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A safety net when all else fails

50327 Security staff assisting in process of terminating trains

May 2012 in Train Operations

tagged Knowledge Skills and experience Supervision and Management Training and briefing South East

A reporter is concerned that agency staff hired solely for security purposes are assisting Platform Staff in the process of terminating trains at Gidea Park station. This is occurring when Platform Staff are working alone during peak times in the mornings and evenings, and has been an issue since May.

According to the reporter, agency Security Staff should only be on the platforms undertaking security duties. However they are often involved in checking half of a terminating train while Platform Staff check the other half, even though they are not thought to be qualified to do so. As a result, the reporter believes there is a potential for the carriages to not be checked properly, increasing the likelihood of passengers being taken into the sidings onboard trains.

Could Greater Anglia please:

  • Clarify whether agency staff hired for security purposes are allowed to assist in the process of terminating trains?
  • If so, what training do they receive?

​Response from Greater Anglia (formerly National Express East Anglia)​

Greater Anglia would like to thank the reporter for raising their concerns.

The agency staff in question are not employed for security purposes, but to assist our Platform Staff in emptying the train of customers between 17:00 - 19:30 Monday - Friday.

All staff attend a local safety induction and are advised on the following:safety responsibility statement;

  • safety notice board;
  • environmental policy;
  • local COSHH arrangements;
  • drugs and alcohol testing arrangements;
  • local emergency arrangements, including local emergency plan and evacuation arrangements;
  • local first aid arrangements;
  • accident/assault reporting procedure (including the use of DNA collection kits);
  • operational incident reporting procedure;
  • local safety representatives;
  • local safety arrangements including authorised walking routes; and
  • provision of personal protective equipment.

Please note that Greater Anglia employs a security agency between the hours of 23:30 until 01:30 for the purpose of lone working.  The Guard is in place to shadow the lone worker in his duties for the security of the individual whilst terminating trains and closing the station to the public at end of service.

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