Safety Protocols in the Workplace

Rules and Regulations for Saudi Railway Company (SAR)

• General Rules: All tasks must be performed by competent individuals, prioritizing safety. Workers can refuse dangerous or inappropriate tasks. Correct uniform and presentable appearance are required. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) must be clean and functional.

Duty Requirements

• Reporting for Duty: Report to the correct time and location, equipped with necessary equipment, forms, and documentation.
• Safety in Hazardous Conditions: Take actions to prevent accidents and injuries in hazardous situations.
• Familiarity with Rules: Be familiar with relevant rules, procedures, and standards.
• PPE/Equipment Inspection: Wear and inspect PPE, tools, and equipment to ensure proper condition.
• Equipment Placement: Tools and equipment must be kept more than 2 meters from active rail lines.
• Understand Job Briefings: Understand job briefings, including safety and communication procedures.

Safety Measures

• Authorized Routes: Use authorized or safe walking routes.
• Reporting Unsafe Conditions: Report unsafe situations or conditions to a supervisor or manager.
• Reporting Incidents: Report all accidents, injuries, damage, near misses, and hazardous substance leaks.

Additional Rules

• Duty Calls During Rest: Notify if called to duty before rest period ends; a risk assessment will be completed.
• Tobacco Prohibition: Tobacco use is prohibited in stations, trains, driving cabs, road vehicles, and offices.

Gates and Fencing

• Gate Safety: Keep railway gates closed and locked to prevent trespassing.
• Gate Maintenance: Close and lock open gates if possible; report gates needing reporting to the Train Controller.
• Fence Repair: Secure and report damaged fences, including size and location, immediately.

Protecting Company Affairs

• Confidentiality: Do not discuss or share company information with outsiders unless authorized.
• Social Media Restrictions: Do not publish company photos or information on social media.
• Property Protection: Prevent company property from being damaged or at risk.
• Lost Items: Report misplaced items to the line manager or supervisor.
• Property Abuse: Do not abuse, misuse, deface, or deliberately damage company property.
• Personal Equipment: Maintain personally issued equipment according to supplier instructions.

Prohibited Activities

• General Prohibitions: Gambling, fighting, and engaging in illegal or immoral activities; sleeping, using unauthorized electronic devices, connecting personal appliances to SAR power without authorization, soliciting gratuities, and using personal headphones.
• Mobile Phone Restrictions: Mobile phone use is prohibited while operating moving locomotives, trains, machines, or signaling equipment; when on or near the line unless part of work duties, in the controlling cab of a moving train/engine unless directly related to duties and non-distracting, while controlling a company vehicle; allowed in emergency to contact the Operations Control Centre (OCC).
• Using Mobile Phones: Mobile phone use is permissible when in a position of safety, and does not interfere with duties.

Operating Equipment

• Equipment Operation: Only qualified employees or trainees under supervision may operate signaling equipment, locomotives, and on-track machines.

Getting on/off Rail Vehicles

• Vehicle Movement: Do not get on or off a moving rail vehicle, ride on locomotive or vehicle steps, ride on a moving wagon, or ride on a hand trolley or unauthorized vehicle.

Operating Equipment (Mechanical/Electrical)

• Authorization Required: Operate equipment only if trained, authorized, and hold a certificate of competency if required.

Tampering with Equipment

• Tampering Prohibitions: Do not break seals on interlocking appliances or equipment, or alter or interfere with the function of devices or equipment without authorization.
• Broken Seals: Do not remove defective wagon labels without authorization; report tampered, broken, or missing seals to the Chief Train Controller, Terminal Master or Maintenance Engineer.

Travelling in Driving Cabs

• Travel Restrictions: Travel in the driving cab only if related to duty, have a valid cab pass, or authorized.
• Driver Distraction: Do not distract the driver.

Reporting Incidents

• Lineside Fires: Immediately report any lineside fire to the Operations Control Centre.
• Trespassers: Report suspected trespassers to the Operations Control Centre.
• Animals on Track: Train Controllers will arrange removal of animals within the boundary fence and instruct drivers to proceed cautiously until clear.
• Defective Rail Vehicles: Do not remove or obscure "Do Not Move" boards or repair labels on defective rail vehicles without authorization.
• General Inspections of Passing Trains: Train personnel must inspect passing trains for: Improperly closed doors, insecure loads, fires, hot axle boxes, unlit headlights, unusual noises, distress signals (continuous long horn blasts), red flags, or vigorously waved lights.
• Hazards on Track: Recognize and report various hazards like track defects, sand buildup, floods, obstructions, fires, animals (camels, etc.) within the fence or on the line.
• Reporting Procedures for Hazards: Immediately report hazards to the Train Controller; if not possible, inform the person in charge, who must then notify the Train Controller. Take necessary actions such as stopping trains or calling emergency services.

Emergency Train Stopping Signals

• Daytime Signals: Show a red flag. If no flag, raise arms above head or one arm horizontally.
• Night Time Signals: Show a red light, and wave any colored light vigorously.

Emergency Calls

• Emergency Call Protocol: Begin all calls with "This is an Emergency call" (except rail dangerous goods emergencies). Provide information including name, job title, who you are speaking to, your employer, location, contact information, details of the accident/incident, and any blocked lines. Ensure the message is repeated back for confirmation.
• Reporting Accidents: Report all accidents (including near misses) to your Supervisor or Manager.
• Rail Incident Officer: A Rail Incident Officer will take charge at the scene of an accident, if appointed.

Calling Emergency Services

• Emergency Service Knowledge: Be familiar with calling emergency services from your workplace. Prefer a fixed line for location accuracy, using a mobile if necessary.

