Guideline for Bridge Safety

Management
January 2011
 Table of Contents

Foreword

Part A – General

0.1 – Definitions
0.2 – Scope
0.3 – Application
0.4 – Responsibility

Part B – Bridge Safety Assurance

1.1 – Scope
1.2 – Safety Management Systems (SMS)

Part C – Qualifications and Designation of Responsible Persons

2.1 – Scope
2.2 – Bridge Safety Management Responsibility
2.3 – Railway Bridge Engineer
2.4 – Railway Bridge Inspector
2.5 – Designation of Individuals

Part D – Capacity of Bridges

3.1 – Scope
3.2 – Determination of Bridge Load Capacities
3.3 – Protection of Bridges from Over-weight and Over-dimension
Loads
3.4 – Protection of Safe Railway Operations during Repairs or
Modifications
Part E - Bridge Inspection

4.1 – Scope
4.2 – Bridge & Overhead Bridge Inventory
4.3 – Scheduling of Bridge Inspections
4.4 – Bridge Inspection Procedures
4.5 – Special Inspections
4.6 – Underwater Inspections
4.7 – Inspection of Brush and Drainage Channel Conditions
4.8 – Bridge Inspection Records
4.9 – Review of Bridge Inspection Reports
4.10 – Bridge Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment

Part F – Requirements of Section 11 – Railway Safety Act

5.1 – Scope
5.2 – Examples of Engineering Work Related to Bridges

Part G – Documentation, Records and Audit of Bridge Safety

Management Programs

6.1 – Scope
6.2 – Audits, General
6.3 – Audit of Inspections
6.4 – Documents and Data Management
6.5 – Electronic Record Keeping
Foreword
The objective of this Guideline is to provide railway companies with Transport Canada’s
(TC) expectations with respect to bridge safety.

The responsibility of a railway company is to ensure the safety of its operation and
consequently, ensuring that the bridges retain their structural integrity, and do not suffer
catastrophic failures or undesired events resulting in death, injury, environmental
damage, property damage or other loss.

The railway authority, whose track passes under an overhead bridge for which the
railway authority does not have inspection and maintenance responsibilities, should
provide reasonable assurance that safe railway operations are not threatened by its
condition.

Part A – General
0.1 - Definitions
For the purposes of this guideline, the terms and definitions given in the Railway Safety
Act and the Railway Safety Management System Regulations apply in addition to those
given below:

“bridge” means a “railway bridge” or an “overhead bridge” that the railway authority
is responsible for with respect to inspection, evaluation, repairs, and the posting of load
limits.

“Bridge Safety Management Program” means part of an overall railway safety

management system that facilitates the management of risks associated with bridges. This
includes the railway corporate structure, planning activities, responsibilities, practices,
procedures, processes, standards, drawings, and recourses for developing, implementing,
achieving, reviewing and maintaining the program.

“cursory inspection” – Under review

“overhead bridge” means any structure carrying pedestrian, highway, or railway traffic
that spans over all or a portion of the railway right of way and that might threaten safe
railway operations.
“professional engineer” means a person who is authorized under a Canadian provincial
or territorial engineering Act to engage in the practice of professional engineering.

“railway authority” means the railway company responsible for the maintenance of a
bridge.

“railway bridge” means any structure with a deck, regardless of length, which supports
one or more railway tracks, or any other under grade structure with an individual span
length of 10 feet or more located at such a depth that it is affected by live loads.

“railway company” means as defined in the Canadian Transportation Act.

“railway right of way” means any land on which a line of railway is situated, including
yard tracks, sidings, spurs and other track auxiliary to the line of railway.

“safety evaluation” means the documented review conducted by a Railway Bridge

Engineer of all relevant bridge inspections, evaluations, assessments, reports, information
and circumstances relating to a bridge to ensure that it is safe for its intended use.

“visual inspection” means a documented inspection made by a Railway Bridge Engineer

or a Railway Bridge Inspector under the direction of a Railway Bridge Engineer to record
any changes or repairs and identify defects which may have developed or deteriorated
since the last inspection. It includes measuring specific defects, verifying the general
conditions of the bridge and its surroundings in order to confirm its general safety.

