EN 16704-1:2016
(Main)Railway applications - Track - Safety protection on the track during work - Part 1: Railway risks and common principles for protection of fixed and mobile work sites
General Information
- Abstract
This European Standard provides requirements and measures to deal with the significant and specific railway risks during works on or in proximity of the track and with common principles for the protection of fixed and mobile work sites with trains and/or machines circulating on the working track and trains circulating on the adjacent track(s). Railway risks and protection measures for access and egress to/from the work site are considered in the same way as railway risks and protection measures for work itself.
This European Standard is applicable to all operations related to work activities on rail guided systems. Infrastructure of metro, tram and other light rail systems is excluded from the scope ).
The following specific railway risks are taken into consideration:
— Risk 1: Personnel being struck by a train or injured due to wind drag from a train on open working track (safety of the worker);
NOTE 1 Risk 1 includes injuring of a worker by machines, material or equipment being struck by a train on the working track.
— Risk 2: Personnel being struck by a train or injured due to wind drag from train on adjacent track (safety of the worker);
— Risk 3: Personnel being struck by machine or train on blocked track (safety of the worker);
— Risk 4: Machines, material or equipment being struck by a train on the adjacent track (safety of the operation/safety of the worker);
— Risk 5: Personnel being electrified or electrocuted by fixed electrical equipment (safety of the worker).
NOTE 2 Risk 5 includes hazards caused by pantographs of passing trains.
This European Standard also provides requirements to the process of installing basic preventive measures when planning new infrastructure or installing corrective measures when adapting existing infrastructure.
This European Standard may be extended to third parties when it is considered appropriate and reasonable by the infrastructure manager, if one or more of the five significant risks described inside this standard, arise as a result of their activities in proximity of the track.
- Status
- Withdrawn
- Publication Date
- 20-Dec-2016
- Withdrawal Date
- 22-Sep-2026
- Technical Committee
- CEN/TC 256 - Railway applications
- Drafting Committee
- CEN/TC 256/SC 1/WG 39 - Safety protection on the track during work
- Current Stage
- 9960 - Withdrawal effective - Withdrawal
- Start Date
- 05-Jun-2022
- Completion Date
- 23-Sep-2026
Relations
- Effective Date
- 19-Jan-2023
- Effective Date
- 09-Feb-2026
- Effective Date
- 09-Feb-2026
- Effective Date
- 09-Feb-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 04-Apr-2018
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Frequently Asked Questions
EN 16704-1:2016 is a standard published by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). Its full title is "Railway applications - Track - Safety protection on the track during work - Part 1: Railway risks and common principles for protection of fixed and mobile work sites". This standard covers: This European Standard provides requirements and measures to deal with the significant and specific railway risks during works on or in proximity of the track and with common principles for the protection of fixed and mobile work sites with trains and/or machines circulating on the working track and trains circulating on the adjacent track(s). Railway risks and protection measures for access and egress to/from the work site are considered in the same way as railway risks and protection measures for work itself. This European Standard is applicable to all operations related to work activities on rail guided systems. Infrastructure of metro, tram and other light rail systems is excluded from the scope ). The following specific railway risks are taken into consideration: — Risk 1: Personnel being struck by a train or injured due to wind drag from a train on open working track (safety of the worker); NOTE 1 Risk 1 includes injuring of a worker by machines, material or equipment being struck by a train on the working track. — Risk 2: Personnel being struck by a train or injured due to wind drag from train on adjacent track (safety of the worker); — Risk 3: Personnel being struck by machine or train on blocked track (safety of the worker); — Risk 4: Machines, material or equipment being struck by a train on the adjacent track (safety of the operation/safety of the worker); — Risk 5: Personnel being electrified or electrocuted by fixed electrical equipment (safety of the worker). NOTE 2 Risk 5 includes hazards caused by pantographs of passing trains. This European Standard also provides requirements to the process of installing basic preventive measures when planning new infrastructure or installing corrective measures when adapting existing infrastructure. This European Standard may be extended to third parties when it is considered appropriate and reasonable by the infrastructure manager, if one or more of the five significant risks described inside this standard, arise as a result of their activities in proximity of the track.
