How do I structure a safety case?

However you structure your safety case, you should have your safety commitment clearly flow through it, linking what you do with why you do it. To do this, your organisation will need to break down that high-level commitment until it understands how individual activities contribute to it.

This allows you to demonstrate:

  • the argument - why your organisation believes its safety activities will manage its risks
  • accountabilities  - who is responsible for managing each risk
  • line-of-sight – what each activity has to achieve, and
  • integration - how different parts of the organisation need to link together to manage risks.

Example structure

Although there is no document structure you’re legally required to deliver for a safety case, we recommend you split your document into sections that allow you to step through your reasoning.

The structure suggested below frames each section as a question, and this guidance aims to help you fully answer each one to meet the requirements of Section 30 of the Railways Act(external link).

Note: The table below lists the specific legislation contained within each section. 

Rail safety case guide

Section

Inclusions from Section 30 of the Railways Act

What do you do?

(1)(a), (1)(c)

What is your safety commitment?

(1)(b), (1)(c), (1)(h), (1)(l), (1)(m)

What could cause you harm?

(1)(d), (1)(e), (1)(l)

What will keep you safe?

(1)(d), (1)(f), (1)(g), (1)(g), (1)(k), (1)(j)

How do you monitor your risks?

(1)(i), (1)(h)

What resources do you need?

(1)(g), (1)(l), (2)