Safety Assurance Manager

Safety Assurance Manager

Department: Safety, Quality and Environment

Location: Head Office

Main purpose of role:

The role will:

• Manage the process for the development, review and update of the health and safety elements of the Company’s safety management system and the Company’s quality and environment systems
• Lead the Company’s efforts for maintaining the Company’sISO9001, ISO14001 and OHSAS18001 accreditation
• Manage the delivery of the company’s safety management of change arrangements

Safety training requirements:

• NEBOSH Diploma (or equivalent)
• Strategic Safety Management (or equivalent)
• Environmental management training
• Quality management training
• Fire training (primary module)

Main responsibilities (bullet points):

• Develop and implement a risk based company safety, quality and environmental Audit and Compliance Plan to provide assurance that the company is complying with its safety, quality and environment management systems, applicable legislation and industry standards.
• Assist the Head of Safety, Environment, Quality and Wellbeing in the preparation of changes to the Company’s Safety Certificate and Safety Authorisation Applications. Consult with the Office of Rail and Road and affected parties, as required, on proposed changes affecting the content of these documents in accordance with the requirements of The Railways and Other Guided Transport Systems (Safety) Regulations 2006 (as amended)
• Develop, update and review the health and safety components of the Company’s safety management system and the Company’s quality and environment management systems. Ensure that the standards and procedures concerned comply with the requirements of relevant legislation, international standards, industry standards and other externally imposed requirements.Provide guidance and support to other post holders tasked with supporting with the delivery of this responsibility
• Provide guidance and support to the directors and line managers concerning delivery of the company’s obligations for health and safety, quality and environment management.Keep abreast of developments concerning health and safety and environment legislation, including Codes of Practice, and advise on its implementation so far as it affects the wider business as well as individual directorates
• Support directors and line managers in achieving and maintaining the Company’s ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 accreditation and in demonstrating continuous improvement.Procure external ISO accreditation audit services
• Manage the company's process for the safety management of change encompassing safety validation, interoperability, the Common Safety Method on Risk Evaluation and Assessment and Safety Verification (non-mainline railways).Provide guidance and support to directors and senior managers applying the provisions of any of these requirements.Appoint an Assessment Body or other independent assessor where required
• Review change proposals, system definitions and safety management of change submissions where requested by the Head of Safety, Quality and Environment.Raise issues where the submission does not meet specified safety acceptance criteria.Manage the process for the close out of issues raised by assessors in connection with safety management of change submissions
• Support the Head of Safety, Quality and Environment with the formulation of Company Safety and Environment Plans, taking cognisance of the company’s safety and environment performance, Common Safety Targets, RSSB published safety plans, reports and guidance, safety and environment plans published by other transport operators and recommendations contained in accident / incident investigation and audit reports
• Prepare a draft of the Annual Safety Report required by Regulation 20 of The Railways and Other Guidance Transport Systems (Safety) Regulations 2006 (as amended) for review and approval by the Head of Safety, Quality and Environment
• Determine health, safety, quality and environmental training requirements for directors and managers throughout the business in order that they can comply with their safety, quality and environment management system obligations. Support the Human Resources directorate with the procurement, organisation and delivery of health, safety, quality and environmental training
• Ensure that a database is maintained of all actions arising out of safety tours undertaken by directors and nominated senior managers. Track actions through to completion and provide status reports as necessary. Provide guidance and support to post holders nominated to carry out safety tours
• Support and guide the Human Resources directorate with ensuring compliance with the Company’s safety management system requirements for the recruitment, selection and medical fitness of employees
• Manage the Company’s response to CIRAS reports and ensure that CIRAS notices and publications are issued companywide
• Support the SQE Audit & Compliance Manager to ensure completion of the Company Audit Plan
• Act as Meeting Manager as defined in the appropriate Company standard and departmental meeting forums / working groups as specified by the Head of Safety, Quality and Environment
• Support the Head of Safety, Quality and Environment with the formulation of companywide briefing material concerning health, safety, quality and environment matters
• Provide guidance to managers and staff on compliance with the company’s safety management system and industry standards
• Collaborate with all members of the SQE team on specific workstreams and projects as specified by the Head of Safety, Quality and Environment

Key Safety responsibilities and safety training requirements

(General safety responsibilities)

Your general safety responsibilities are covered in the Employee Safety Manual. You are responsible for making yourself familiar with the contents of the Employee Safety Manual. If there is anything in the Manual you do not understand, or if you are not clear which parts of the manual apply to you, you must contact your line manager for clarification

All employees must have a basic understanding of fire safety unless their role requires them to have more specialised training. You must successfully complete the fire safety training within three months of your appointment to your position

