SAFETY POLICY ISSUES

3.1 There are many areas requiring administrative decisions and directives for long-term policies. They primarily relate to accountability, supervision, maintenance of assets, quality of material related to safety components, train operations and industrial relations etc. Some of them are enumerated below : 3.2 Managerial Accountability and Human Resource Development Responsibility at higher supervisory and managerial level for repeated failures or unsafe working Accountability for prolonged abnormal working Service review of critical categories at the age of 55 years or o­n completion of 30 years of service whichever is earlier, by a positive act of approval Objective assessment of driving crews and performance based categorization Fighting alcoholism in certain categories at work places Equipping safety organisation with a pride of place in the hierarchy 3.3 Management of Assets Track Adoption of `zero missing fittings' concept applicable to all track gangs Introduction of concept of zero avoidable track defects Safety tolerances for track Formulation of comprehensive policy for mechanised maintenance of track Policy of lubrication o­n curves, points and crossings, weak track, work sites and at poor formations Adoption of long-term policy for rail grindings Procurement of longer rails (more than 13 metres) from steel plants Planning of portable flash butt welding plant/machinery Anti-sabotage measures for protection of track Rolling Stock Zero defects and `zero missing safety fittings' at the time of turning out locos from base sheds and sample check and certification by officers Adherence to `zero missing safety fittings' at the time of turning out of coaches and wagons from workshops and sick lines 100% brake power o­n air brake trains at originating points and 90% at any intermediate points for close circuit rakes Review of pattern of examination Extending the concept of close circuit rakes to more and more wagon fleet Increased stress o­n quality of out- turn from workshops Phasing out of four-wheeler tank wagonsM Signalling & Telecommunications Laying down maintenance schedules and their adherence for all types of signalling gears and equipments Timely overhaul of all signalling installations Safety tolerenace of all Signal and Telecom gears and equipments for Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) and Mean Time To Repair (MTTR) Long-term policy o­n provision of Train Protection & Warning System and Anti-Collision Device Comprehensive maintenance policy for signal and telecom equipments to achieve zero failure of track circuit and axle counter equipment Policy of continuous track circuiting o­n identified routes Mobile train radio communication Solid State interlocking Train actuated warning device (TAWD) Level Crossings Re-classification of all existing level crossings, both manned and unmanned, based o­n density of trains & road vehicles for the purpose of their manning, upgradation and review of sanctioned works Material Procurement Identification of safety components related to :- Rail wheel interfac ocomotives, coaches and wagons etc. Improvement of speed of trains or visibility of signals i.e. loco headlights, loco flashers, wipers, speed recorders, data recorders, vacuum and air pressure equipment, Alarm Chain Pulling (ACP) equipment in coaches, etc. Fire prevention/protection items in locos, coaches and petroleum (POL) rakes Signal equipment related to train operations viz. tail lamps, hand signal lamps, flashers, safety board indicators and signal indicators etc Policy of procurement of safety related stores items Adoption of life cycle costing principles Review of specifications and inspection of material General Fixation of codal life of new assets, with the upgradation of infrastructure and induction of new technology Review of codal life with rehabilitation of assets Revision of maintenance schedules of new assets with improved technology Premature condemnation/ replacement of assets Issues related to inter-departmental co-ordination Post-project techno-economic audit of safety-related projects 3.4 Train Operations Assessment of line capacity, its constraints vis-à-vis new services Review of maintenance infrastructure for safe and efficient operations Guidelines o­n locomotives, coaches, wagons, overdue for maintenance schedules Phasing out of 4-wheeler tank wagons or limiting their operation Formulation and issuance of comprehensive policy for dealing with fire incidents in loaded POL rakes Maintenance and operating disciplines for close circuit rakes< Issues related to loading beyond the identified carrying capacity Assessing physical and mental stress o­n driving crews and train passing staff