RISQS News

RISQS are delighted to announce a series of roadshow events this spring. 

RISQS have been instructed by Network Rail to ensure that all drug and alcohol tests performed in compliance with NR/L2/OHS/00120 are done so with impartiality. 

The RISQS team has spent a lot of time listening to the industry—both buyers and suppliers—to determine where our value to the supply chain can be increased. 

Following on from our buyer engagement programme, our first webinar of 2024 will be an exclusive invitation for rail industry buyers and suppliers to learn about the new procurement regulations and the potential effect they may have on your organisation.

In May 2024, the price of RISQS memberships and audits are increasing by 5%. Find the new rates and how they will affect you in this guide.

The updated Network Rail Drugs and Alcohol standard (NR/L2/OHS/00120), first published on 3 September 2022, required an increase from 5% to 20% of all safety-critical colleagues to be randomly selected for a drugs and alcohol test each year.

Having the correct documentation is essential for companies working on the railway to operate safely, comply with regulations, manage risks, maintain quality, and facilitate effective communication.

Over the past couple of years, most meetings have been held virtually, which proved an effective way for individuals and businesses to communicate with each other during the pandemic. However, there are some limitations to virtual meetings, and one is the opportunity to network effectively with buyers. 

Over the course of FY 2022–23, RISQS noted that 389 major non-conformances, spread across 154 organisations, were raised. Our findings reveal that unnecessary risk is being imported into the railway working environment, which can lead to near-misses, incidents, and fatalities.

Please be advised that we have adjusted three of our protocols following feedback from our auditors and the wider industry. They are relatively minor, and the audit team will be taking a pragmatic approach to the changes for the next 3 months, but we will not delay the implementation because they are minor.

Join our next webinar, ‘Competencies and compliance on designing Safe Work Packs’, which will take place on Thursday 30 November 2023 at 11.00–12.00 noon. 

Join our free webinar on 14 September 2023 learn from Phil Smith, Scheme Manager, why using complete and up-to-date documents is vital to ensure Safe Systems of Work.

Recent updates to our Privacy Notice ensure we are transparent about how we use your personal data.

We find out more about what audit day involves, sharing insights from our auditors.

Supplier compliance is an essential issue, and the recent audit shows the areas that are of most concern.

Over the past few months, RSSB has been working with Costain to develop a multi-factor authentication solution for their employees to log onto the RISQS portal, as part of their Cyber Essentials Plus and ISO 27001 certifications.

During every day (and night) of the year there will be work undertaken across the UK railway. Workers will don their brightly coloured uniforms and be set to task in a safe, and secure, working environment.

Following a review of COSS Recertification Event by Network Rail Training and Technical Authority an updated version of the event is being launched on the 27th of June 2023.  The following is applicable to you as Sentinel Sponsors. 

In 2022, the RISQS (Railway Industry Supplier Qualification Scheme) auditing team delivered 3,578 audit days, an annual increase for the third year in a row. This enables us to collect an enormous amount of data revealing where the major risks stem from.

As we look ahead to CP7, please join our latest RISQS webinar where Phil Smith, Scheme Manager, will share vital information on compliance for suppliers operating within the railway industry.