The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has released its report today into a near miss involving a track worker at Tinsley Green Junction on 17 March 2007.
The full report is available here:
A summary of the key points from the report is included below.
Summary
On Saturday 17 March the driver of a Southern service from Brighton to Watford Junction reported a near miss, after a member of track maintenance staff had dived clear of his train with only seconds to spare.
The immediate cause of the incident was the system of work implemented at the site did not take into account the possibility of trains switching lines via the crossover on which the team were working. Causal factors were the limited experience of the Controller of Site Safety, and the established system of work did not involve staff moving to a position of safety when trains were approaching on the up fast line. There were two possible other causal factors, and one contributory factor. The underlying cause is the lack of explicit instruction about working under these conditions in the rule book.
Recommendations
The RAIB has made eight recommendations as a result of this incident. These are aimed at:
- the competency of staff in charge of safety when working in traffic;
- rules and training;
- the identification, recording and briefing of hazards;
- the planning of safe systems of work forms; and
- the presentation of information in operating documentation.
Notes to Editors
1. The sole purpose of RAIB investigations is to prevent future accidents and incidents and improve railway safety. The RAIB does not establish blame, liability or carry out prosecutions.
2. For media enquiries please call 020 7944 6984.
Newsdate: 18 December 2007