This European Standard provides requirements and measures to deal with the significant and specific railway risks during works on or in proximity of the track and with common principles for the protection of fixed and mobile work sites with trains and/or machines circulating on the working track and trains circulating on the adjacent track(s). Railway risks and protection measures for access and egress to/from the work site are considered in the same way as railway risks and protection measures for work itself. This European Standard is applicable to all operations related to work activities on rail guided systems. Infrastructure of metro, tram and other light rail systems is excluded from the scope ). The following specific railway risks are taken into consideration: — Risk 1: Personnel being struck by a train or injured due to wind drag from a train on open working track (safety of the worker); NOTE 1 Risk 1 includes injuring of a worker by machines, material or equipment being struck by a train on the working track. — Risk 2: Personnel being struck by a train or injured due to wind drag from train on adjacent track (safety of the worker); — Risk 3: Personnel being struck by machine or train on blocked track (safety of the worker); — Risk 4: Machines, material or equipment being struck by a train on the adjacent track (safety of the operation/safety of the worker); — Risk 5: Personnel being electrified or electrocuted by fixed electrical equipment (safety of the worker). NOTE 2 Risk 5 includes hazards caused by pantographs of passing trains. This European Standard also provides requirements to the process of installing basic preventive measures when planning new infrastructure or installing corrective measures when adapting existing infrastructure. This European Standard may be extended to third parties when it is considered appropriate and reasonable by the infrastructure manager, if one or more of the five significant risks described inside this standard, arise as a result of their activities in proximity of the track.
EN 16704-1:2016 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 93.100 - Construction of railways. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.
EN 16704-1:2016 has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to EN 16704-1:2016+A1:2021, EN 50122-1:2011, EN 50110-1:2013, EN 50126-1:1999, EN 16704-3:2016, EN 15746-2:2020, EN 16704-2-2:2016, EN ISO 20345:2022, EN 16704-2-1:2016, EN ISO 20471:2013, EN 14033-3:2017, EN 15955-1:2025, EN 14033-2:2017, EN 15955-2:2025, EN 16704-1:2016/FprA1. Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.
EN 16704-1:2016 is associated with the following European legislation: EU Directives/Regulations: 2008/57/EC; Standardization Mandates: M/024, M/275, M/483. When a standard is cited in the Official Journal of the European Union, products manufactured in conformity with it benefit from a presumption of conformity with the essential requirements of the corresponding EU directive or regulation.
EN 16704-1:2016 is available in PDF format for immediate download after purchase. The document can be added to your cart and obtained through the secure checkout process. Digital delivery ensures instant access to the complete standard document.
Standards Content (Sample)
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.PHVWApplications ferroviaires - Voie - Protection et sécurité durant des travaux sur la voie - Partie 1: Risques ferroviaires et principes communs de protection des chantiers fixes et mobilesRailway applications - Track - Safety protection on the track during work - Part 1: Railway risks and common principles for protection of fixed and mobile work sites93.100Gradnja železnicConstruction of railways13.100Varnost pri delu. Industrijska higienaOccupational safety. Industrial hygieneICS:Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z:EN 16704-1:2016SIST EN 16704-1:2017en,fr,de01-marec-2017SIST EN 16704-1:2017SLOVENSKI
STANDARD
EUROPEAN STANDARD NORME EUROPÉENNE EUROPÄISCHE NORM
EN 16704-1
December
t r s x ICS
{ uä s r r English Version
Railway applications æ Track æ Safety protection on the track during work æ Part
sã Railway risks and common principles for protection of fixed and mobile work sites Applications ferroviaires æ Voie æ Protection et sßcuritß durant des travaux sur la voie æ Partie
sã Risques ferroviaires et principes communs de protection des chantiers fixes et mobiles
Bahnanwendungen æ Oberbau æ Sicherungsmaßnahmen während Gleisbauarbeiten æ Teil
sã Eisenbahngefährdungen und allgemeine Prinzipien zum Schutz ortsfester und ortsveränderlicher Baustellen This European Standard was approved by CEN on
s r September
t r s xä
egulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alterationä Upætoædate lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CENæCENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN memberä
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CENæCENELEC Management Centre has the same status as the official versionsä
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austriaá Belgiumá Bulgariaá Croatiaá Cyprusá Czech Republicá Denmarká Estoniaá Finlandá Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedoniaá Franceá Germanyá Greeceá Hungaryá Icelandá Irelandá Italyá Latviaá Lithuaniaá Luxembourgá Maltaá Netherlandsá Norwayá Polandá Portugalá Romaniaá Slovakiaá Sloveniaá Spainá Swedená Switzerlandá Turkey andUnited Kingdomä
