Explanatory note

These Regulations regulate the undertaking of safety critical work on a transport system.

Regulation 2 includes a definition of “safety critical work” and “transport system”.

Regulation 2(2) provides that the Regulations apply to a self-employed person as if that person were both an employer and an employee.

Regulation 3 prohibits an employer from permitting his employees to undertake safety critical work unless certain conditions are satisfied. Regulation 3(3) enables the Health and Safety Executive (“the Executive”) to approve assessments to be undergone by employees undertaking safety critical work. Regulation 3(8) provides for a defence in the case of contravention of the Regulations.

Regulation 4 requires an employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that his employees carrying out safety critical work do not work for such a period of time that would be liable to cause fatigue and endanger safety.

Regulation 5 makes provision for the Executive to grant exemptions in certain circumstances.

An assessment of the cost to business of complying with these Regulations can be obtained from Railways Division 1A, Room S19/14, Department of Transport, 2 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 3EB, telephone number (071) 276 6718. Copies have also been placed in the libraries of both Houses of Parliament.