The Railway Safety Regulator (RSR) and the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) have signed a memorandum of onderstanding (MoU) aimed at professionalising the work of railway safety inspectors.
The MoU also aims to ensure that railway safety inspectors and engineers have the necessary educational training and continuing professional development (CPD) to perform engineering work in the railway environment.
“The agreement is the beginning of good things, particularly in [terms of] enhancing the quality of railway operations and engineering, thus improving railway safety,” says RSR CEO Nkululeko Poya.
ECSA CEO Sipho Madonsela adds that the council is “truly honoured to be given an opportunity to join forces with the RSR on this journey of professionalising the work of railway safety inspectors”.
“We are optimistic that this joint venture will ensure that railway safety inspectors acquire the requisite educational training to perform engineering work in the railway environment to protect the health and safety of the public.”
The collaboration will include cooperation in efforts to professionalise the work of railway safety inspectors and engineers in order to limit duplication of processes and to facilitate the process of professional registration with ECSA; sharing information, aimed at benchmarking best practice; recognising qualifications that railway inspectors may complete through the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations or higher education institutions; recognition and accreditation of CPD courses offered by the RSR; the establishment of specified categories for registration of inspectors, as needs arise; and, lastly, collaboration on matters of public safety in the railway industry.
The MoU will be in effect for two years.