You must receive a safety induction from your manager which includes the following local information:

• Location of safety notice board
• Location of accident book
• First aid arrangements
• Location of fire equipment, including fire alarms and extinguisher

It is your responsibility to make sure you familiarise yourself with these arrangements and that you refresh that knowledge on a regular basis

The safety notice board contains much of the information you need. You should check the notice board on a regular basis

In your capacity as a line manager, you must so far as your direct reports are concerned:

• Hold overall responsibility for the health, safety and welfare of all SQE department staff and their activities, the department’s contractors and members of the public affected by its activities
• Ensure they receive a local induction in addition to a company induction arranged by the Human Resources directorate
• Brief them on the general and safety responsibilities of their role and ensure they sign their job description
• Ensure that training needs for them are identified and the requirements communicated to the Human Resources directorate
• Are issued with the required safety, environment and quality publications for their respective roles
• Where applicable, ensure the staff concerned receive the required competency assessments in line with the relevant Section 8 SQE Manual Standard
• Set safety, environment and where applicable, quality related objectives for them
• Receive regular briefings which cover safety and environment matters

Specific safety responsibilities

(In addition to your general safety responsibilities your role includes the following specific safety responsibilities)

• Maintain the Health and Safety, Quality and Environment Policy Statements and associated management system arrangements as detailed in Sections 1, 11 and 19 of the SQE Manual
• Support the Head of Safety, Quality and Environment with ensuring the relevant Regulations within The Railways and Other Guided Transport System (Safety) Regulations 2006 (as amended) are complied with in order that the Company maintains a Safety Certificate and Safety Authorisation Application (mainline and non-mainline) that meets the Office of Rail and Road’s acceptance criteria
• Ensuring the company’s arrangements for the safety management of change, including compliance with legislative and industry standard requirements, are effectively delivered as specified in Section 1 of the SQE Manual.Provide guidance and support to directors and senior managers on the application of the company’s safety management system requirements
• Provide the necessary templates and supporting guidance for directors and senior managers identified with the responsibility for carrying out safety tours. These provisions should be reflected within Section 1 of the SQE Manual
• When producing SQE documentation, comply with the requirements for the preparation, approval, authorisation, update and review of documents shown in the relevant standard within Sections 1 and 11 of the SQE Manual.Similarly, comply with the relevant provisions for the preparation and approval of deviations
• Ensure the company has robust processes in place for promoting and facilitating the services provided by CIRAS and reflecting these within Section 1 of the SQE Manual
• Where carrying out the responsibilities of a Meeting Manager for high level safety related meetings, ensure that the relevant terms of reference and requirements for the preparation and timely issue of meeting papers and minutes as referenced in Section 1 of the SQE Manual are complied with
• Continually review industry wide developments concerning the provision of health, safety, quality and environment training for managers together with the courses and associated qualifications provided by training suppliers.Ensure these training requirements are reflected in Section 2 of the SQE Manual
• Ensure the company has the necessary arrangements in place for ensuring compliance with relevant legislation and industry standards for the recruitment, selection, medical fitness and induction of staff.Ensure these arrangements as set out in Sections 10, 12 and 16 of the SQE Manual are updated to reflect changed externally imposed requirements as well as related industry and OR&R issued guidance
• Responsible for the provision of specialist advice and guidance to directors and managers on occupational health matters

Person specification: (Please state if item is essential or desirable)

Education:

• NEBOSH Diploma (desirable)
• Educated to A level or equivalent (essential)
• CMIOSH – or working towards

Experience:

• Experience of railway operations and safety (desirable)
• Experience of compiling management system standards and procedures (essential)

Knowledge:

• Good understanding of health and safety in the workplace (essential)
• Good knowledge of railway operations (desirable)
• Good knowledge of railway industry standards and associated codes of practice and guidance (desirable)
• Good understanding of quality and environmental management systems (essential)

Skills and competencies:

• Ability to work methodically with excellent attention to detail (essential)
• Excellent interpersonal skills (essential)
• Ability to work to tight deadlines (essential)
• Ability to produce clear and understandable written reports (essential)
• Ability to communicate effectively at all levels (essential)
• Ability to work well as part of a small specialist team (essential)
• Excellent communication skills both written and spoken (essential)
• Strong IT skills – Microsoft Office, excel, word, outlook (essential)
• Ability to prioritize effectively (essential)
• Ability to work flexibly (essential)

This job description sets out the main duties and responsibilities of the job-holder. It does not constitute an exhaustive or comprehensive description of duties and the job holder will be required to carry out any additional tasks as and when requested to do so by their manager.

Responsibilities and duties may also change in light of future business needs and personal development.