BS EN 16704-1:2016+A1:2021

What is BS EN 16704‑1 about?   

BS EN 16704‑1 is the first part of the multi-series of documents that is applicable to the safety protection on the track during work. 

BS EN 16704‑1 provides requirements and measures to deal with the significant and specific railway risks during works on or in the proximity of the track and with common principles for the protection of fixed and mobile worksites with trains and/or machines circulating on the working track and trains circulating on the adjacent track(s). 

BS EN 16704‑1 is applicable to all operations related to work activities on rail-guided systems. The infrastructure of the metro, tram and other light rail systems is excluded from the scope1). 

Note 1:  The following specific railway risks are taken into consideration: 

• Risk 1: Personnel being struck by a train or injured due to wind drag from a train on an open working track (safety of the worker) 
• NOTE 1 Risk 1 includes injuring a worker by machines, material or equipment being struck by a train on the working track. 
• Risk 2: Personnel being struck by a train or injured due to wind drag from the train on adjacent track (safety of the worker) 
• Risk 3: Personnel being struck by machine or train on blocked track (safety of the worker) 
• Risk 4: Machines, material or equipment being struck by a train on the adjacent track (safety of the operation/safety of the worker) 
• Risk 5: Personnel being electrified or electrocuted by fixed electrical equipment (safety of the worker). 

Note 2: Risk 5 includes hazards caused by pantographs of passing trains. 

Note 3: BS EN 16704‑1 may be extended to third parties when it is considered appropriate and reasonable by the infrastructure manager, if one or more of the five significant risks described inside this standard arise as a result of their activities in the proximity of the track. 

Who is BS EN 16704‑1 for? 

BS EN 16704‑1 on protection of fixed and mobile railway work sites is relevant to: 

• Railway management authorities 
• Infrastructure managers 
• Site supervisors 
• Inspection and testing department in railways  
• Civil and electrical engineers 

Why should you use BS EN 16704‑1? 

Railway safety is concerned with the protection of life and property in all modes of rail transportation through regulation, management, and technological improvement. Railway risks and protection measures for access and egress to/from the work site are considered in the same way as railway risks and protection measures for work itself. 

BS EN 16704‑1 provides fundamental preventive measures, when developing new infrastructure or installing corrective measures when adapting existing infrastructure. As a result, you can mitigate potential railway risk to on-site personnel.  

Establishing an efficient Track Warning System (TWS) with guidance from BS EN 16704-1, you will be able to provide timely warning to people on or near track of approaching trains or rail vehicles.  

BS EN 16704‑1 deals with major and unique railway dangers while working on or near the track, as well as common principles for the protection of fixed and movable work sites with trains and/or machinery circulating on the working track and trains circulating on the adjacent track (s). This helps you create a safe working environment for your employees and protect your infrastructure from any potential damage