ACT ON RUNAWAYS!

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: april 2012 :: RMTnews 20 Engineering grades conference meeting in Kirkcaldy demanded action from Network Rail to introduce secondary protection for track workers following another runaway incident in Bradford. The incident, in which a road-rail dumper truck ran free for a quarter of a mile before hitting buffers at Bradford interchange station on March 25, had echoes of the Tebay tragedy eight years ago. Four RMT members were killed in February 2004 when a badly maintained trolley laden with tonnes of steel broke free and ploughed into a work gang at Tebay. Steve Metcalfe, Lancaster and District, said that there had been at least 22 further incidents since Tebay. “Despite this there has not been a public inquiry, no additional safety system has been introduced to prevent runaways in eight years. “The union must act to ensure that Network rail stop filibustering and take action to safeguard our members and ballot for strike action if necessary. “We cannot wait for the next Tebay,” he said. Another delegate said that he never wanted to see Tebay happen again anywhere. “We need secondary protection and we need it now,” he said. Adrian Fricker, Rugby No1, said that as a safety rep for Network Rail the Bradford incident had not been raised with him in meetings. “We are supposed to be working with Network Rail to develop a suitable mechanism to prevent these incidents,” he said. He reported that an investigation by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) was under way. Fellow Network Rail safety committee member Sean MacGowan, Doncaster, said that the company should not be allowed to get away with paying lip-service to an issue as serious as the need for secondary protection. RMT general secretary Bob Crow warned that the fragmentation of the industry and the massive financial squeeze on Network Rail had already undermined safety standards. “Yet the government’s command paper on rail is based on the McNulty report which would further fragment the industry. “McNulty represents as big a threat to the rail industry as the infamous Beeching report. “It includes plans to hand the biggest train operating company South West Trains to take over infrastructure from Network Rail. “That will clearly lead to the TOC cutting corners and sub- contracting the work out in the drive to maintain profits,” he said. WALKING ON BALLAST Alex Hogg, Edinburgh and Portobello District said that members having to walk over ballast whilst performing their duties was leading to an unacceptable number of injuries. He said that forcing members to walk for long distances on uneven surfaces was part of a cost-cutting drive. “We are seeing members being forced to walk for miles, receiving injuries and leaving the industry through compromise agreements and ill health,” he said. Kent Knight, Slough said that ACT ON RUNAWAYS! Engineering grades conference renews call for secondary protection against runaways following yet another potentially deadly incident