0.2 - Scope
This Guideline covers the bridge component of Transport Canada’s Rail Safety Program
(RSP). It has been developed to assist a railway company in formulating a Bridge Safety
Management Program that will conform to the following:

• Railway Safety Act;

• Guidelines – Engineering Work Relating to Railway Works (Section 11 – Railway
Safety Act);
• Railway Safety Management System Regulations (SMS); and
• Track Safety Rules (TSR).

It is applicable to a railway company in order for it to:

a. Establish a Bridge Safety Management Program that identifies and mitigates, to

the extent possible, hazards to users and other interested parties who may be
exposed to risks associated with bridges and related activities;
b. Implement, maintain and continually improve a Bridge Safety Management
Program;
c. Assure itself of compliance with relevant legal requirements;
 d. Demonstrate compliance; and
e. Determine and assess compliance with all legislative requirements and internal
practices, procedures and instructions relating to safe railway operations as it
applies to bridges.

0.3 - Application
This Guideline applies to a railway company to which the Railway Safety Act applies.

0.4 - Responsibility
The railway authority is responsible for the condition of bridges over which it or other
railway companies operate trains regardless of any agreements, division of ownership or
maintenance expense. The railway authority shall1 ensure that the track is being
adequately supported and shall2 be able to control, and restrict if necessary, the
movement of trains on any segment of its track, including the track on a bridge.

For overhead bridges that the railway authority is responsible for with respect to
inspection, evaluation, repairs, and the posting of load limits, the railway authority shall3
ensure that the structure is adequate for its use or posted load limit and that safe railway
operations are being maintained.

The railway authority is expected to carry out cursory inspections of overhead bridges for
which it does not have inspection and maintenance responsibilities, and notify the
responsible authority of the conditions of the span(s) that potentially threaten safe railway
operations. The railway authority is expected to advise the responsible authority of
observed potential deficiencies to ensure appropriate corrective actions are implemented
prior to impacting safe railway operations.

If a railway authority, to which this part applies, assigns responsibility for the track and
the bridge to another railway company, by lease or otherwise, written notification of the
assignment should be provided to the appropriate TC Rail Safety regional office within
30 days following the assignment. The notification should be in writing and include the
following:

a. The name and address of the railway authority that is assigning responsibility;
b. The name and address of the railway company to whom responsibility is assigned,
(assignee);
c. A statement of the exact relationship between the railway authority and the
assignee; and
d. A precise identification of the track segment and the individual bridges in the
assignment.
1
Track Safety Rules part I 6.
2
Track Safety Rules part I 6.
3
Section 11 of the Railway Safety Act
Part B – Bridge Safety Assurance
1.1 - Scope
This part prescribes minimum qualifications for persons responsible for bridges to
implement programs, to assure the structural integrity of bridges, and to ensure safe
railway operations.

1.2 - Safety Management Systems (SMS)

Under the Safety Management System Regulations, a railway company is required to
implement and maintain systems to manage safety of all aspects of railway operations.
The Bridge Safety Management Program shall4 be referenced in a railway company’s
safety management system.

Part C – Qualifications and Designation of Responsible

Persons
2.1 - Scope
This part describes minimum requirements that shall5 be incorporated in a Bridge Safety
Management Program for qualification, training and designation of persons who perform
safety-critical functions that affect the integrity and safety of bridges.

2.2 – Bridge Safety Management Responsibility

A railway company shall6 demonstrate clear authorities, responsibilities, and
accountabilities for the management of bridge safety under the SMS regulations.

2.3 – Railway Bridge Engineer

A Railway Bridge Engineer is a professional engineer, designated by a railway authority,
who is responsible for, and has the related experience in, the following functions as they
apply to the particular engineering work to be performed:

a. Determine the forces and stresses in bridges and their components;

b. Prescribe safe loading conditions for bridges;
c. Prescribe inspection, maintenance, repair and modification procedures for
bridges; and
d. Design repairs and modifications to bridges.

