Railway Industry Health and Safety Advisory Committee

The Railway Industry Health and Safety Advisory Committee (RIHSAC) provides advice on railway health and safety and comments on proposed new regulations and guidance.

The Railway Industry Health and Safety Advisory Committee (RIHSAC, previously known as RIAC) was established in 1978 by the Health and Safety Commission.

It provides advice to us on railway health and safety, exchanges information, comments on proposed new regulations and guidance and works to progress health and safety issues and other related developments within the industry. We are reviewing its effectiveness and terms of reference.

It meets three times a year and minutes are produced.

RIHSAC representation Collapse accordion Open accordion

RIHSAC has wide representation and includes representatives of employers, employees, passengers, and government bodies. Its current membership is as follows:

  • Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (ASLEF)
  • British Transport Police (BTP)
  • Co-opted Independent Members
  • Department for Regional Development Northern Ireland (DRDNI)
  • Department for Transport (DfT)
  • DfT Operator Limited (DFTO)
  • Heritage Railway Association (HRA)
  • HS2
  • Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH)
  • London TravelWatch
  • National Freight
  • National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT)
  • Network Rail
  • Office of Rail and Road
  • Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS)
  • Passenger Operators Safety Forum (POSF)
  • Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB)
  • Rail Freight Operators' Association
  • Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB)
  • Railway Industry Association (RIA)
  • Rolling Stock Companies (ROSCOs)
  • Transport for London (TfL)
  • Transport for Scotland
  • Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA)
  • UK Tram
  • Unite the Union
  • Welsh Government 

The Chair of RIHSAC:

  • Ian Dobbs, an ORR Board non-executive director, took the RIHSAC chair in February 2026.

Meeting minutes Collapse accordion Open accordion

Presentations Collapse accordion Open accordion

Related links
Safety bodies