How do you go about managing health and safety for a major project like the construction of the LUAS, Dublin's light rail transportation system? Ms Sandra Morgan is safety, health and environmental manager for the LUAS project. She is responsible for ensuring that the design, construction and completed operating system is safe for workers, members of the public, passengers and any number of "interfacing groups" like emergency services, local authorities, the National Roads Authority, Waterways Ireland and community groups.

The project takes place in a period of transition in Ireland where draft legislation on safety on the railways and all forms of rail transport is about to affect the industry.

It's a massive brief. It can shock people who grasp the scale of the project that there are just four full-time people working in the LUAS health, safety and environment department. But, in fact, every person on the project shares responsibility for health and safety, from the design team to contract managers to contractors themselves.

"Health, safety and environment forms part of the contractual arrangements here . . . We have a very robust procurement process for appointing a contractor . . . And then it's a matter of monitoring it on a day-to-day basis and making sure it happens," says Ms Morgan. Hazards faced by LUAS employees include biological hazards posed by rats, asbestos and needle abuse in certain localities.

For the past 12 months, utility diversions have taken place. The next phase, due to commence in the next couple of months, is laying the track, building the passenger stops, constructing bridges and completing depots for LUAS maintenance and station facilities.

"We're looking at the first section of line with a running tram being complete in 2003," she says.

Ms Morgan told The Irish Times there were already plans in place for reintroducing the tram on Dublin streets and preparing members of the public.

jmarms@irish-times.ie