As with many industries, railway technologies have become increasingly sophisticated over time due to the high importance of integrated safety hardware and software. This growing complexity has made safety assessments in railways not only more crucial but also more difficult and complex. The risks posed by this heightened complexity can be managed through an Independent Safety Assessment (ISA).

An ISA is an objective evaluation, independent of the railway’s engineering design, development, or operational teams. It ensures that the safety requirements for the project are suitable for the intended application and that all systems and procedures meet those safety standards.

The role of the Independent Safety Assessor is to ensure that the relevant technical and operational risks have been sufficiently minimised to an acceptable level.

An Independent Safety Assessment (ISA) supports suppliers, operators, and system integrators in preventing system failures before they occur, while ensuring their systems meet safety requirements and international railway standards.