scope:

This manual covers all mineral extraction risks to the safe and sustainable operation of the railway.

This standard applies to the:

a) proactive management of mineral extraction risks to existing infrastructure assets.

b) design and construction of new infrastructure (including renewal and enhancement schemes) in areas affected by mineral extraction.

This standard does not cover:

1) Emergency evacuation procedures;

2) Operational health and safety requirements;

3) The organisational or commercial responsibilities for delivering the requirements of this business process.

Purpose

The purpose of this manual and its modules is to define the roles, responsibilities and procedures for managing the risks that mineral extraction poses to safety and performance throughout Network Rail. This helps to achieve compliance with the requirements of mineral and construction legislation, as identified in the individual modules.

The main mineral extraction risks are associated with:

a) Abandoned and working underground mines;

b) Abandoned and working surface mines and tips;

c) Proposed mineral extraction;

d) Hydraulic fracturing.

Which may lead to the following risks:

1) Loss of track support and/or track geometry;

2) Loss of kinematic envelope;

3) Other damage to railway assets;

4) Health and safety risks to Network Rail Employees, contractors, passengers and freight customers.

Threats that can lead to these risks are:

a) Subsidence;

b) Mine entry collapse;

c) Slope failure;

d) Ground vibration;

e) Spontaneous combustion;

f) Fly-rock;

g) Climate Change;

h) Heave;

i) Fault reactivation;

j) Surface water runoff;

k) Incursion of quarry plant on the railway;

l) De-watering.