皇冠体育app

Summary

At 23:58 hrs on 10 July 2022, two track workers narrowly avoided being struck by a train while working close to Penkridge station. 皇冠体育app train was travelling at 61 mph (98 km/h) towards Stafford when the driver saw the track workers standing on the line and sounded the locomotive鈥檚 horn. One of the track workers saw the approaching train and warned his colleague; they both jumped clear of the track less than one second before the train reached their position.

皇冠体育app incident occurred because the two track workers did not have a recognised safe system of work in place to protect them from approaching trains. 皇冠体育app track workers had split off from a larger group to operate an overhead line isolating switch south of Penkridge station. When they left the group, the track workers and the Person in Charge (PIC) did not reach a mutual understanding of the safety arrangements that would subsequently apply. At the time the train passed, the track workers believed that the line they were standing on was blocked to the passage of trains, as had been the case when they left the group. 皇冠体育app PIC believed that the track workers were standing away from the track in a position of safety, and so he had allowed the line blockage to be removed without warning them.

RAIB鈥檚 investigation found that there was no formal guidance on the arrangements and responsibilities of staff when individuals leave a PIC鈥檚 safe system of work. This was a possible underlying factor. 皇冠体育app investigation included consideration of previous investigations and found that there is a widespread acceptance that PICs and Controllers of Site Safety (COSSs) can actively observe and advise their work group on site over a greater distance than is practical or reasonable.

Recommendations

As a result of this investigation, RAIB has made two recommendations to Network Rail. 皇冠体育app first relates to the improvement of processes and guidance available to PICs and COSSs to help control the risks when groups split or change during a work activity. 皇冠体育app second relates to the practicalities of managing a group on site, and understanding how this can be improved.

RAIB has also identified three learning points relating to the importance of clear communication, the duties allowed to be undertaken by a PIC, and the importance of the availability of train mounted CCTV to assist in safety investigations.

Response to recommendations:

• RAIB will periodically update the status of recommendations as reported to us by the relevant safety authority or public body
• RAIB may add comment, particularly if we have concerns regarding these responses.