THE RAILWAYS (SAFETY MANAGEMENT) REGULATIONS (NORTHERN IRELAND) 2006

Competence and fitness

22.—(1) Every controller of safety critical work shall, so far as is reasonably practicable, ensure that a person under his management, supervision or control with the exception of where that person is receiving practical training in a safety critical task, only carries out safety critical work where—

(a) that person has been assessed as being competent and fit to carry out that work following an assessment by an assessor;

(b) there is an accurate and up to date record in writing of that person’s competence and fitness which references any criteria for determining competence and fitness against which that assessment of competence was made;

(c) the record, or an accurate summary of the record referred to in sub–paragraph (b) is available for inspection, on reasonable request, by any other controller of safety critical work or any operator who may be affected by any safety critical work carried out or to be carried out by that person, for the purposes of establishing that person’s competence and fitness to carry out safety critical work; and

(d) there are in place arrangements for monitoring the competence and fitness of that person.

(2) Every controller of safety critical work shall without unreasonable delay review any person’s competence or fitness assessment where—

(a) they have reason to doubt the competence or fitness of a person to carry out that safety critical work; or

(b) there has been a significant change in the matters to which the assessment relates,

and where, as a result of any such review a reassessment of competence or fitness is required, that reassessment of competence or fitness shall be carried out to ensure that the requirements of paragraph (1) are met.

(3) Where a reassessment of competence or fitness under paragraph (2) is required, the controller of safety critical work shall, so far as is reasonably practicable ensure that, as a result, the health and safety of persons on any railway is not prejudiced.