REMEMBERING TEBAY

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: march 2015 :: RMTnews 4 O n the 11th anniversary of the tragedy at Tebay, RMT representatives joined friends and relatives of the four union members killed due to the criminal negligence of one of Network Rail’s sub-contractors. Colin Buckley, Darren Burgess, Chris Waters and Gary Tindall, were all employed on the railway along with six other members of the gang who received physical and psychological injuries. Two men were found guilty of the manslaughter of the victims at Newcastle Crown Court. Mark Connolly was jailed for nine years, reduced to seven at Appeal, and Roy Kennett was jailed for two years. The anniversary was marked on Sunday 1February 15 2015 by a commemorative rally at the site of the memorial stone, just south of Tebay village. Speaking at the rally, RMT president Peter Pinkney said that despite changes made by the industry since the tragedy, a real risk of track-workers being struck by a runaway vehicle still remains. “Last year we learned, thanks to the tireless campaign of the Tebay survivors and RMT Lancaster branch and representatives of the union, that real protection was now one step closer. “But all the promises that made us so optimistic last year have been broken and there has still not been deployment of adequate secondary protection for our track-workers,” he said. RMT has been frustrated that it is taking Network Rail this length of time to get a product onto the infrastructure while every day track workers face the same risks as faced by those workers killed and injured at Tebay. However RMT representatives met with Network Rail just before the anniversary rally and were told that 60 Rearguard secondary warning systems have now been delivered to the routes from the manufacturer as part of a centrally funded and agreed national programme. In addition Network Rail has committed that by May 29 2015 it will have completed the following points: • Network Rail shall have a policy in place, jointly agreed with the union, whereby use of the Rearguard equipment is mandated in all circumstances unless it can be demonstrated that other mitigations are in place that makes the equipment unnecessary when controlling the risk from runaways. • Network Rail shall have developed a communications plan to highlight and support the national roll-out of the equipment. RMT have will support this communication plan through use of its own media. • Network Rail shall have a full training programme in place that will ensure that all staff who need to use the equipment are fully conversant with its method of use. RMT has proposed that to assist the company it will seek volunteers from amongst Area and Local Health and Safety Reps to deliver the training. • Network Rail has also agreed to offer a demonstration of the Rearguard system to relatives and survivors of the Tebay tragedy. REMEMBERING TEBAY