Certification for safety when working around the track
Work on and around the track carries specific safety risks. To ensure health and safety, the rail industry, represented by the RailAlert Foundation, has introduced a process certification scheme.
This scheme is aimed at organizations involved in workplace safety and personnel deployment around rail work. Normec supports companies in obtaining and maintaining the necessary certification so that they demonstrably meet the requirements within the rail sector.
Two important application areas
The certification scheme covers two main application areas.
Personnel Counter (PS)
The scope of the PS covers the application, preparation, implementation, setting up, maintenance and removal of measures for workplace security.
Workplace security (WPB)
The Workplace Protection scope includes all activities aimed at providing qualified personnel for workplace protection when working on or near railroad tracks.
With certification you demonstrate that your organization works in accordance with the applicable requirements and that safety is structurally guaranteed during railroad work.
Expertise of Normec
With our knowledge of standards, certification and audits, we assist companies in demonstrating compliance with the requirements of the rail industry. This helps your organization operate safely and professionally when working around the track.
For you this means:
- Meeting the requirements for work on and around the track
- Demonstrable deployment of qualified personnel
- Greater confidence from clients and inspection services
- Support in setting up and maintaining a management system
- Better position in tenders within the rail sector
Certification as a basis for recognition and tendering
ProRail has an accreditation scheme for workplace security companies and personnel counters. Recognition gives your organization a qualification that allows you to participate in tenders to which this recognition applies.
In order to be included in the list of recognized companies, a certified organization must provide proof. Certification is an important basis for meeting industry requirements in this regard.
Want to know more about PS/WPB?
Frequently Asked Questions
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Workplace Protection Companies and Personnel Counters provide services for providing a safe workplace when working on or near the rail infrastructure, insofar as this relates to collision and electrocution hazards. This is done in accordance with the applicable regulations of the RailAlert Foundation.
The work of Personnel Counters includes all activities aimed at providing qualified personnel to entrepreneurs recognized in the category of Workplace Safety Companies.
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Yes. ProRail makes this certification mandatory for organizations that want to work as a Workplace Safety Officer or Staff Positioner when working on or near the rail infrastructure. Companies must be certified for this according to the Personnel Counting and Workplace Protection Certification Scheme of the RailAlert Foundation.
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Yes. ProRail requires standards such as SCC, ISO 9001 and the Safety Culture Ladder in addition to PS/WPB. PS/WPB can be combined with VCA and ISO standards. Combination audits can save time and sometimes offer a combination discount.
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Changes within the organization require an assessment of whether they affect certification. Workplace safety companies remain responsible for the safe execution of work on or near the railroad. Personnel counters provide qualified personnel to workplace security companies in this regard.
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A PS/WPB certificate is valid for three years. During this period, annual surveillance audits take place. In the fourth year, a recertification must be performed.
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Workplace safety companies ensure that work can be done safely on or near rail infrastructure. This includes designing, requesting, preparing, furnishing, implementing, maintaining and lifting measures aimed at preventing collision and electrocution hazards and promoting safe train running.
Staff drafters provide qualified personnel to workplace safety companies to enable these activities.