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre:
Avenue Marnix 17,
B-1000 Brussels
t r s x CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CEN national Membersä Refä Noä EN
s x y r væ sã t r s x ESIST EN 16704-1:2017
European foreword . 6 1 Scope . 7 2 Normative references . 7 3 Terms and definitions . 8 4 Common principles . 17 4.1 General . 17 4.2 Work done by 3rd party . 18 5 Principles of risk assessment. 18 5.1 General . 18 5.2 Decision about safety measures . 19 5.3 Lines with more than one track . 20 5.4 Supervision . 20 5.5 Documentation . 20 5.6 Consideration of human behaviour . 20 5.7 Actualization of risk assessment . 21 5.8 Remote controlled equipment of the track . 21 6 Hierarchy of Safety Measures and parameters for the five railway risks. 21 6.1 General . 21 6.2 Risk 1 – Personnel being struck by a train or injured due to wind drag on open working track (safety of the worker) . 22 6.2.1 General . 22 6.2.2 Blocking . 23 6.2.3 Warning . 24 6.3 Risk 2 – Personnel being struck by a train or injured due to wind drag from a train on adjacent track (safety of the worker) . 25 6.3.1 General . 25 6.3.2 Blocking) . 27 6.3.3 Separation . 28 6.3.4 Warning . 29 6.3.5 Additional measures . 30 6.3.6 Exceptional circumstances . 31 6.4 Risk 3 – Personnel being struck by machine or rail vehicle on blocked track (safety of the worker in the work site) . 31 6.4.1 Measures . 31 6.4.2 Process on the work site . 31 6.4.3 Organization . 32 6.5 Risk 4 – Machines, material or equipment being struck by a train on the adjacent track (safety of the operation/safety of the worker) . 32 6.5.1 General . 32 6.5.2 Blocking (of the adjacent track) . 33 6.5.3 Separation . 33 6.5.4 Warning with influence on train circulation) . 34 6.5.5 Additional measures . 34 SIST EN 16704-1:2017
Requirements and conditions to manage safety measures . 46 A.1 Blocking . 46 A.1.1 Conditions/requirements for blocking: . 46 A.1.2 Procedure for blocking/de-blocking . 46 A.1.2.1 Procedure before starting the work . 46 A.1.2.2 Procedure after completion of the work . 47 A.2 Separation . 47 A.2.1 Risk assessment
for installation/de-installation of a barrier . 47 A.2.2 Specific requirements/conditions for using barriers as a separation . 48 A.2.3 Surveillance of workers (without warning, without barrier) . 48 A.2.4 Visual demarcation line . 49 A.3 Warning . 49 A.3.1 Warning process . 49 A.3.2 Hierarchy in warning systems . 49 A.3.3 Announcement distance for approaching trains . 51 A.3.4 Type of signals. 52 A.3.5 Acoustic planning. 52 SIST EN 16704-1:2017
Parameters in risk assessment . 58 Annex C (informative)
Matrix of main responsibilities . 60 Annex D (informative)
Noise levels of machines . 65 Annex E (informative)
Warning and remembering devices . 67 E.1 Collective warning device vs. individual warning device . 67 E.2 Combination of acoustic warning and visual signalling devices . 67 Annex F (informative)
National speed limits for trains approaching work sites . 68 Annex G (informative)
Functions within the process “warning” . 71 Annex H (informative)
Model for safety plan on railway risks . 73 H.1 General . 73 H.2 Safety document for the railway risks 1 to 4 . 73 H.3 Decision about the safety measures . 75 H.3.1 General . 75 H.3.2 Decision about the safety measure for the working track (risk 1 and 3) . 75 H.3.2.1 Stopping distances machines . 75 H.3.2.2 Blocking (hierarchy step 1) . 75 H.3.2.3 Warning . 76 H.3.3 Decision about the safety measure for the adjacent track (risk 2 and 4) . 77 H.3.3.1 Blocking (hierarchy step 1) . 77 H.3.3.2 Separation by technical measures . 78 H.3.3.3 Warning . 78 H.3.3.4 Surveillance of workers without warning . 79 H.3.4 Safety measures for access . 79 H.3.5 Train circulation, track distance, dangerous zone . 79 H.4 Planning of the safety measures . 80 H.5 Handing out of the safety document and instructions on the site . 82 H.5.1 General . 82 H.5.2 Safety supervision . 82 H.5.3 Safety execution . 82 SIST EN 16704-1:2017
Guideline for the decision of blocking the working track in relation to the use of portable equipment . 84 Annex J (informative)
Process and documentation about disconnection
of fixed electrical equipment . 86 J.1 Process of the decision about disconnection of fixed electrical equipment . 86 J.2 Minimum contents for the documentation of the decision about disconnection of fixed electrical equipment . 86 J.2.1 Information by the contractor . 86 J.2.2 Nominated person in control of the electrical equipment . 87 J.2.3 Documentation of the decision about the disconnection . 87 J.3 Documentation of disconnection/reconnection of power for work near fixed electrical equipment . 88 J.3.1 General. 88 J.3.2 Instructions for the routeing of the document:. 88 J.3.3 Notice of working cessation . 88 Annex K (informative)
Examples for the possibility of intruding into the vicinity zone of the fixed electrical equipment . 90 Annex L (informative)
Key aspects of relevant EU Directives . 91 L.1 Directive 89/391/EEC . 91 L.2 Directive 2004/49/EEC . 91 L.3 Directive 92/57/EEC . 91 Bibliography . 92
