Sleeping with wheels

[The Colonel]

Recently undertaken a risk assessment upon a railway yard containing a number of buildings, portakablns etc that are used by an organisation that runs a short lenth of track and restoration of old locos from steam to deisel. Article 6 of the RRO says that the order does not apply to anything with wheels, however I did come across one interesting area.

A former sleeping car/carraige being used by some entusiasts for sleeping when working on the site at weekends or during special events. The carraige is Hard wired with 240v electricity with portable electric heaters in some individual rooms. At the present time only one exit at one end with travel of 20m in one direction and smoke detectors that dont work (batery opertated). Although on wheels its not movable at the present time.

I feel that I cannot let this pass without some comment in the risk assessment about the high risk and dangers, with advice on suitable precautions and detection.

Just wondering if members had come across anything similar and would be interested in your comments.

[nearlythere]

Recently undertaken a risk assessment upon a railway yard containing a number of buildings, portakablns etc that are used by an organisation that runs a short lenth of track and restoration of old locos from steam to deisel. Article 6 of the RRO says that the order does not apply to anything with wheels, however I did come across one interesting area.

A former sleeping car/carraige being used by some entusiasts for sleeping when working on the site at weekends or during special events. The carraige is Hard wired with 240v electricity with portable electric heaters in some individual rooms. At the present time only one exit at one end with travel of 20m in one direction and smoke detectors that dont work (batery opertated). Although on wheels its not movable at the present time.

I feel that I cannot let this pass without some comment in the risk assessment about the high risk and dangers, with advice on suitable precautions and detection.

Just wondering if members had come across anything similar and would be interested in your comments.

Don't think it's something with wheels that is exempt Colonel. RRO says:-
an aircraft, locomotive or rolling stock, trailer or semi-trailer used as a means of transport
or a vehicle for which a licence is in force under the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act
1994(b) or a vehicle exempted from duty under that Act;

[The Colonel]

NT

Just a simple way of putting it with wheels but as you point out rolling stock which is what the carraige is does not come under the RRO

[Dragonmaster]

I disagree. Article 6 (1)(e) only removes it from the provisions of the RR(FS)O when it is being used as a means of transport, In this case it is being used for the provision of sleeping accommodation not transport.

Therefore it is either a hotel (or B&B if you prefer) or possibly an HMO. Either way some form of fire precautions are necessary.

[nearlythere]

NT

Just a simple way of putting it with wheels but as you point out rolling stock which is what the carraige is does not come under the RRO

But its not rolling stock Colonel. It's a non mobile structure on wheels used for and by particular persons as weekend accommodation.
Railways Act 1993
Section 83 Interpretation of Rolling Stock
“rolling stock” means any carriage, wagon or other vehicle used on track and includes a locomotive;
“station” means any land or other property which consists of premises used as, or for the purposes of, or otherwise in connection with, a railway passenger station or railway passenger terminal (including any approaches, forecourt, cycle store or car park), whether or not the land or other property is, or the premises are, also used for other purposes;
“station licence” means a licence authorising a person to be the operator of a station;
“station services” has the meaning given by section 82 above;
“track” means any land or other property comprising the permanent way of any railway, taken together with the ballast, sleepers and metals laid thereon, whether or not the land or other property is also used for other purposes

[Clevelandfire 3]

Yes of course this comes under the RRO. When its-a-travelling its exempt when its used as sleeping accomodation it aint.

[Chris Houston]

Of course people are allowed to manage risks well even when the law doesn't force them to do so.  What sort of organisation would only want to do the absolute minimum under the law?