25.03.13
ORR fines Network Rail £318,125 over man’s death
Network Rail and GT Railway Maintenance Ltd have been fined for safety breaches that led to a man’s death in 2003. The ORR has fined the companies a total of £318,125 and ordered them to pay costs of £180,000.
Liam Robinson was carrying out maintenance on a railway engineering machine owned by Network Rail when an electrical fault caused part of the machine to move. Trapped inside by the moving parts, Mr Robinson later died due to his injuries.
The sentencing at Stafford Crown Court found that safety risks had not been properly identified, assessed or addressed. Insufficient guard rails were fitted to the machine and keeping the engine running while maintenance was undertaken greatly increased the risk of an accident.
Darren Anderson, ORR’s principal inspector of railways, said: “My thoughts today are with the family of Mr Liam Robinson, and all those affected by this tragic incident. His entirely avoidable death was caused by Network Rail and GT Railway Maintenance’s lack of adequate safety precautions when accessing dangerous parts of this machinery. The sentence passed today by the court clearly demonstrates the seriousness of their offences.
“Over the past decade, improvements in health and safety have led to Great Britain’s railway becoming one of the safest railways in Europe. However, there is no room for complacency. ORR will continue to press the rail industry, including bringing criminal prosecutions where necessary, to ensure the safety of those travelling or working on Britain’s rail network.”
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