Preserving Evidence

• Evidence Preservation: Do not disturb evidence at serious accidents; investigators need to examine the site.

Reporting Dangerous Goods Incidents

• Dangerous Goods Emergency Call Protocol: State "This is a rail dangerous goods emergency," provide the UN number, then provide information similar to emergency calls.

Dangerous Goods Safety Measures

• Safety Measures for Hazardous Goods: Keep clear of the area, maintain upwind position, avoid low areas, and keep unauthorized individuals clear. Prevent fires without risking personal safety. Avoid naked lights, matches, lighters, mobile phones, or GSMR near flammable loads.

Identifying Dangerous Goods

• Hazard Labels: Identify dangerous goods from hazard warning labels.

Incidents Not Affecting Line Safety

• Reporting Non-Safety Incidents: Report incidents/accidents not affecting safety to the Train Controller promptly. Flood reporting is an exception - and requires reporting water effects on the passage of trains.

Primary Communication Method

• Primary Communication: The primary communication method on the SAR network is GSMR. Mobile or satellite phones should only be used if GSMR is unavailable.

Receiving Messages

• Message Understanding: Understand and repeat back all messages for confirmation; ensure clarity through direct speaking, clear sentences, slower speech, and avoiding hesitation sounds.

Communicating Clearly

• Clear Communication: Ensure you understand all communications, whether telephone, radio, or face-to-face; speak to the correct person, provide location, identify yourself (name and employer), describe task, provide contact details, and utilize phonetic alphabet, avoiding "not clear." Specify numbers individually when stating them.

Communication Protocols

• Primary Language: English is the primary language for all communications, especially safety-related ones.
• Phonetic Alphabet: Use the phonetic alphabet for names, locations, and difficult words in all GSMR, telephone, or radio communications.
• Emergency Phrases (Safety Critical): In an emergency, all communications must begin with "This is an emergency call," except for rail-related dangerous-goods emergencies.

Using Communications Equipment

• Safety First: Do not use communication equipment if it causes distractions or affects safety. Be in a position of safety before using a mobile phone on or near the line. Group calls (GSMR, general call, or conference call) are restricted for certain communications (End of Authority without Movement Authority, train protection, movements in wrong directions, un-signaled movements).

Handheld Two Way Radios

• Radio Use Practices: Keep radios on, adjusted to the proper channel and volume, ensure the intended channel isn't in use before transmitting, ensuring repeated safety-related transmissions, confirming correct radio contact.

Trackside Definitions

• Operational Railway: Includes areas on and near the tracks, up to 2 meters from the nearest rail.
• Position of Safety: More than 2 meters from any train line.
• On the Approach to/Beyond: Designate specific locations before or after equipment or structures.

Safety Certification, Clothing, and Lamps

• Safety Certificates: Carry a safety certificate that demonstrates competency in track safety rules. Establish a Safe System of Work.
• High Visibility Clothing: Wear clean, approved high visibility clothing while on the operational railways.
• Hand Lamp: Carry a hand lamp during poor visibility.

Walking on or Near the Line

• Authorized Routes: Use authorized walking routes if available, and authorized crossing points if provided.
• Visibility/Safety: Ensure a position of safety, good visibility of approaching trains, and avoid stepping on tracks, sleepers, or turnout parts.

Mobile Phone/GSM use near the Line

• Safety Positions: Move to a position of safety (more than 2 meters away) before using a phone and stand still.

Alertness and Distractions

• Staying Alert: Avoid distractions, constantly monitor for approaching trains, look up at least every 5 seconds, and establish a position of safety 10 seconds before an approaching train.

Carrying Items

• Limited Carrying: Items that do not impact safe travel near the line may be carried.

Driving Vehicles(Lineside)

• Lineside Driving Definitions: Driving within the railway boundary, at least 2 meters from the nearest operational track.
• Lineside Driving Requirements: Valid driver's license, approval from Line Manager, use of SAR/SAR-approved vehicles, seatbelt use (passengers and driver), control of vehicle, maximum speed 50km/h, 2-meter distance from the line, hazard lights on, and no reversing toward the line.
• Yellow Plant Vehicles: Secure parts that could approach within 2 meters of the line.
• Possession from OCC: Obtain permission from the Operations Control Center (OCC) before moving vehicles closer than 2 meters.

Locomotive Audible Warnings

• Locomotive Bell Usage: Sound the bell when preparing to move, approaching temporary level crossings, locations with workers, passing trains, in emergencies, and shunting in maintenance areas.
• Locomotive Bell Exemption: Momentary stops and starts in shunting that don't involve level crossings don't require bell use.

Maintenance Vehicle Protection

• Stabling Location Preferences: Stable vehicles on (third track) at all siding locations across the SAR network; however, local instructions should apply and turnout position must be protected and locked.
• Non-electric Turnouts: Non-electrically operated turnouts must be secured with clips and padlocks. Only designated persons or their supervisors can remove.
• Coupling Vehicles: Permission from the person in charge is necessary.
• Accommodation Vehicle Parking: Notify the Train Controller when accommodation vehicles are parked, ensure turnouts are set and secured, and confirming remote turnouts have inhibits. Place flags or lighting
• Main Line Stabling: Accommodation vehicles can only be on the main line as arranged in the WON, DATA, or an Engineering plans.
• Moving Accommodation Vehicles: Notify the Train Controller before drivers request a movement authority or written order, notifying occupants of vehicles, and obtaining Train Controller instructions to remove any inhibits, clips and flags.