4
Section 2 of the SMS regulation
5
Section 2(h) Railway Safety Management System Regulation
6
Section 4(1)(e) Railway Safety Management System Regulations
The designated Railway Bridge Engineer shall7 decide the extent to which professional
engineers shall8 be directly involved in the engineering work related to railway works.

A Railway Bridge Engineer should be authorized to restrict the operation of traffic over a
bridge according to its immediate condition or state of repair.

2.4 – Railway Bridge Inspector

A Railway Bridge Inspector is a person who is designated by a railway authority and
deemed to be technically competent and have the related experience to view, measure,
report and record the condition of a bridge and its individual components, under the
direction of the designated Railway Bridge Engineer.

A Railway Bridge Inspector should be authorized to restrict the operation of traffic over a
bridge according to its immediate condition or state of repair.

2.5 - Designation of Individuals

Each railway authority should designate individuals qualified as Railway Bridge
Engineers and Railway Bridge Inspectors. For each individual designated, the records
should include the basis for the designation (qualifications and related experience) in
effect.

7
Section 11 of the Railway Safety Act
8
Section 11 of the Railway Safety Act
Part D – Capacity of Bridges
3.1 - Scope
This part describes minimum requirements to be incorporated in Bridge Safety
Management Programs to prevent the operation of equipment that could damage a bridge
by exceeding safe stress levels in its components or by extending beyond the horizontal
and vertical clearance limits of the bridge.

3.2 - Determination of Bridge Load Capacities

a. Each railway authority should determine the load capacity of each of its bridges.
The load capacity is intended to be the safe load capacity not the ultimate or
maximum load capacity.
b. The load capacity of each bridge should be documented in the railway authority’s
Bridge Safety Management Program, together with the documented method by
which the capacity was determined.
c. The load capacity shall9 be determined by a Railway Bridge Engineer using
engineering methods and standards applicable to the particular class,
configuration, and type of bridges being evaluated.
d. Bridge load capacity may be determined from existing design and modification
records of a bridge, provided that the bridge substantially conforms to its recorded
configuration. Otherwise, the load capacity of a bridge should be determined by
measurement and calculation of the properties of its individual components, or
other methods as determined by a Railway Bridge Engineer.
e. Where a bridge inspection reveals that the condition of a bridge or its component
might adversely affect the load capacity of the bridge to carry the traffic operated,
a Railway Bridge Engineer should determine a new capacity.
f. Railway bridge load capacity may be expressed in terms of numerical values
related to a standard system of railway bridge loads, but should in any case be
stated in terms of weight and length of individual or combined cars and
locomotives, for the use of transportation personnel.
g. Bridge load capacity may be expressed in terms of both normal and maximum
load conditions. Operation of equipment that produces forces greater than the
normal capacity should be subject to any restriction or conditions that may be
prescribed by the Railway Bridge Engineer.

3.3 - Protection of Bridges from Over-weight and Dimensional Loads

A railway company should know what rolling stock is allowed to operate on its network,
their equipment rating, and restrictions required. A railway company should have, and
ensure the implementation of documented procedures for the operation of equipment

9
Section 11 of the Railway Safety Act
exceeding the normal weight or dimension restriction on a bridge. Equipment exceeding
the normal weight or dimension restriction should only be operated under conditions
determined by the Railway Bridge Engineer, who has properly analyzed the stresses
resulting from the proposed loads.

The railway authority is expected to advise other railway companies operating over a
railway bridge of the normal loads permitted over it. Railway companies should develop,
maintain, and enforce written procedures to restrict a load that exceeds those limits,
unless specific authority has been granted and in accordance with restrictions placed by
the railway authority.

Each railway company should issue instructions to the personnel who are responsible for
the configuration and operation of trains over its railway bridges to prevent the operation
of cars, locomotives and other equipment that could exceed the capacity or dimensions of
its railway bridges. The Railway Bridge Engineer should be informed of any substantial
change in train operation or traffic patterns, which may affect bridge safety.

