Abstract:
Article covers the topic of compliance with new EU regulation regarding managing safety in technical systems. Current regulation requires having an Entity in Charge of Maintenance (ECM) certificate awarded for implementing Maintenance Management System (MMS) for freight vehicles, from the 16th of June 2022 all registered vehicles must have coverage with such certificates. These systems comprise out of four functions, which can be provided by different entities. MMS systems are based on risk management and process approach towards managing safety for providing safe operations of vehicles that they cover. In this article there is a comparison of the old and new requirements with a closer look at the safety critical component – a totally new requirement given out in the 779/2019 EU Commission regulation. Those components need to be identified for each ECM individually based on their risk assessment and their field of operation. Throughout the whole life cycle of a vehicle those elements need to be supervised, individually identified and managed properly including subcontractors that had anything to do with those components. Article also covers description of elements of such MMS system which needs to be applied with guidance how to update from previous requirements and what to keep in mind. In addition, this article covers good practice for configuration management for a vehicle, according to the polish National Safety Authority – the President of the Office of Rail Transport (UTK). Which is also a significant element of MMS as this is one of the focus points of the new requirements and the overall turn in giving more responsibility to the ECM is in place.
