Light rail to adopt risk management model

The organisation responsible for further improving light rail safety is set to play a leading role in the adoption of a sector-wide model for risk management.

Developed by the Office of Rail and Road, the Risk Management Maturity Model (RM3) 2019 aims to provide an effective tool for assessing an organisation’s ability to successfully manage health and safety risks, identify areas for improvement and provide a benchmark for year-on-year comparison.

The model, originally developed for heavy rail, has now been embraced by the Light Rail Safety and Standards Board and it’s now working closely with the ORR to ensure RM3 meets the needs of the sector it serves.

Mark Ashmore, LRSSB Safety and Assurance Manager, explained: “Following recent proposals to adopt RM3 as a minimum standard for risk management across the light rail sector, we’ll be working jointly with the ORR on future revisions.\r\n\r\n“At the same time, we’ll be leading the roll-out of the model across the sector, and we recently held the latest of a series of workshops designed to introduce organisations to the basic principles behind the model.”

RM3 draws on other recognised standards, including BS ISO 45001:2018 (Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems), as well as the broad experience of operators and other organisations.

It provides a framework for measuring management capability in five key areas: health and safety policy, leadership and board governance; organising for control and communication; securing co-operation, competence and development for all employees; planning and implementing risk controls; and monitoring, audit and review.

“The wider adoption of RM3 will represent another significant step forward for the light rail sector as it strives to set the very highest safety standards for employees and the customers it serves,” Mark added.

Further information about the model is available by emailing MarkAshmore@UKTram.co.uk.