Risk profile topic strategies

Topics strategies identify our operational policy, strategic aims and potential work for ensuring that risks associated with topics are properly managed by duty holders.

They give us a focus on key issues for the control of catastrophic and other significant risks. The strategies are based on evidence and are risk assessed.

On this page

Background to topic strategies


The strategies encompass all the railways for which we are is responsible under the Health and Safety (Enforcing Authority for Railways and Other Guided Transport Systems) Regulations 2006, i.e. heavy rail, light rail, metro systems, trams and heritage railways.

This work was completed while Her Majesty’s Rail Inspectorate (HMRI) was part of the Health and Safety Executive. HMRI transferred to the Office of Rail Regulation on 1 April 2006.

How did we select the topics?

The process started by identifying all significant hazards that could give rise to danger to public, passengers or workers. A list was drawn up using RSSB’s Safety Risk Model, expert opinion and knowledge from within the Inspectorate. 176 potential issues were identified (now called sub-topics). These were grouped into 14 topic areas.

Our long-term vision

We have a long-term vision which includes infrastructure controllers, operators, suppliers and funders working together to deliver a safe, high performing and efficient railway.

Over the 2006-09 period, our focus will be

  • securing continuous and sustained improvement in safety, performance and customer service
  • pursuing relentless improvement in the industry’s efficiency and value for money
  •  (through these and other actions) enabling the railway to grow and develop to meet the requirements of funders and aspirations of stakeholders.

Please see the introduction to topic strategies for further information on the background, purpose, origins of the topic strategies and how they relate to the our Corporate Strategy.

Topic Strategies

The topic strategies are available as pdf documents to download or you can navigate to the page to see more detail.
  • Employee Safety -  sets out our policy and strategy in securing reductions in risks to the safety of those working on the rail network in Great Britain.
  • Command Control Signalling –   sets out our policy and strategy ensure duty holders control health and safety risks associated with railway command, control and signaling equipment. You can also find more information about train protection.
  • Level Crossings – sets out our policy and strategy of securing adequate control of safety risks at railway level crossings,.  More information about can also be found in our level crossings section. This strategy document is temporarily withdrawn while undergoing revision.
  • Track, including switches and crossings -  set out our policy and strategy for securing adequate control of risk from track, which includes plain line and switches and crossings (S&C), on railways.
  • Health and Safety Management Systems and Risk Assessment -  sets out our policy and strategy so that effective and robust health and safety management systems are embedded into the industry. More information can also be found about risk management and safety management systems. This strategy document is temporarily withdrawn while undergoing revision.
  • Human Factors - sets out our policy and strategy ensuring that human factors  are embedded into risk management systems in the industry. This strategy document is temporarily withdrawn while undergoing revision.
  • Occupational Health - sets out our policy and strategy for securing adequate management of occupational health risks and welfare of staff on the rail networks.
  • Traction supply systems -  sets out our policy and strategy for ensuring safety of electrical traction supply systems.
  • Railway Operations – sets out our policy and strategy for tackling railway operation incidents such as passenger train incidents,  operating irregularities, including signals passed at danger (SPADs); and  non-passenger train incidents.
  • Rolling stock - sets out our policy and strategy for securing the control of rolling stock health and safety risks on the railway networks and tram systems.
  • Route Crime – sets out our policy and strategy for securing adequate control of risk arising from route crime on the rail network.
  • Stations – sets out our policy and strategy for ensuring safety in stations which includes emergency planning, overcrowding and slips, trips and falls. More information can also be found in station safety.
  • Structures - sets out our policy and strategy for securing adequate control of risk from structures, such as bridges and tunnels.
  • Vehicle and animal incursion – sets out our policy and strategy policy and strategy for securing adequate control of risk arising from vehicles and animals getting access to the rail network.
Last updated: 25 February 2009

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