Common Safety Method for Monitoring

Scope

Defines the common safety method for monitoring the correct application and effectiveness of safety management system processes and risk control measures. It applies to railway undertakings and infrastructure managers after they receive a safety certificate or authorisation, and to entities in charge of maintenance, requiring a structured monitoring process of strategy, priorities, plans, data collection and corrective actions.

The Common Safety Method for Monitoring (Commission Regulation (EU) No 1078/2012) sets out how railway undertakings, infrastructure managers and entities in charge of maintenance must monitor the correct application and effectiveness of their safety management system after receiving a safety certificate, safety authorisation or ECM certification. It requires a structured process built on risk-based monitoring strategies, defined priorities and plans, systematic data collection, and the identification and implementation of corrective actions where processes or risk controls are found to be ineffective. National safety authorities apply the same method when supervising the organisations under their jurisdiction, giving a common EU-wide monitoring language across all Member States. The regulation complements the other Common Safety Methods -- for risk evaluation and assessment, and for safety management system requirements -- by closing the loop between certification and ongoing safety performance. It remains in force with no amendments recorded on EUR-Lex.