The Authorised Person (AP) is a highly senior and critical safety role, specifically concerned with the management of electrical hazards on railway infrastructure, particularly within electrified areas such as those with Overhead Line Equipment (OLE) or Third Rail systems. They are responsible for implementing electrical isolation procedures, ensuring areas are safe to work on from an electrical perspective.

What is an Authorised Person?

An Authorised Person is a formally appointed and highly skilled individual who holds specific authority to manage and implement electrical isolations on the railway. This includes ensuring that high-voltage equipment (like OLE or Third Rail) is safely de-energised, earthed, and confirmed 'dead' before any work can commence. They are the ultimate electrical safety authority on site for the teams working within these areas, often issuing 'Permits to Work' to allow access.

Key Duties and Responsibilities of an Authorised Person:

The AP's role demands an exceptional understanding of electrical systems, meticulous planning, rigorous safety procedures, and absolute precision. Their duties typically include:

• Planning Electrical Isolation: Developing detailed plans for how electrical power will be safely isolated, including coordinating with electrical control rooms and other railway systems.

• Implementing Isolations: Overseeing or personally performing the switching operations to remove power from specific sections of the railway and applying earths to ensure the section remains 'dead'.

• Issuing Permits to Work: Once an area is confirmed electrically safe, the AP issues formal 'Permits to Work' to the Person in Charge (PIC) of the worksite, granting them permission to commence work within the isolated zone.

• Maintaining Safety on Site: Continuously monitoring the integrity of the isolation and earthing arrangements throughout the work period.

• Receiving Hand Backs: Accepting formal hand-backs from the Person in Charge once work is complete, confirming the area is clear and safe to re-energise.

• Restoring Power: Overseeing the safe removal of earths and the re-energisation of the electrical system after work is complete and the line is clear.

• Emergency Response: Leading the electrical safety response in the event of an emergency involving overhead lines or third rail.

• Briefing: Providing clear and concise briefings on electrical safety arrangements to all personnel working under their authority.

Where an Authorised Person can work within TES:

The Authorised Person competency is fundamental to TES's operations in electrified territories, forming the cornerstone of safety for these high-risk environments:

• Electrification (OLE / 3rd Rail): This is the core department for an AP, working on installation, maintenance, renewal, and repair projects directly involving the electrical infrastructure.

• Permanent Way (P-Way) in Electrified Areas: Any track work within an electrified zone requires an AP to ensure electrical safety for the P-Way teams.

• Technical Services: Supporting the testing, commissioning, or fault-finding on electrical systems.

• Possession Management: Essential for coordinating and managing electrical isolations within large possessions that encompass electrified lines.

• Project Management: Senior APs may move into project management roles, overseeing the electrical safety aspects of large-scale electrification projects.