Health and safety strategy

We have a health and safety strategy for the railways that sets our vision and priorities as a combined economic and safety regulator. The strategy forms part of the overall ORR corporate strategy.

What we do, and why

We are strategic in how we regulate health and safety on Britain’s railways. 

• Our core message explains what we do and why.
• We further explain our approach in our strategy for health and safety risks ( PDF 2896 Kb) on the railways.
• We have independently reviewed industry risk models ( PDF 393 Kb) for their benefits in further influencing our approach.

We do this to deliver a safe railway where the health and safety management is cost effective and performance is amongst the best in the world.

Aims of the corporate strategy

"for all parts of the railways to have excellent health and safety culture and risk control processes by 2014." 

We believe that achieving this goal will enable the industry to come much closer than it currently is to achieving zero employee and industry-caused passenger fatalities and declining levels of risk.  More consistent adoption of best practice in occupational health will also contribute to increased efficiency.

We expect the rail industry to continuously examine its behaviour and management systems to identify and implement reasonably practicable improvements. We believe that good health and safety performance contributes to good business performance.

Health and safety enforcement policy

We also have a health and safety enforcement policy following industry consultation and advice from the HSE. It incorporates:

• principles of proportionality
• consistency
• targeted enforcement action 
• transparency and accountability

The policy is similar to other industries so that enforcement across industrial sectors is approached in a consistent manner.

Last updated: September 2012.