THE FAILURE OF MODERNISING MAINTENANCE

4 RMT has accused Network Rail of failing to provide adequate toilet and welfare facilities for maintenance workers, warning that the situation may amount to breaches of health and safety law. A survey of members across multiple regions has exposed widespread and systemic shortcomings in access to toilets, washing facilities, rest areas and hygienic welfare vehicles. The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 and the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, require employers to provide suitable sanitary and washing facilities that are readily accessible and properly maintained. The findings reveal that over 70 per cent rarely have access to adequate toilet facilities while on patrol and are never provided with clean, private washing or changing facilities when taking breaks. Nearly 70 per cent rate welfare vehicle hygiene as poor or very poor and frequently rely on public facilities such as petrol stations or fast-food outlets. Only three per cent believe current arrangements meet legal requirements under health and safety and CDM regulations, and more than two-thirds report experiencing health issues linked to inadequate welfare provision. Nearly 90 per cent back union action to secure immediate improvements, including reinstating local welfare support roles. The survey highlights the damaging impact of Modernising Maintenance as the restructuring programme has reduced staffing levels and removed local welfare support roles to unacceptable levels, weakening planning standards and leaving welfare arrangements inconsistently documented in Safe Work Packs. RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey said that rail workers carrying out safety- critical duties should never have to rely on petrol stations or fast-food outlets to access a toilet. “These findings show that basic welfare facilities are not being provided consistently or adequately. That raises serious questions about compliance with health and safety law which is something we are urgently taking up with the employer. “Modernising Maintenance has stripped away vital local support and reduced staffing to unacceptable levels. Productivity targets cannot come before workers’ health, safety and dignity. “Network Rail must act immediately to guarantee proper toilet, washing and rest facilities and ensure full compliance with its legal and frankly moral obligations to their workforce,” he said. RMT is calling for guaranteed access to adequate toilet and washing facilities on all patrols and fault attendance, proper planning, and documentation of proper and suitable welfare arrangements in all Safe System of Work Packs, reinstatement of local welfare support roles, an independent review of compliance with health and safety and CDM welfare requirements, and immediate improvements to vehicle hygiene and food preparation standards. The union has warned that if urgent steps are not taken, matters will be escalated through industrial, regulatory, and legal channels. THE FAILURE OF MODERNISING MAINTENANCE Survey finds Network Rail failing to provide basic welfare and health and safety provision