ISMS-CR: Modular Framework for Safety Management in Central Railway Workshop

TL;DR

ISMS-CR is a modular digital safety management framework for Indian Railway workshops that automates work permits, enhances safety oversight, and reduces errors to improve maintenance safety and compliance.

Contribution

The paper introduces ISMS-CR, a novel digital system that automates the permit-to-work process to improve safety management in railway workshops.

Findings

Improved safety compliance through digital permit automation.

Reduction in manual errors and administrative delays.

Enhanced safety oversight and audit readiness.

Abstract

Indian Railway workshops form the backbone of rolling-stock maintenance, employing over 250,000 workers across 44 major workshops nationwide. Despite their scale and operational importance, workshop safety remains a persistent challenge. A field study conducted at the Jhansi Wagon Workshop involving 309 workers revealed that while basic protective equipment such as shoes and helmets was universally used, compliance with complete personal protective equipment requirements was limited. Lacerations and abrasions were identified as the most frequent injury types, highlighting systemic gaps in safety oversight and work authorization practices. This paper presents ISMS-CR (Integrated Safety Management System for Central Railway Workshop), a modular digital framework designed to enhance safety management through an automated Permit-to-Work (PTW) module. The proposed system digitizes the full lifecycle of work authorization, including permit initiation, validation, approval, execution, and closure. By enforcing structured workflows, role-based accountability, and traceable digital records, ISMS-CR reduces manual errors, administrative delays, and procedural non-compliance. The framework aims to strengthen operational reliability, improve audit readiness, and support safer maintenance practices in high-risk railway workshop environments.