The document specifies the requirements for fire prevention and control, and vegetation hazard management within the rail corridor to be undertaken by the Rail Infrastructure Managers (RIM).
The fire prevention and control requirements include:
- undertaking a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks;
- carrying out proactive management of risks to prevent the occurrence of fire within the rail corridor;
- having in place appropriate equipment for the suppression of minor ignitions;
- fire suppression training and basic awareness
- undertaking the reactive management of incidents in coordination with the emergency services; and
- implementing a risk management approach based on AS 31000 or other suitable standard(s).
The management of vegetation hazards section within this document specifies that risks to the infrastructure (such as obscuring sight lines for signals, signage, level crossings) are assessed and appropriate control measures implemented. This ensures that the risks to railway operations and activities are reduced so far as is reasonably practicable (SFAIRP).
These requirements aim to control the impacts of vegetation hazards on safety risks, rail operations and assets, including damage to electrification systems, damage to train control and communication systems, trespass and illegal clearance. The document provides risk based strategies for RIMs to manage hazards presented by noxious weeds, pests and pathogens, in order to limit their spread within the rail corridor and to surrounding areas
RIMs have a legal requirement to adopt protections for biodiversity within the rail corridor. This document provides guidance for RIMs to undergo environmental assessments, and to seek approvals and/or permits for activities impacting biodiversity.
