29.08.18
Nexus lacked ‘effective safe system of work’ during near-miss on Metro line
Procedures from passenger transport executive Nexus “did not assist with the creation of an effective safe system of work,” the RAIB has said in an investigation released after two track workers narrowly avoided being struck by a Tyne and Wear Metro train in February.
In its investigation report, the rail accident branch highlighted certain safety failings which led to the incident earlier this year at Pelaw North Junction.
On 21 February, a train, travelling at around 65km/h at the time, narrowly missed the track workers who managed to move clear of the train two seconds before the train passed them. Neither was injured.
“The incident occurred because the track workers were unaware of the train approaching on the line which they were on,” the report said. “A second train, on an adjacent line, had blocked their view of the approaching train. Although two trains passing each other in such a manner is a regular event at Pelaw North Junction, the system of work which had been set up by the track workers did not take the blocking of a lookout’s view of one train by another into account.
“The RAIB found that Nexus Rail’s procedures did not assist with the creation of an effective safe system of work. Additionally, there was a non-compliance with the rule book relating to the lookout not providing a warning when the sighting of trains became obscured.”
Image of track workers, courtesy of RAIB
The RAIB made five recommendations to Nexus, including identifying locations on the Tyne and Wear Metro network “where multiple lookouts are necessary to establish a safe system of work and providing this information to relevant staff”; improving the information available to track workers regarding hazards on the metro network; and improving the quality of on-site assessments carried out. The organisation must also support newly qualified safety-critical track staff in making safe decisions.
The investigation branch also recommended that Nexus strengthen the process it uses to manage staff on prescription medication. On the day before the near-miss, one of the track workers involved told his supervisor that he had been prescribed medication and he had to be accompanied at all times while he was on or near the line as a result—but the worker confirmed that he had not been suffering from any side-effects at the time of the accident.
A Nexus spokesman said: "We have worked closely with the Rail Accident Investigation Branch as they looked into this incident and we accept their report.
"The safety of our workforce is our top priority at all times. We have a strict set of rules in place to ensure safe working on Metro lines. The report highlights some areas where we can make improvements and tighten up rules and regulations. These improvements are already being made.”
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Image credit: RAIB