50663 Insufficient lighting at Eastleigh yard

May 2012 in Freight Operations

Equipment Work environment South East

A reporter has two concerns about the lighting at Eastleigh yard.

Problems with existing lighting:At Eastleigh East yard the lighting has not been fully maintained and as a result nearly 70% of the lights are now not working.  This means that at night staff have to walk between the station and the yard using the authorised walking route, the sidings and reception road in very poor lighting.This is creating a risk that staff could trip, fall and injure themselves.

Lack of lighting:Parts of Eastleigh yard, including the carriage sidings and the military sidings, have no lighting at all.  This was not a problem until a couple of years ago when it was decided that staff would have to shunt trains to and from these areas.  The lack of lighting in these areas coupled with the fact that there are no authorised walking routes, increases the risk to staff.

Could Network Rail and DB Schenker:

• Identify who is responsible for maintaining and installing lighting at Eastleigh yard?
• Fix the lighting at Eastleigh East yard and make sure that problems are rectified in a timely manner in the future?
• Provide lighting in the areas in Eastleigh yard (including the carriage sidings and the military sidings) where there currently is none to reduce the risk of slips, trips and falls?

 Response from DB Schenker

Firstly, DB Schenker would like to thank the reporter for raising their concerns about the lighting at Eastleigh.

Guidance on lighting is contained in RSSB document GI/GN7520 'Guidance on lighting of Railway premises'. 'Authorised walking routes' and section 2.13 'Sidings and stabling areas' cover the issues raised by the reporter.

Investigation has shown that there were several defective lights in Eastleigh East yard. These have now been repaired and are operational. This lighting covers the reception roads which the reporter also mentions in the report. Team members are issued personal head torches and hand held torches for use in areas of low lighting. Extensive work was carried out during February 2012 on the lighting in Eastleigh East yard, and team members are encouraged to report any faults through the hazard and near miss reporting procedure. The local Production Managers are responsible for arranging repairs.

The official authorised walking route between the station and the yard is out of the station main building - turn right over Bishopstoke Road Bridge - walk down to Dutton Lane - turn left down Dutton Lane to Eastleigh East yard. This walking route is lit to pedestrian standards.

DB Schenker is responsible for maintenance of the lighting in DB Schenker areas of Eastleigh yard.

The carriage sidings are Network Rail infrastructure and are currently not fully illuminated. However, there is currently no lighting requirement as shunting operations are restricted to hours of day light only. This is documented in the local method of work.

The military sidings are Balfour Beatty infrastructure. Currently, for any movements undertaken into the military sidings in hours of darkness staff utilise headlamps and hand held torches.
A lighting assessment will be undertaken to record the illumination levels and see if they meet the guidelines contained within GI/GN7520. This will be completed by 31 March 2012.
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Response from Network Rail

Network Rail would like to thank the reporter for bringing their concerns to our attention.

Could Network Rail and DB Schenker identify who is responsible for maintaining and installing lighting at Eastleigh yard?

Eastleigh Delivery Unit and Network Rail are not responsible for the lighting mentioned leading from the station to Eastleigh yard; this is the responsibility of DB Schenker.

Could Network Rail and DB Schenker fix the lighting at Eastleigh East yard and make sure that problems are rectified in a timely manner in the future?

The only part of the yard complex at Eastleigh that Network Rail have maintenance responsibility for is in what is referred to as the 'carriage sidings'. At this location we maintain the lighting columns (about 12). These are currently all working and we respond to faults as they are raised.

Could Network Rail and DB Schenker provide lighting in the areas in Eastleigh yard (including the carriage sidings and the military sidings) where there currently is none to reduce the risk of slips, trips and falls?

In the areas for which Network Rail has responsibility, lighting is provided and maintained. There are no Network Rail authorised walking routes outside of this area.