CPA Bulletin

rail plant association Rail Plant Association: 1 After many months of dedicated and strategic planning, including crafted purchasing of essential supplies and resourcing to meet everyone’s wishes, delighting them with the usual wonders of traditional dependability we hail with relief that Christmas was once more a grand success for the industry, with reliable plant provided yet again by our members. It can be of no coincidence that the drive within the industry for improved plant reliability is continually seen to pay dividends during seasonal peaks where our client’s profile is under close scrutiny from the public’s watchful gaze, not to mention the regulator. Although plant breakdowns cannot realistically be eradicated entirely, the reduction in the prevalence of breakdowns, as well as the impact of any downtime is now a significant aspect of the planning phase for delivering plant for hire and operating plant on railway worksites, and as such effective preventative maintenance, improved fitter’s skills and pro-active contingency arrangements are now essential factors in plant performance. The Rail Plant Association can take a great deal of pride in the part we play in helping our members, principal contractors and infrastructure owners improve plant performance, through the development and provision of our updated Rail Plant Maintenance and Repair Competency Assessment material (RPA0001) and the Good Practice Guide for On-Track Plant Operations Scheme (POS) Site Documentation (RPA0002), both designed to improve operational efficiencies and both released to industry within the last two years. DESIGN FOR RELIABILITY Talking about reliability, Network Rail has recently invited RPA members to participate in a stakeholder review of the latest edition of Network Rail business process ‘Product Design for Reliability’ (NR/L2/RSE/0005). The process integrates proven tools and methodologies into existing design processes to create documented, traceable, controlled evidence of reliability, availability and maintainability, and as such any drive for continual improvement is welcomed by our members providing the objectives of the standard are both sensible and attainable, and recognition is given to our members’ when improvements are achieved. TALKING POINTS With reliable plant a roaring success yet again we can forget about the chaotic festive scenes for another year, at least that is until the Easter bank holidays…or can we? Despite plant performance reaching new heights the RPA recognises an increased trend over the Christmas period in points being run- through by On-Track Plant, resulting in significant cost to the industry to repair the damage caused. Although the Rule Book is clear on where the responsibility rests the RPA recognises that further attempts are needed to eliminate these types of events. We therefore promote the good work that has already been done by the M&EE Networking Group following the production of M&EE Code of Practice for Management of Points within Engineering Work Sites (COP0036), and encourage the display of M&EE Poster (no.P6) on relevant worksites to reinforce safe working practices. The RPA is also producing material for the industry to share which is intended to improve awareness for operators and machine controllers when working near points. Mark Farnsworth RPA Chairman www.cpa.uk.net CPA Bulletin > February 2018 53