Washington Administrative Code › Title 468 - Transportation, Department of (See Title 88) › Chapter 468-550 - Safety oversight of rail fixed guideway systems rules › Section 468-550-060 - Annual internal safety audits and reports

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1) Each RFGPTS shall perform scheduled
			 internal safety audits to evaluate compliance with the Washington state rail
			 safety oversight program standard, to identify hazardous and risk conditions,
			 and to verify that it is fully implementing its safety program as described in
			 its plans and procedures. The RFGPTS shall include its internal safety audit
			 schedule for the following year in the annual report as required by WAC
			 468-550-070(5).
			 These audits shall determine the level at which the agency has implemented the
			 agency safety plan. Audits may include, but are not limited to, the observation
			 of employees performing system operations and maintenance activities, employee
			 rules compliance checks, the sampling and inspection of selected system
			 components, interviews, and records reviews.
(2) The RFGPTS shall select a qualified
			 per-son(s) or contractor to perform its internal audits and shall notify the
			 department not later than ten days prior to performing the internal audits. The
			 notification shall include date(s) of audit, what is to be audited, and the
			 qualifications of those selected to perform the audit, such qualifications are
			 subject to departmental concurrence and should describe what relevant
			 experience and/or training qualifies the auditor(s) to conduct these audits.
			 The department may assess the effectiveness of each RFGPTS audit program;
			 however, any departmental review or concurrence shall not substitute for the
			 RFGPTS's own safety inspection audit programs, nor relieve the RFGPTS from its
			 responsibility for the safety of its system.
(3) Where the agency is not fully
			 implementing its agency safety plan, or is not implementing its safety program
			 in accordance with the agency safety plan, the agency must clearly identify
			 deficiencies in its audit report, per the requirements of Washington state rail
			 safety oversight program standard.
(4) Each RFGPTS shall prepare, maintain, and
			 make available for departmental review, records that document the results of
			 all tests, inspections, and audits conducted by the RFGPTS or its contractor in
			 compliance with the plans. These records shall be maintained by the RFGPTS for
			 a minimum of three years. Failure to provide the department with audit reports
			 and associated records and documentation may result in financial or other
			 penalties as described in WAC
			 468-550-080.
(5) Internal safety audits shall be
			 documented in an annual report that includes the dates the audits were
			 conducted, the scope of the audit activity, the audit findings and
			 recommendations, the status of any corrective actions taken as a result of the
			 audit activity and the results of each audit in terms of the adequacy and
			 effectiveness of the plan. This annual report for the internal safety audits
			 performed during the preceding year shall be included with the annual safety
			 report specified in WAC 468-550-100.
(6) The department may conduct an independent
			 investigation of the agency's audit program or of specific deficiencies and
			 findings identified by the RFGPTS internal safety audits.
Statutory Authority:
				  RCW
				   81.104.115. 08-15-078, § 468-550-060,
				  filed 7/15/08, effective 8/15/08. Statutory Authority:
				  RCW
				   81.104.115(5). 02-13-004,
				  § 468-550-060, filed 6/6/02, effective 7/7/02. Statutory Authority: 1999 c
				  202 § 7. 99-18-059 (Order 193), § 468-550-060, filed 8/30/99,
				  effective 9/30/99. Statutory Authority:
				  RCW
				   43.06.120. 98-19-052, § 468-550-060,
				  filed 9/15/98, effective 10/16/98.