Railway Safety Publications (RSPs)

Duty holders must be satisfied that they are doing all that is needed under their health and safety duties to control risks.

Compliance with guidance issued by us is not mandatory - as it provides advice on how an issue may be addressed. However, it is mandatory to comply with all relevant health and safety legislation.

Railway inspectors seek to secure compliance with the law and may refer to these publications as illustrating good practice.

Railway Safety Publications will eventually replace all Railway safety principles and guidance (RSPG) documents, created when HMRI was part of HSE.

RSPs

Railway safety principles and guidance (RSPG) parts 1 and 2

Parts 1 and 2 of RSPG were produced by HSE for use by organisations wishing to obtain approval for new or altered works, plant and equipment under the Railways and Other Transport Systems (Approval of Works, Plant and Equipment) Regulations 1994 (ROTS).

The approvals regime, known as ROTS - Railways and Other Transport (Approval of Works Plant & Equipment Regulations) continues to apply to infrastructure and rolling stock not subject to authorisation under the Railways (Interoperabilility) (High-Speed) Regulations.