3.4 - Protection of Safe Railway Operations during Repairs or

Modifications
Each Bridge Safety Management Program should specify procedures for any repair or
modification that materially modifies the capacity of a bridge or the stresses in any
primary load-carrying component of a bridge. At a minimum, design for repairs or
modifications shall10 be performed under the direction of a Railway Bridge Engineer. The
design should specify the manner in which traffic or other live loads may be permitted on
the bridge while it is being modified or repaired.

Designs and procedures for repair or modification of bridges of a common configuration,

such as timber trestles, or instructions for in-kind replacement of bridge components, may
be issued as a common standard. Where the common standard addresses procedures and
methods that could materially modify the capacity of a bridge or the stresses in any
primary load-carrying component of a bridge, the standard shall11 be designed under the
direction of a Railway Bridge Engineer.

Each repair or modification pursuant to this part should be performed under the direction
of a Railway Bridge Engineer who is designated and authorized by the railway authority
to supervise the particular work to be performed. He should ensure that the repair or
modifications were completed in conformity with the design.

10
Section 11 of the Railway Safety Act
11
Section 11 of the Railway Safety Act
Part E – Bridge Inspection
4.1 - Scope
This part describes minimum requirements that should be incorporated in a Bridge Safety
Management Program to provide for an effective bridge inspection program.

The railway authority should clearly define and document the different types of
inspections to be undertaken for their bridges, including the frequencies of these
inspections in their Bridge Safety Management Program.

4.2 – Bridge & Overhead Bridge Inventory

The railway authority is expected to maintain an inventory of all bridges, located on its
right of way. At a minimum, this inventory is expected to include the following
information:
a. Location (i.e. subdivision and mileage),
b. Bridge type,
c. Total length,
d. Individual / average span length,
e. Maximum height,
f. Year built,
g. Deck type,
h. Obstacle being crossed (i.e. water body, roadway etc),
i. Geo-referenced coordinates (i.e. longitude, latitude),
j. Bridge rating, which may be expressed in terms of the individual bridge capacity
or line capacity based on the governing bridge rating on the line segment,
k. Line / load capacity,
l. Date of line / load capacity evaluation, and
m. The name of the party responsible for the inspection and maintenance of the
bridge.

The railway authority is expected to have a complete inventory of all overhead bridges on
its right of way, which at a minimum is expected to include the location (including geo-
referenced coordinates) and, where available, the name of the party responsible for its
inspection and maintenance.
4.3 - Scheduling of Bridge Inspections
a. Each Bridge Safety Management Program should include a visual inspection for
each bridge in service at least once each calendar year with not more than 540
days between any successive inspections.
b. Each Bridge Safety Management Program should include a process for a cursory
inspection for each overhead bridge for which the railway authority does not have
inspection and maintenance responsibilities, at least once each calendar year with
not more than 540 days between any successive inspections.
c. A bridge should be inspected in accordance with the frequency specified in the
Bridge Safety Management Program. A bridge should be inspected more
frequently when a Railway Bridge Engineer determines that such inspection
frequency is necessary considering the conditions noted on prior inspections, the
type and configuration of the bridge, and the weight and frequency of traffic
carried on the bridge.
d. Each Bridge Safety Management Program should define requirements for the
special inspection of a bridge, as per Section 4.5 of this Guideline.
e. Any bridge that has not been in service and has not been inspected in accordance
with this section within the previous 540 days should be inspected and the report
of said inspection reviewed by a Railway Bridge Engineer prior to resumption of
service.

4.4 – Bridge Inspection Procedures

a. Each Bridge Safety Management Program should specify the procedure to be
used for inspection of individual bridges or classes and types of bridges.
b. The bridge inspection procedures should be as specified by a Railway Bridge
Engineer who is designated as responsible for conducting and reviewing the
inspections. The inspection procedures should incorporate the methods, means of
access, and level of detail to be recorded for the various components of that
bridge or class of bridges.
c. The bridge inspection procedures should ensure that the level of detail in the
inspection procedures are appropriate to the configuration of the bridge,
conditions found during previous inspections, and the nature of the traffic moved
over the bridge, including equipment weights, train frequency and length, level of
passenger and hazardous materials traffic, and vulnerability of the bridge to
damage.
d. The bridge inspection procedures should be designed to detect, report and protect
deteriorations and deficiencies before they present a hazard to safe railway
operations.

