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1. For each tunnel, the Tunnel Manager shall, with the prior approval of the administrative authority, nominate one Safety Officer who shall coordinate all preventive and safeguards measures to ensure the safety of users and operational staff. The Safety Officer may be a member of the tunnel staff or the emergency services, shall be independent in all road tunnel safety issues and shall not be under instructions from an employer in respect of those issues. A Safety Officer may perform his/her tasks and functions at several tunnels in a region.

2. The Safety Officer shall perform the following tasks/functions:

(a) ensure coordination with emergency services and take part in the preparation of operational schemes;

(b) take part in the planning, implementation and evaluation of emergency operations;

(c) take part in the definition of safety schemes and the specification of the structure, equipment and operation in respect of both new tunnels and modifications to existing tunnels;

(d) verify that operational staff and emergency services are trained, and he/she shall take part in the organisation of exercises held at regular intervals;

(e) give advice on the commissioning of the structure, equipment and operation of tunnels;

(f) verify that the tunnel structure and equipment are maintained and repaired;

(g) take part in the evaluation of any significant incident or accident as referred to in Article 5(3) and (4).