteria/criteria.pdf

(c) Railway safety principles and guidance Part 2 Section F Guidance on Trains (RSPG2F), HSE Books ISBN 0 7176 0868 9 and;

(d) a planned RSPG publication on the safe movement of trains.

This latter document is expected to be published in 2003 following wider consultation. It will set principles and provide guidance on the operation of trains, and include high-level guidance on the operational aspects of train evacuation and escape. The section on vehicle evacuation has been specially developed ahead of time in order to meet Lord Cullen's recommendation.

2. Lord Cullen made several recommendations relating to passenger protection, evacuation and escape in his Part 1 Report on the Ladbroke Grove Rail Inquiry. Recommendations 62 and 63 state:

"The scope of Schedule 1 to the Railway (Safety Case) Regulations 2000 should be extended so as to include explicitly the arrangements which the duty holder has established in regard to facilities, instructions and signs for the escape of persons in an emergency", and "The provisions in the schedule as to evacuation and escape should be supported by adequate guidance from the HSE".

HSE implemented recommendation 62 via amendments to the Railway (Safety Case) Regulations 2000 made in October 2001, and the new guidance leaflet implements recommendation 63. Lord Cullen's Part 1 report on the Ladbroke Grove Rail Inquiry is published by HSE Books, ISBN 0 7176 2056.

3. HSE drew up the guidance leaflet in consultation with the rail industry. Consultees included the Association of Train Operating Companies, rolling stock leasing companies, the Heritage Railway Association and passenger interest groups such as the Rail Passenger Council and London Transport Users Committee.

4. Single copies of the guidance leaflet INDG358 can be ordered from HSE Books.

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