Safety management systems for railway undertakings
A safety management system (SMS) is an important tool for railway undertakings to manage safety. With a safety management system, undertakings can control their operational risks and continuously improve their operations.
Who needs a safety management system?
A safety management system is required of:
- railway undertakings for operating in rail transport
- infrastructure managers for railway maintenance and management.
Why and what for is a safety management system needed?
A safety management system is a safety management tool. It refers to a railway undertaking's or an infrastructure manager’s organisation and arrangements for ensuring that operations are managed safely.
What should a safety management system contain?
The requirements for the content of a safety management system are derived from Commission Regulation (EU) 2018/762.
Railway undertakings and infrastructure managers must identify and manage the risks inherent in all their activities in order to demonstrate that they are capable of operating safely. Effective use of the safety management system requires a systematic approach to ensure ongoing management of activities and risks.
For more information and advice on safety management systems, please contact Traficom experts.
Approval of a safety management system
Railway undertakings and infrastructure managers must have an operational and approved safety management system before commencing operations. Safety management systems are approved by Traficom or ERA when issuing a single safety certificate to a railway undertaking or by Traficom when granting a safety authorisation to an infrastructure manager.