The Role Of Independent Safety Assessment InManaging Project Risks For New Or ModifiedProgrammable Electronic Systems For Railways

Abstract

It is apparent that projects often run into late technical safety or safety regulatory related problems. With the increasing use of programmable electronic systems, and the increasing complexity of the applications which may result, these issues are becoming more prevalent. Many projects view the approval of newly developed or modified equipment as presenting one of the most significant risks to timescales and budget. In this paper we describe the role of an independent safety assessor (ISA) as described in current standards, and how the ISA role may be used as an effective tool for management of the impact of both technical safety and regulatory aspects of project risk. Use of the ISA in this role presents challenges to all parties involved - contractors, project management team and ISA. We will describe these challenges and how, in our experience, they can be effectively met to manage the risks to the project posed by new or modified programmable electronic systems in the railway environment.