Preparing reports on risk evaluation and assessment in rail transport based on the polish experience

Abstract

The European Union Regulation on risk evaluation and assessment has resulted in the need for risk management in railway undertakings when they decide, based on analysis, that a change is significant and affects rail transport safety. Then it must be proven that the risk management process caused by this change is correct. The analysis of past experience in this field in Poland shows the need to improve this process, both in terms of cooperation between different entities involved in this process and in order to understand the objectives of the regulation and its key provisions. The fundamental problems and mistakes in reporting on risk evaluation and assessment include mistakes in defining the system undergoing change, mistakes in defining system boundaries, mistakes in identifying risks, improprieties in selecting risk acceptance principles, the improper use of codes of practice, ignoring safety requirements etc. These problems have triggered the analytical research on the assessment of the adequacy of risk management in rail transport as a result of a technical, operational and organizational change. The results of the analysis have been presented in this paper.