50568 ‘Unsafe practices’ occurring on a site at Swansea station

May 2012 in Network Rail and Suppliers

Equipment Method of working Rules and procedures Work environment Wales

• Possession limit boards and detonator protection not being used whilst the works are taking place, even though the method statement specifies their use.
• Staff working on equipment, sometimes at height within 1.25m of the running line, without Personal Track Safety (PTS) certification or a Temporary Visitors Permit (TVP).
• Equipment being dropped onto the running line and staff acting in an unsafe manner to retrieve it.
• Staff carrying out work without wearing appropriate safety personal protective equipment, such as harnesses.
• Equipment being transported to and from site unsafely on platforms being used by passengers.  Concern has also been expressed that the vehicles being used to transport the equipment have not been approved by Network Rail.

 Could Murphy Group:

• Investigate the issues raised?
• Ensure that all staff on site have PTS when working within 1.25m of the running line and are adhering to theRule Bookand the RIMINI plan at all times?

 Response from Murphy Group

The Murphy Group would like to take this opportunity to thank the reporter for bringing these matters to our attention.

Following the comments received from the reporter, we have carried out a thorough and robust investigation involving the client and Murphy site personnel. From this investigation we have following comments.

All required Possession Limit Boards (PLBs) and detonator protection was provided in accordance with theRule Book. The Signaller was fully aware of the arrangements, as agreed with the appointed Controller of Site Safety (COSS). It may be possible that the

PLB was not in view from the location of the reporter.

The majority of the station canopy and new lighting works are within a high street environment and outside of possession areas; high street environments areas do not require Personal Track Safety (PTS) competence, as per the Network RailHigh Street Environment Procedure. In view of the reporter's concerns, we have delivered toolbox talks to all site operatives on the importance of staying within the confines of the high street environment. 

We have received no reports of individuals accessing the track area to retrieve articles that have fallen. However, in view of the matter raised by the reporter, we believe it is important to re-emphasise the importance not to access the track area at any time, unless within a line blockage and under the control of the COSS, this will be delivered via a toolbox talk.

The Murphy Group is committed to providing personnel with the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), as detailed in the task briefing documentation for the specific task. We again thank the reporter for the comments and have delivered a tool box talk to all operatives, reminding them of the importance of wearing the correct PPE for the task being carried out.

The hand-wheeled trolleys utilised for the transportation of materials on the platforms are supplied by an approved hire company and are checked daily for defects as part of pre-use checks. When using the hand-wheeled trolleys, it is required that they are accompanied by three operatives, one guiding the handle and two pushing and guiding the trolley. All loads are secured prior to any movement.

We again value the comments received from the reporter and will re-brief and monitor such activities, to ensure relevant individuals work in accordance with the safe system of work as detailed above. There is no requirement for this trolley to be approved by Network Rail as it is not a safety critical item.