Managing to Survive - The Case for Safety in Privately Financed Public Transportation Projects. S. W. Barr, Halcrow Value and Risk Group, 44 Brook Green, London W6 7BY, United Kingdom
Private funding of major transportation projects is increasingly common in Europe. New opportunities for financing and construction of public road and rail systems are being pursued by business ventures. Return on investment rather than social imperative is now the principal driving force behind public service transport. But is safety good business?
Modem philosophies for safety management have thankfully moved on from the view of hazards as inevitable and unalterable facts of life. At the opposite extreme, zero tolerance for accidents may be proposed in some industries, particularly those with a high public profile. Value for money from safety spending is the intention of the ALARP (as low as reasonably practicable) approach to risk management.
This paper examines, with the aid of case examples from the European transport sector, the successes and failures of public safety management in the commercial environment. The following conclusions are drawn:
(1) Safety is a commercial issue, such that safety management is an integral part of business management and not an add-on.
(2) Safe design and operation can be a long-term benefit to a business, not a cost, if managed effectively.
(3) The travelling public is best protected by ALARP risk management principles and their own willingness to pay.
(4) Governments have a vital role in safety management of privately financed ventures by prioritising needs, setting minimum standards, regulating performance and licensing operations.
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