ABOUT US
The Safety Organization was created in Indian Railway arising out of the recommendations in reports of Inquiries into Serious Train Accidents by Kunzru and Sikri Committees. Initially the Safety Organization was functioning as one of the wings of Operating department. Based on the recommendations of Justice Khanna Committee (Railway Safety Review Committee), a broad-based Safety department was set up with officers and staff drawn from all disciplines concerned with safety in train operations, viz. Operating, Engineering, Mechanical, Electrical and Signal & Telecommunication departments manning the posts.
Organisation
The Principal Chief Safety Officer is the Head of Safety department, assisted by officers and supervisory staff of other departments connected with safety. At divisional level, safety department is headed by SrDSO assisted by ADSO and supervisory staff.
The Safety Organization functions at all the three levels of organizational structure of the Indian Railway - Railway Board, Zonal Railways and Divisions. At the Railway Board level the Safety directorate is headed by an Adviser assisted by Directors, other officers and Inspectors drawn from various disciplines. At the Zonal Railway level the Chief Safety Officer heads the Safety department assisted by officers and supervisory staff from other departments connected with Safety. At the Divisional level, Safety department is headed by Senior Divisional Safety Officers. An assistant officer is also available at all divisions. Supervisory level staff from all concerned departments is available for providing assistance at Divisional level.
The broad scope and functions of the Safety Department is:
*To sensitize all concerned on Safety related issues
*To oversee all Safety matters
*To identify Safety related Susceptibilities and Vulnerabilities
*To enable the concerned departments of Deliver
The following activities are undertaken by the Safety Department
*Auditing the Safety awareness/consciousness of the Railway employees at all levels through normal and surprise inspections as well as super-checks. This will also include checks on availability and adequacy of rules and procedures laid down by various departments for ensuring safety in train operations and their compliance by various levels of staff
*Reporting of accidents, conducting accident inquiries, analyze the causes leading to such situations and recommend corrective action so as to prevent such incidents in future.
*Monitoring of Disaster Management mechanism for providing effective response to untoward incidents on the Railways and also coordinating with State Government and other agencies in disaster management activities
*Creating awareness amongst public for ensuring safety in Railway compartments and at level crossings
*Creating safety awareness amongst Staff through publication of bulletins, magazines, posters, calendars etc., and also
*Motivating staffs who has acted in manner as to avoid an accident or untoward incident through cash awards and other schemes
*Follow-up of implementation of recommendations made by the Railway Safety Review Committee, High level committee on Disaster management, and those by the Commissioners of Railway Safety as a resultof inquiries into train accidents
Following duties are discharged by Safety Officers to fulfill the Railway Safety Mission
The Principal Chief Safety Officer is the Head of the Safety department. The PCSO audits the operations on the Railway with respect to safety through inspections, supervision of Inspections, safety audits and other checks. All audits are also analyzed and action suggested preventing accidents.
*Reporting of accidents to General Manager, Railway Board and Commissioner of Railway Safety
*Compilation of accident statistics and its analysis
*Assisting Commissioner of Railway Safety in conducting accident inquiries
* Monitoring of Accident inquiries and follow up on the recommendations and disciplinary action cases arising out of such inquiries and ensure adequacy of punishments imposed.
*Liaison with all departments for safe practices in maintenance and working of trains and apprising the General Manager about deficiencies and short comings in these areas
* Follow up action on Inspection reports of Commissioner of Railway Safety
*Conducting super-checks in all areas connected with operation and maintenance of train services from the safety point of view
*Co-ordination with State Governments for promoting safety at level crossings
Preparation and circulation of safety circulars, bulletins and posters as well as release of advertisements in newspapers on safety related issues
Ordering and coordinating safety drives
*Co-ordination regarding Disaster management functions including interaction with agencies outside Railways.
*Implementation of Corporate Safety Plan and follow up of Zonal Safety Action Plan.
*Co-ordination and conduct of safety audit (within NC Railway) and Inter-Railway Joint Safety Inspection (in other zonal Railway) with a multi-disciplinary team of Senior administrative grade level officers
* Monitoring of progress of safety related works.
*Monitoring of assets reliability and equipment failures .
Manuals and Records used for discharging functions
General & Subsidiary Rules of NC Railway
Block Working Manual of NC Railway
Accident Manual
Disaster Management Plan – Zonal Plan of NC Railway and Divisional plans of Allahabad, Jhansi and Agra divisions
Indian Railway Permanent Way Manual
Indian Railway Works Manual
IndianRailwayBridge Manual
Indian Railway Signal Engineering Manual
AC Traction Manual
Maintenance Manual for BG coaches of ICF design
Maintenance Manual for Wagons
IRCA Conference Rules (Part-III) for Wagons
IRCA Conference Rules (Part-IV) for Coaches
Working Time Tables of Allahabad, Jhansi and Agra divisions
Indian Railway Schedule of Dimensions (BG) Revised
Corporate Safety Plan
Recommendation of Railway Safety Review Committee (Part-I and Part-II)
Categories of documents held
The following documents are held by the Headquarters Safety Department:
Policy directives from Railway Board on matters concerning Safety
Inquiry Reports of Accidents on N. C. Railway
Inquiry Reports of Commissioner of Railway Safety
Inspections Notes of Officers of Headquarters Safety Department
Inspection Notes of General Manager and Railway Board officers in areas connected with Safety
Reports of Safety Audits and Joint Safety Inspections conducted by the Multi-disciplinary team of SAG level officers
