Developing a Local Authority Policy for Safety Audit Jo Horton - Road Safety Engineer Kent County Council

Developing a Local Authority Policy for Safety Audit - Outline safety audit policy review current policy how Kent’s guidance note differs from HD19/03 what next for Kent lessons learnt

Kent’s Policy “ The County Council will subject all its works on the highway to a safety audit at both design and implementation stages.” formal procedures for carrying out safety audit approved by members

An Issue An increasing number of schemes, particularly from developers with little understanding of the safety audit process and what was expected

1994 Safety Audit Practice Note Approved by Members definitions, roles and responsibilities procedures required background information designers’ check list requirement for technical appraisal

More Issues safety audit was confused with technical assessment design and construction works outsourced (1999) KCC partnership arrangements with districts (2000)

1999 Process of TA and Safety Audit Approved by Members definition and procedural note updated prescriptive procedures Safety Audit training given to Highway Units highway design and safety advice practice note produced

Even More Issues highway units doing safety audits lack of direct central control of safety audit different arrangement with designers changing nature of schemes procedures too prescriptive

2003 HD19/03 well documented- best practice national safety audit standard unusual for a HD document to prescribe qualifications and training

Reasons to change how we delivered Safety Audit HD19/03 - best practice HD19/03 - specified qualifications and experience safety audit used more in legal cases safety audit well established and consultants available to complete safety audits

Developing a Local Authority Policy for Safety Audit - Outline safety audit policy review current policy how Kent’s guidance note differs fromHD19/03 what next for Kent lessons learnt

Current Policy KCC POLICY FOR SAFETY AUDIT 2004: Approved by members “The County Council will subject all works on its highway at both design and implementation stages, to a Safety Audit forming part of an overall scheme appraisal. The requirement and the nature of the Safety Audit is dependent upon the characteristics of the scheme and as determined by the Highway Authority.”

KCC Major Capital Projects Safety Audit is done to HD19/03 unless instructed otherwise –included as part of the commission for the overall works –nature of schemes generally more akin to Highway agency works –departures from HD19/03 standard to be noted

Safety Audit is done to HD19/03 unless instructed otherwise –developer submits a completed safety audit with resultant action, exception reports –developer (or his consultant) is deemed to be the Project Sponsor (para1.26 HD19/03) –developer is not required to carry out the monitoring element of HD19/03 (para 2.34) –developers must document any other departures from standard Developer funded Schemes

Schemes other than major capital works and developer funded schemes Safety Audit is in accordance with the “KCC Guidance note on the provision of safety audit” unless instructed otherwise – use the principles of HD19/03 and aligns with this where practical – less prescriptive then previous procedures

Developing a Local Authority Policy for Safety Audit - Outline safety audit policy review current policy how Kent’s guidance note differs from HD19/03 what next for Kent lessons learnt

Safety Audit experience and qualifications forms part of auditor’s regular work and has carried out at least six safety audits within the preceding 12 months a background in traffic and/or engineering, with experience in casualty reduction work and safety engineering has completed a formal safety audit course and has on-going training

Safety Audit Team at least one person involved in the safety audit must have visited the site the minimum is one accredited safety auditor, who can demonstrate that he/she has consulted with others to ensure that views are not formed in isolation

Self Safety Audit Statement where the Scheme Promoter in consultation with Project Manager/Designer does not consider that the scheme has significant safety issues they may complete and sign a self safety audit statement before doing so they must review the proposal by checking it against safety audit process criteria as detailed in section 9 of the guidance note

Stages of Safety Audit Outline Design, Detail Design and As-Built formally feasibility/concept safety assessment informally interim Audit meetings recorded

Stages of Safety Audit after dark audits as instructed by the Scheme Promoter and/or as advised by the Safety Auditor shelf life - A safety audit at outline design or detail design stage is only considered valid for a maximum of two years

Monitoring - Reactive annual review of cluster site locations safety issues within the first 12 months after scheme implementation may be identified within routine highway inspections and other working practices once one year of crash data available, where resources permit, the crash record reviewed. a sample of safety audits to be examined

Developing a Local Authority Policy for Safety Audit Outline safety audit policy review current policy how Kent’s guidance note differs fromHD19/03 what next for Kent lessons learnt

What next for Kent review our processes- Quality Audit and the new IHT guidelines update the highway advice note of 1999 ensure scheme promoters and designers understand their role and responsibility in the safety audit process aspire to carry out stage 4 safety audits

Developing a Local Authority Policy for Safety Audit - Outline safety audit policy review current policy how Kent’s guidance note differs fromHD19/03 what next for Kent lessons learnt

Lessons Learnt remember what safety audit is develop your policy and procedure and follow it –keep it workable –be clear what is aspirational and what is functional consider having your policy and procedures looked at by your legal services approved by Members

Also keep a continual flow of information between safety auditors and designers, so that knowledge gained from safety audit is shared collaborate in developing policy and process continually review your policy to take account of changing circumstances.

And Finally…..Remember RAWS! Make your Policy: R enewable A pproved W orkable S imple! Thank You Jo Horton