Report on class investigation of incidents connected to work on and near tracks
Railway report 2018/02
Many incidents have been registered in connection with the extensive maintenance work and infrastructure development that have taken place on the national railway network in recent years. The Accident Investigation Board Norway (AIBN) has conducted a class investigation into issues relating to incidents in connection with work on and near tracks. The results of an extensive questionnaire survey among people approved by Bane NOR SF for work as principal site safety supervisors (PSSS) have been important in this work. They have a special responsibility for ensuring safety during work on and near tracks.
The AIBN would like to draw attention to the following results as particularly interesting:
- It is well known among the PSSSs that work on and near tracks relatively often takes place without permission. This is frequently a result of a conscious choice based on the perception that the situation is safe and under control.
- External PSSSs experience language problems that could result in misunderstandings more often that those employed by Bane NOR SF.
- One in four are of the opinion that, generally speaking, PSSSs have inadequate knowledge of the lines, and it is pointed out that PSSSs from external enterprises do not have the same access to information about the worksite as those employed by Bane NOR SF.
- In the AIBN’s opinion, the fact that that as many as one in five PSSSs say that what actually takes place on construction sites does not comply with the regulations gives cause for concern and is something that Bane NOR SF should look into. Nor is it uncommon for employees to be sent away from a worksite because they are working without permission.
The investigation has contributed to increased knowledge of PSSSs views on a number of issues. On this basis, the AIBN submits two safety recommendations to Bane NOR SF. One concerns work without permission, and the other access to information before work commences.
Illustration: AIBN
Safety recommendation
Safety recommendation JB No 2018/04T
Four in ten principal site safety supervisors have worked on or near tracks without permission. This has often been done intentionally because the work is deemed to be safe. Such an unfortunate practice circumvents important safety barriers and increases the risk of hazardous situations arising.
The Accident Investigation Board Norway recommends that the Norwegian Railway Authority request Bane NOR SF to conduct an analysis of the underlying causes for work being carried out on or near tracks without permission, and take steps to counteract it.
Safety recommendation JB No 2018/05T
Principal site safety supervisors employed by enterprises other than Bane NOR SF find that they have less access to information before construction work. It could have a negative effect on safety if both groups do not have the same opportunity to facilitate safe work.
The Accident Investigation Board Norway recommends that the Norwegian Railway Authority request Bane NOR SF to map the differences between internal and external principal site safety supervisors’ access to information and investigate what consequences this has for the facilitation of safe work on and near tracks
Facts
| Location | The national railway network |
| Occurrence date | 30.11.2015 |
| Train No | Work on and near tracks |
| Type of occurrence | Class investigation |