The management of engineering change - Producing tools and guidance for the rail industry

The paper describes an on-going research project to produce tools and guidance to support the rail industry in the safe management of engineering change in accordance with the requirements of the European Commission Regulation for the `Common Safety Method on Risk Evaluation and Assessment´ (CSM on REA) [6]. The research project has developed a draft generic hazard list for rolling stock hazards. This followed a review of several hazard lists produced by manufacturers and operators. This hazard list is being used as a consistent basis for risk assessment and management processes that are performed using the CSM on REA. RSSB has identified `Codes of Practice´ (e.g. Railway Group Standards, and European standards) that provide mitigation of the risk arising from the generic hazards in accordance with the CSM on REA. Various mappings are being produced that cover the `system definition´, `identifying the causes of the hazards´ and the `safety requirements´ phases. The intent is for these mappings to support a template approach to application of the CSM on REA. Parts of the risk assessment can be re-used and adapted over time as successive projects prove their validity. This will ensure that the safety work is cost-effective and that suitable controls are appropriately identified.