Before a transport operator is permitted to operate a vehicle or an installation, the FOT will conduct a risk-oriented safety inspection as part of established statutory procedures. The operator must prove here that its installations, vehicles and processes have been built in accordance with all the relevant regulations and are suitable and safe for operation. As part of this preventive supervisory role, the FOT will then decide whether to authorise new installations, components and/or vehicles, for example, and/or whether to issue new operating regulations. To take some examples, the FOT issues planning permission for public transport buildings and type certifications for installations and vehicles. It also issues the necessary operating licences to public transport operators, based on their safety cases. Furthermore, railway and infrastructure operators require a safety certificate in order to be able to operate. The FOT issues these certificates after examining each operator’s specific safety management systems.