4.5 - Special Inspections

Each Bridge Safety Management Program should include a procedure for the protection
of traffic and for the inspection of any bridge that might have been damaged by natural or
accidental event, including but not limited to flood, fire, ice flows, debris flows, sub-
grade instability, rock instability, effect of beaver dam failure, earthquake, derailment,
vandalism, vehicular or vessel impact.

4.6 – Underwater Inspections

Each Bridge Safety Management Program should include provisions for underwater
inspections for the detection of scour or deterioration of bridge components that are
submerged and where the foundation cannot be inspected due to the depth of water, high
water flow or poor visibility.

The railway authority should have in place an underwater inspection program to identify
which bridges to inspect, the items to inspect, and the frequency of underwater
inspections to provide reasonable assurance of the foundation’s integrity.

The railway authority should be knowledgeable of the risks posed by scour, erosion and
stream stability hazards.

4.7 – Inspection of Brush and Drainage Channel Conditions

a. Each Bridge Safety Management Program shall12 include provisions for the
inspection of brush conditions under and adjacent to bridges and ensure that
vegetation is controlled to reduce the fire hazards to bridges and enable a
thorough bridge inspection to be carried out.
b. Each Bridge Safety Management Program shall13 include provisions to ensure
each drainage or other water carrying facility under or immediately adjacent to the
bridge is maintained and kept free of obstruction, to accommodate expected water
flow for the area concerned.

4.8 – Bridge Inspection Records

a. Each railway authority to which this part applies should keep a record of each
inspection that has been performed on those bridges under this part.
b. Each record of an inspection under the Bridge Safety Management Program
described in this part should be prepared from notes taken on the day(s) the
inspection is made, supplemented with sketches and photographs as needed.
c. Each Bridge Safety Management Program should specify that every bridge
inspection include, as a minimum, the following information:
1. A precise identification of the bridge inspected, (including geo referenced
coordinates);
2. The date on which the inspection was completed;
3. The identification and written or electronic signature of the inspector;

12
Track Safety Rules part II B.II(a)
13
Track Safety Rules part II B.I
 4. The type of inspection performed, in conformance with the definitions of
the inspection types in the Bridge Safety Management Program;
5. An indication on the report as to whether any item noted thereon requires
expedited or critical review by a Railway Bridge Engineer, and any
restrictions placed at the time of the inspection; and
6. The condition of components inspected, which may be in a condition-
reporting format prescribed in the Bridge Safety Management Program,
together with any narrative description necessary for the correct
interpretation of the report.
d. Each Bridge Safety Management Program should specify the retention period and
location for bridge inspection records. The retention period should be no less than
five years following the completion of the inspection, or until the completion of
the next two inspections of the same type, whichever is greater.

4.9 - Review of Bridge Inspection Reports

Each Bridge Safety Management Program should specify the manner and timeline in
which bridge inspection reports will be reviewed by the Railway Bridge Engineer to:

a. Determine whether inspections have been performed in accordance with the

relevant schedule and specified procedures;
b. Evaluate whether any items on the report represent a present or potential hazard to
safety;
c. Require any modifications to the inspection procedures for that particular bridge;
d. Schedule any repairs or modifications to the bridge that are required to maintain
its structural integrity; and
e. Determine the need for further higher-level review.

A Railway Bridge Engineer shall14 review potentially imminent failure conditions

identified during bridge inspections prior to the next train movement.

A safety evaluation should be carried out in accordance with timeline identified in the
Bridge Safety Management Program. Records of a safety evaluation should identify, at a
minimum, the bridge evaluated, the date of the evaluation, the responsible Railway
Bridge Engineer, and the conclusions and recommendations resulting from the safety
evaluation.

