World Standards Day: Recognising major improvements for track worker safety

Our latest update to railway Standards brings significant enhancements to track worker safety. This reflects the industry’s ongoing commitment to protect those who maintain and operate Britain’s rail infrastructure.

Our standards are developed in consultation with the rail industry. The latest Standards update includes a series of changes to Rule Book modules and handbooks. They focus on safe systems of work, lookout duties, and operational clarity.

Key Standards changes for track workers

There are seven main changes for track workers.

1. Reducing the use of lookouts as a safe system of work
   The use of unassisted lookouts as a safe system of work has been further restricted. Unassisted lookouts are now only allowed when the permissible speed of approaching trains does not exceed 25 mph. They cannot be used if more than one running line leads onto the line for which a lookout is appointed. Lookouts are not allowed during darkness, poor visibility, or when in or near tunnels. Groups can no longer work within a possession outside a work site without the permission of the person in charge of possession (PICOP).
2. Clearer duties for Controllers of Site Safety (COSS)
   We’ve clarified how a COSS monitors group activities and the action for when a group must be split. Any new group must be under the supervision of a COSS, which ensures continuous oversight and accountability.
3. Enhanced reporting and incident management
   The changes introduce instructions on reporting dangerous goods incidents by trackworkers.
4. Improved handsignalling procedures
   The changes replace the requirement for detonators and handsignallers at the end of single line working sections. Instead, an ‘end of degraded working’ sign and a signaller’s agent must be used. This change reduces the need for detonators and clarifies the roles of handsignallers. They are now referred to as ‘intermediate handsignallers’ when dividing a single line section.
5. Updated work-site certificate procedures
   The changes remove the requirement for a COSS or Individual Working Alone (IWA) to sign the work-site certificate when protection is no longer required. Instead, the Engineering Supervisor must record the details. This streamlines the process and reduces the administrative burden.
6. Limited clearance warning signs
   The explanation of the limited clearance warning sign now reflects that the risk applies throughout the time any trains are running, not just when a train is approaching.
7. Removal of obsolete competencies
   Following the withdrawal of the Safe Work Leader (SWL) competence in 2023, any remaining references to this role have been removed from updated documents.

These changes are designed to reduce risk, bring efficiencies, improve clarity, and ensure that track workers are protected by robust, up-to-date procedures. The industry is taking proactive steps to prevent accidents and near misses by restricting the use of lookouts and clarifying the responsibilities of safety-critical roles.

Although the new rules were published on 3 September 2025, they come into force on 6 December 2025. This allows time for briefing and familiarisation.

Tom Lee, Director of Standards, RSSB, said:

“RSSB and the rail industry are committed to continual improvement for track worker safety, and we have seen incredible collaborative work across the sector to develop these new standards and rules."

“By refining safe systems of work and clarifying operational responsibilities, we are ensuring that everyone working on or near the railway can do so safely with greater confidence."

Editors’ notes

1. Learn more about the latest updates to Railway Standards, including interactive briefing materials, at: https://www.rssb.co.uk/standards/using-standards/latest-updates-to-standards
2. Other key standards updates

In addition to track worker safety, the latest standards also introduce a wide range of improvements across the railway sector.

These include:

• New and updated technical notes on crashworthiness risk assessment, fire compartmentation and lithium-ion traction batteries, and guidance for the safe operation and maintenance of rolling stock.
• Updates to traffic operation and management standards address speed restrictions, overspeed event management, and passenger train dispatch procedures.
• There are also enhancements to signalling, data, and telematics standards, all aimed at improving operational efficiency, safety, and clarity for railway staff and operators.