Spat over railway safety claims

Spat over railway safety claims

Rail union RMT has accused the rail regulator of 'complacency' after it boasted about the rail system's safety record when the same report shows injuries to track workers have increased. The Office of Rail Regulation's latest safety report said Britain's railways are performing better than all other European railways in managing passenger and level crossing rail safety. But ORR director of railway safety, Ian Prosser, also noted: 'ORR's analysis shows there is considerable room for improvement in specific areas, such as planned track maintenance, management of civil structures and the safety of track workers. It is now essential the rail industry works as one to deliver an even safer railway.' The report revealed there had been an eight per cent worsening in track worker safety. RMT said the ORR report 'dripped with complacency'. General secretary Bob Crow told SHP, the magazine of the Institution for Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH): 'The fact is that it is the ORR that is demanding the cuts that are leading to the casualisation of safety-critical track work and the ushering in of a zero-hours culture. While our members are getting injured out on the railways at increasing frequency RMT's fight for a safe working environment goes on.' Last month RMT warned that savings of £2 billion over five years demanded by ORR couldn't be implemented without dire consequences for rail safety (Risks 609).

• ORR news release and annual health and safety report.
• SHP Online.