from a train on open working track (safety of the worker); NOTE 1 Risk 1 includes injuring of a worker by machines, material or equipment being struck by a train on the working track. — Risk 2: Personnel being struck by a train or injured due to wind drag from train on adjacent track (safety of the worker); — Risk 3: Personnel being struck by machine or train on blocked track (safety of the worker); — Risk 4: Machines, material or equipment being struck by a train on the adjacent track (safety of the operation/safety of the worker); — Risk 5: Personnel being electrified or electrocuted by fixed electrical equipment (safety of the worker). NOTE 2 Risk 5 includes hazards caused by pantographs of passing trains. This European Standard also provides requirements to the process of installing basic preventive measures when planning new infrastructure or installing corrective measures when adapting existing infrastructure. This European Standard may be extended to third parties when it is considered appropriate and reasonable by the infrastructure manager, if one or more of the five significant risks described inside this standard, arise as a result of their activities in proximity of the track. 2 Normative references The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and are indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies. FprEN 14033-2:2016, Railway applications – Track – Railbound construction and maintenance machines – Part 2: Technical requirements for working FprEN 14033-3:2016, Railway applications – Track – Railbound construction and maintenance machines – Part 3: General safety requirements EN 15746-2, Railway applications – Track – Road-rail machines and associated equipment – Part 2: General safety requirements
1) See Directive 2008/57/EC. SIST EN 16704-1:2017
Key 1 danger zone 2 measurement of the danger zone of the track axis 3 measurement of the danger zone of the outside edge of the rail Figure 1 — Definition of the danger zone 3.11 designated competent person person being responsible for supervising e.g. of the formal inquiry, formal investigation or local investigation 3.12 emergency unforeseen or unplanned event which has life-threatening or extreme loss implications and requires immediate attention 3.13 fixed electrical equipment electrical equipment for traction current as far as it is under the control of the infrastructure manager Note 1 to entry: This includes the overhead line system (see Figure 2, “safe distance”), third rail, landlines and base stations. SIST EN 16704-1:2017
also be referred to as a “near-miss”, “near-hit”, “close call” or “dangerous occurrence” [SOURCE: OHSAS 18001:2007, 3.9] 3.16 infrastructure all systems, equipment, materials or structures, that, combined or alone, form part of the operational railway Note 1 to entry: Including but not limited to: the permanent way, land within the line side separation, the installations exclusively used for operational purposes, overhead electrified lines and all other systems equipment, materials or structures up to the boundaries of the railway site Note 2 to entry: For further information see also 2598/70/EEC. 3.17 Infrastructure Manager IM any body or firm responsible in particular for establishing, managing and maintaining railway infrastructure, including traffic management and control-command and signalling; the functions of the infrastructure manager on a network or part of a network may be allocated to different bodies or firms [SOURCE: 2012/34/EC, definition (2)] 3.18 lookout person who gives warning to persons working on or near the track (observing, signalling, warning) 3.19 Lookout operated warning system LOWS TWS with train detection provided by a suitably qualified lookout triggering the warning Note 1 to entry: LOWS includes hand operated TWS and chain of lookouts. Note 2 to entry: If a warning is given solely by lookouts there is no technical component. 3.20 maintenance combination of all technical, administrative and managerial actions during the life cycle of an item intended to retain it in, or restore it to, a state in which it can perform the required function [SOURCE: EN 13306:2010, definition 2.1] SIST EN 16704-1:2017
2) The outer “limit” of the vicinity zone as defined in EN 50110-1, is the demarcation line of “safe distance”. SIST EN 16704-1:2017
Key 1 safe distance 2 feeder 3 pantograph Figure 2 — Illustration of the safe distance for bare live parts of overhead line, feeder and pantograph SIST EN 16704-1:2017
3.33 third party (3rd party) entity and its personnel that does not belong to the organisation that controls the infrastructure or to the direct contractor or any subcontractor and which may impair the safe railway operation or the safety of the workers due to their activities SIST EN 16704-1:2017
Figure 3 — Overview to track warning systems 3.35 vicinity zone limited space outside the live working zone [SOURCE: EN 50110-1:2013, 3.3.3] Note 1 to entry: In the vicinity zone an electrical hazard can exist. 3.36 warning signals for the timely perception of approaching railed vehicles SIST EN 16704-1:2017
3) Possibility that personnel and equipment can come into the danger zone. 4) e.g. access to the tracks is possible only by self-locking doors which can be opened by additional conscious action only. SIST EN 16704-1:2017
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