The report found ineffective safety practices and no clear ‘Person in Charge\u2019<\/p>\n
French said: \u201cThe number and type of near misses in recent years is hugely disappointing given the efforts made to address track worker safety during that time.<\/p>\n
“Over the same period, Network Rail has introduced a number of changes to procedures, and several new initiatives, to try to reduce the risk. One of these re-introduced the concept that there should be a \u2018person in charge\u2019.<\/p>\n
“This was intended to make an identifiable and capable person responsible for all aspects of the planning and delivery of safe work, for each job.<\/p>\n
“It is disappointing that our investigation found that the way in which this concept had been implemented lacked clarity, and the result of this was confusion on site.<\/p>\n
“As well as this organisational issue, we found that staff were disorientated, and did not know which line was which.<\/p>\n
“This could have been readily solved if they had had proper diagrams, and if clear signs had been provided at the point where they entered the railway.<\/p>\n
“RAIB has raised this issue before \u2013 it\u2019s time that the industry thought long and hard about the way it provides critical safety information to its staff and contractors.<\/p>\n
“I am concerned that, despite much effort and many initiatives, we are not seeing the hoped-for improvements in safety for track workers.<\/p>\n
“Despite all the efforts that the industry has made, this kind of alarming incident is still happening.<\/p>\n
“There needs to be complete clarity about who is in charge, where the work is to take place, and which lines are open to traffic.<\/p>\n
“I hope that the railway industry will do what\u2019s necessary to ensure that track workers properly understand the track safety processes and the roles of everybody involved in their implementation.”<\/p>\n
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