Briefing: Network Rail Safe by Design: Buildings and Civils Working Group, UK

Irrespective of what is designed, safety is an integral part of the design process. Practitioners need to understand what influences safe design, look at hazards and then adapt their processes, and more importantly their behaviours, to make it instinctive. Design must consider safety over the whole project life cycle, from inception to development, implementation, commissioning, operation and maintenance, eventual decommissioning and disposal. The Network Rail Safe by Design (SbD) initiative is a railway system-led response to these challenges. SbD principles actively eliminate or reduce risk during design development for construction and maintenance activities and ensure that remaining risks are effectively communicated. This paper gives the reader an insight into how Network Rail and its supply chain are working together collaboratively to improve the safety of the railway in the UK, using design methods and aids.