4.10 –Bridge Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment

A railway company is required to implement and maintain processes for the identification
of safety issues and concerns15, evaluating and classifying risks by means of a risk
assessment16, and necessary control strategies17.

14
Section 11 of the Railway Safety Act
15
Section 2(e) of Safety Management System Regulations
16
Section 2(e) of Safety Management System Regulations
17
Section 2(f) of Safety Management System Regulations
Part F – Requirements of Section 11 – Railway Safety
Act
5.1 - Scope
Pursuant to section 11of the Railway Safety Act “All the engineering work relating to
railway works, including design, construction, evaluation or alteration, shall be done in
accordance with sound engineering principles. A professional engineer shall take
responsibility for the engineering work”.

5.2 - Engineering work related to Bridges

Engineering works include but are not limited to:

• Preparing bridge design and specifications;

• Determining bridge load capacities;
• Developing construction, repair and modification procedures;
• Developing inspection and evaluation procedures;
• Reviewing bridge inspection reports and conducting safety evaluations;
• Evaluating proposed maintenance deferrals;
• Verifying that construction, repair and modification work is completed in
accordance with design and specifications.
Part G – Documentation, Records and Audit of Bridge Safety
Management Programs
6.1 - Scope
This part describes minimum requirements to be incorporated in Bridge Safety
Management Programs to provide for verification of the effectiveness of the program and
the accuracy of the resulting information.

6.2 – Audits, General

A railway company shall18 implement and maintain procedures for periodic internal
safety audits, reviews by management, monitoring and evaluations of the Bridge Safety
Management Program to determine whether or not the Bridge Safety Management
Program:

a. Meets its requirements including the requirements of this guideline;

b. Has been properly implemented and maintained; and
c. Is effective in continually reducing the risk associated with bridges.

6.3 - Audits of Inspections

a. Each Bridge Safety Management Program should incorporate provisions for an
internal audit to determine whether the inspection provisions of the program are
being followed, and whether the program itself is effectively providing for the
continued safety of the subject bridges.
b. The inspection audit should include an evaluation of a representative sampling of
bridge inspection reports at the bridges noted on the reports to determine whether
the reports accurately describe the conditions of the bridge.

6.4 - Documents and Data Management

Each railway authority should implement a Bridge Safety Management Program and
keep records under this part. The Bridge Safety Management Program documents and
records shall19 be made available to Transport Canada’s Rail Safety Inspector, in Canada,
upon request, as soon as reasonably practicable.

The railway authority should retain, where possible, pertinent drawings for as long as
they own the bridge and inspection records as per Section 4.8 of this guideline.

18
Section 2(J) of Safety Management System Regulations
19
Section 28 of the Railway Safety Act
When maintenance responsibilities for track and bridges are assigned to another railway
company, it should be assigned or given access to pertinent bridge documents and
drawings.

6.5 - Electronic Record Keeping

(a) General

A railway authority should make it known to Transport Canada, upon request,

whether they are maintaining paper or electronic records, or a combination thereof.

A railway authority may create and maintain any of the records required by this
part through electronic transmission, storage, and retrieval provided that all the
following conditions are met:

1. The system used to generate the electronic record meets all requirements
of this subpart;
2. The electronically generated record contains the information required by
this part;
3. The railway authority should train its employees who use the system on
the proper use of the electronic record keeping system; and
4. The railway authority maintains an information technology security
program adequate to ensure the integrity of the system, including the
prevention of unauthorized access to the program’s logic or individual
records.

(b) System security

Where applicable, the integrity of the electronic bridge inspection records should
be protected by a security system that utilizes a unique personal identification
number and password, or a comparable method, to establish appropriate levels of
program access meeting all of the following:

1. No two individuals have the same electronic identity;

2. An inspection record cannot be deleted or altered by any individual after
the employee who created the record has certified it;
3. Any amendment to a record is either:
i. Electronically stored apart for the record that it amends, or
ii. Electronically attached to the record as information without
changing the original record.
4. Each amendment to a record uniquely identifies the person making the
amendment; and
5. The electronic system provides for the maintenance of inspection records
as originally submitted without corruption or loss of data.