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A safety net when all else fails

41232 Risk of electric shock from overhead line equipment

April 2011 in Network Rail and Suppliers

tagged Work environment South East

The risk of receiving an electric shock from the wires on the supporting fixtures of the Overhead Line Equipment (OLE), located next to the flyover on the Down Tilbury Line, concerns one reporter.

At seven miles and 33 chains the Down Tilbury Line runs over a flyover. The Network Rail infrastructure runs parallel to the Down Tilbury Line at ground level, which results in the OLE being positioned at the same height as the flyover.
The supporting fixtures on the overhead mast (plate number 7/15) do not have any protective mesh screening. Someone working with equipment on the flyover could come into contact with the wires and receive an electric shock from the 25,000 volts. It appears to the reporter that at this location the wires from the OLE are within six foot of the flyover.

The reporter is also concerned that there is no signage at this location warning people of the danger of the electric current running through the OLE wires.

Could Network Rail:

  • Erect a wire mesh screen around the mast and its supporting fixtures to prevent anyone coming into contact with OLE at this location?
  • Put up signage on the flyover and in the vicinity warning people of the dangers of the OLE and the electric current it carries?

Response from Network Rail

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

Could Network Rail erect a wire mesh screen around the mast and its supporting fixtures to prevent anyone coming into contact with OLE at this location?
We have completed an inspection along the entire Tilbury Line adjacent to the Barking flyover and were unable to find a structure 7/15. However, we do agree with the reporter that there are issues at several locations between structure 7/14 and 7/27. At structure A7/14 the guard needs repairing, at structures A7/18, A7/21 and A7/25 the guard needs extending, at structure A7/20 the ATC sheathing needs replacing and at structures A7/27 and A7/28 new guards need installing.
The work on these structures has been completed, or is planned to be completed, by week 10 2011/12 (Sunday 29 May 2011 to Saturday 4 June 2011).

Could Network Rail put up signage on the flyover and in the vicinity warning people of the dangers of the OLE and the electric current it carries?

As a result of this report important safety improvements have been made, including affixing a warning sign which was installed on 19 March 2011.

 

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