Safety management on the rails – our services for industry and ports
Railway regulations apply to all railway operators and infrastructure managers, such as track maintenance companies, ports, industrial companies operating on their own tracks and with their own rolling stock, as well as smaller industrial railway operators. Our rail experts support operators, for example, in structuring regulatory requirements, assessing risks, evaluating the impacts of technical solutions and developing safety management systems.
In Finland, there are numerous factory areas, ports and industrial facilities that own and operate private tracks. If a track is connected to the Finnish rail network, it must comply with regulations based on EU directives, regardless of the size of the operator. The same requirement applies to operators using the rail network, such as companies providing maintenance services.
A safety management system as a requirement for operations
Before operations can begin, railway operators and infrastructure managers must have an approved safety management system. In Finland, the system is approved by Traficom: for railway operators as part of the safety certificate and for infrastructure managers as part of the safety authorisation.
”The purpose of a safety management system is above all to ensure personal and environmental safety on and around the tracks. The system enables the operator to identify and manage risks related to its activities and to continuously develop its operations. It covers the organisation’s structures, operating models and processes, for example those related to track maintenance and internal safety monitoring”, says Mauno Pajunen, Senior Rail Specialist at Comatec.
”A safety management system is not a dusty folder locked in a safe, but a tool in active use, including regular audits and an annual safety report. The system must be continuously updated – not only every five years when renewing the safety authorisation. Many operators are surprised by how extensive and demanding a safety management system and its maintenance actually are”, Pajunen says.
Expert support saves time and money
Preparing and maintaining a safety management system requires knowledge of EU regulations and Traficom guidelines. In addition, it requires a strong understanding of the railway system as well as the ability to identify and manage risks.
”Safety management is a specialist area that cannot be fully outsourced, but the preparation and development of the management system can. By using external expertise, a company can focus its own personnel on day-to-day operations. Built internally, a safety management system project can easily take months”, Pajunen says.
We recently developed a safety management system for a Finnish port operator. The new, compliant system was a requirement for obtaining a safety certificate.
”The client was surprised by how much work was required to renew the system. However, the end result was clear, functional and – importantly in this case – approved by Traficom”, Pajunen says.
Comatec provides support across all areas
A safety management system is typically implemented as a project that begins with an assessment of the current situation. The work is carried out together with the client, ensuring a practical and effective outcome.
”We can build the entire system from start to finish or provide the specific expertise that the client is missing. Our strengths include regulatory knowledge, risk assessment, building hazard registers, evaluating the impacts of technical changes, as well as preparing training materials and delivering user training”, lists Juho Tasanko, Business Manager at Comatec.
”We support the client throughout the entire process and, where necessary, also assist in preparing applications in Traficom’s electronic service system. We also provide support for system maintenance, updates and audits, and assist in preparing the annual safety report”, he continues.
Safety management is an obligation – but it does not have to be a burden
Regulations apply to all railway and infrastructure operators, regardless of their size. A safety management system is often developed in situations where internal resources or expertise are insufficient.
”We provide the expertise, experience and resources needed to build the system efficiently and correctly the first time. The result is a safe, compliant and functional whole that withstands audits and the challenges of day-to-day operations”, Tasanko says.
Text: Marianne Valta
Photo: iStock
