RAIB: luck saved track workers in Paddington near-miss

Only luck prevented two track workers from being killed or seriously injured after safety procedures were ignored at Paddington on July 18, says a Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) safety digest.

Protected in theory by a possession, and part of a Network Rail four-man S&T team, the two had strayed from the group and beyond the closed lines to walk on an open line.

A Great Western Railway train, travelling at 36mph, approached them from behind at 0117 and sounded its horn.

The pair failed to acknowledge or move, so the driver sounded the horn again and made an emergency brake application. The pair then moved out of the train’s path (by which time its speed was 24mph), one to two seconds before the near-miss.

One of the pair, who was inexperienced and supposed to be under close supervision, tested positive for a “recreational drug”. The other, walking directly behind the inexperienced worker, said he hadn’t noticed that he had strayed from the possession onto a live line.

The pair were separated from the group and the person in charge (PIC) due to a failure to properly plan the maintenance. Also, the PIC, who was also acting as the controller of site safety (COSS), appointed himself as the site warden - in contravention of NR rules.

The PIC failed to update the safe work pack or obtain authorisation for changes to the planned work from his manager. The rest of the team also failed to challenge the unsafe methods of working, although two were experienced enough and had the relevant knowledge to know it was unsafe.

RAIB says the near-miss demonstrates the importance that:

PIC and COSS ensure that deviations from planned work are authorised.

COSS always remain with their group to monitor them.

Staff challenge unsafe practices. Staff comply with drugs and alcohol policies.