Is it safe?

[hq1hitchin]

It's a terrible indictment of the so called 'good old days' to think that the railways managed to kill a couple of hundred staff a year in various accidents, and literally thousands were injured. This little book from the LMS is a praiseworthy attempt to help staff think about everyday hazards on the railway of the 1920s. Some splendid period photos which most of us won't have seen before. 'Ere 'tis:

http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/docsum ... docID=4277

[CVR1865]

That is a really good read, thanks for posting that.

[giner]

Does anyone have any stats for this year? It would be interesting to compare.

[hq1hitchin]

Does anyone have any stats for this year? It would be interesting to compare.

Looking at the Office of the Rail Regulator's website, workforce fatalities are now averaging 2 to 3 a year, but only 1 fatality in 2010/11. Major injuries to railway staff about 150 p.a.

[Mickey]

I don't think that they (Network Rail) can make it any much safer for anyone working out on the track nowadays, virtually nobody's is allowed to work out on the track nowadays without either the road(s) being blocked first TO ALL TRAINS either under a 'line blockage' or when working within a complete 'possession of the line' during engineering work. Accidents probably still happen to men while working within a possession at work sites though?.

[PinzaC55]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9GtNm0WrxA

[hq1hitchin]

I don't think that they (Network Rail) can make it any much safer for anyone working out on the track nowadays, virtually nobody's is allowed to work out on the track nowadays without either the road(s) being blocked first TO ALL TRAINS either under a 'line blockage' or when working within a complete 'possession of the line' during engineering work. Accidents probably still happen to men while working within a possession at work sites though?.

I will always remember feeling physically sick as I read a message coming over the teleprinter regarding four S&T men being killed at Edge Hill one night in about 1989. They were working on a set of points and run down by a light engine and, presumably, didn't hear it coming because of the noise of a nearby tamper. Terrible, imagine being called to that and then having to tell the next-of-kin?

I do wonder about some of the current minor rules, though. Why, for example, should blokes going out signal sighting always be required to wear safety boots and hard hats - I presume this is still the case? A colleague in Network Rail some years back worried about job security so decided to train in his spare time as a chiropodist, just in case. He was duly declared redundant by NR and is now a full time chiropodist off the railway. He told me that wearing safety footwear is akin to kicking your toes against a brick wall and that they should only be worn when absolutely necessary i.e. when there is a risk of an object dropping on your foot. I duly advised those at NR responsible for such policy matters of this but it fell on deaf ears. Similarly, the modern requirement for the lads to always be covered in h.v. clothing from head to toe can't make it very comfortable in hot weather to be on or about the line.

[Mickey]

Similarly, the modern requirement for the lads to always be covered in h.v. clothing from head to toe can't make it very comfortable in hot weather to be on or about the line.

It does make me wonder sometimes if things haven't gone a bit 'overboard' when you get a couple of p.way guy's show up to grease a set of points totally covered in ORANGE from neck to boots wearing white 'hard hats' on a NON-electrified line with no overhead catenary. Obviously on the railways pre-1960s there wasn't any H.V.clothing then B.R. introduced the 'small yellow' jacket but the 'problem' is that you have manager's nowadays that inist in a 100% SAFE RAILWAY and if that means a track-worker wearing 100% ORANGE clothing, saftey boots & hard hats then so be it.

[PinzaC55]

Similarly, the modern requirement for the lads to always be covered in h.v. clothing from head to toe can't make it very comfortable in hot weather to be on or about the line.

It does make me wonder sometimes if things haven't gone a bit 'overboard' when you get a couple of p.way guy's show up to grease a set of points totally covered in ORANGE from neck to boots wearing white 'hard hats' on a NON-electrified line with no overhead catenary. Obviously on the railways pre-1960s there wasn't any H.V.clothing then B.R. introduced the 'small yellow' jacket but the 'problem' is that you have manager's that inist in a 100% safe railway nowadays and if that means a track worker wearing 100% ORANGE safey boots & hard hats then so be it.

Surely if that protective clothing saves even one life in ten years it is worth it?

[Mickey]

Similarly, the modern requirement for the lads to always be covered in h.v. clothing from head to toe can't make it very comfortable in hot weather to be on or about the line.

It does make me wonder sometimes if things haven't gone a bit 'overboard' when you get a couple of p.way guy's show up to grease a set of points totally covered in ORANGE from neck to boots wearing white 'hard hats' on a NON-electrified line with no overhead catenary. Obviously on the railways pre-1960s there wasn't any H.V.clothing then B.R. introduced the 'small yellow' jacket but the 'problem' is that you have manager's that inist in a 100% safe railway nowadays and if that means a track worker wearing 100% ORANGE saftey boots & hard hats then so be it.

Surely if that protective clothing saves even one life in ten years it is worth it?

Thats the usual arguement that is always used. Where i work the guy who is 'contracted' to clean the station and empty the rubbish bins walks around in 100% ORANGE clothing & saftey boots (but no hard hat) at the moment?.

[PinzaC55]

Thats an amusing story but it doesn't alter the fact that increasingly stringent H&SE measure, though irritating, do save lives where railways are concerned.

[Mickey]

Thats how 'crazy' the railways are nowadays??

[PinzaC55]

The problem is (and I am playing devils advocate here) do you want a rule or a guideline? What speed is the line, how far is the bucket away, is there a 3rd rail, does the guy have a PTS card? If you have to check all these things you'll be on the phone forever, but if you have a blanket rule it relieves you of responsibilty in the event of an accident. Lets say he goes on the track without PTS and has an accident? His fault, not your fault, and its his managers fault if he told him to do it.

[Bryan]

Ignore the fact that it this post is on a railway.
Think of it as a construction site now try and start work.
You would not be allowed through the gate without Hard hat, Hi Vis, Boots and anything else likely to be needed.
Look at the notices posted at the gate.
Why should railways be any different?

[Mickey]

Ignore the fact that it this post is on a railway.
Think of it as a construction site now try and start work.
You would not be allowed through the gate without Hard hat, Hi Vis, Boots and anything else likely to be needed.
Look at the notices posted at the gate.
Why should railways be any different?

Yes you may have a point if you look at it in that way in which case taking it to it's logical conclusion ALL locomotives/DMUs/EMUs and rolling stock should really be painted in ALL OVER BRIGHT DAY-GLO ORANGE!! and ALL railway staff i.e. driver's, conductor's, signaller's, plarform staff, as well as p.way staff, S&T staff and other's should all be wearing-

HARD HATS, ALL OVER ORANGE H.V. CLOTHING, GLOVES & SAFETY BOOTS at all times while on duty!!.

H&S finally gone MAD!!.