ORR health and safety enforcement policy statement
6 October 2005
ORR/40/05
In preparation for its new responsibilities as the combined safety and economic regulator for the railways the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) today published its draft health and safety enforcement policy statement. ORR is seeking the rail industry’s views on the proposed policy, which sets out the general principles and approach to enforcement its staff will follow when it takes over responsibility for health and safety regulation.
The policy is based on the policy developed by the Health and Safety Commission (HSC), that currently guides the work of Her Majesty’s Railway Inspectorate. This will help to ensure a consistent and seamless approach to health and safety regulation in the rail industry once ORR takes up its new responsibilities. It will also ensure consistency of safety standards between the rail industry and other industry sectors.
ORR’s responsibility for health and safety regulation in the railway industry will take effect after regulations transferring enforcement responsibility from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to ORR have been made by the Secretary of State for Transport and laid before Parliament. The transfer is expected to take place early in 2006.
Notes for editors
- ORR health and safety enforcement policy statement is published today together with the letter from ORR to consultees.
- The Railways Act 2005, which received Royal Assent on 08 April 2005, gives ORR responsibility for safety regulation. As a result, Health and Safety Executive Rail (HSE Rail), which includes Her Majesty’s Railway Inspectorate (HMRI), will transfer to ORR.
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