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19 July 2005 - HSE Annual Railway Safety
Report Shows Steady and Positive Progress
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An announcement by Dr. Allan Sefton, The Health and Safety Executive's (HSE),
Director of Rail Safety, on the Annual Railway Safety Report, was one of praise,
of which he commented as follows:
"Overall the picture remains one of steady and positive progress,
particularly on the mainline.
"The decision by Network Rail to bring maintenance 'in-house' is without
a doubt an opportunity to improve track risk management and we are already
seeing some positive results of this change in policy. A fresh approach and
focus on the management of risk and real changes to the culture of risk
management in the boardrooms of Network Rail and train operating companies
should be recognised and encouraged."
Some of the main highlights from the report are as follows:
- 5 passenger fatalities in train incidents.
- 4 staff fatalities, including 3 track workers.
- 5 deaths of other members of the public.
- 294 signals passed at danger (SPADs.
- 11 people killed on level crossings. 1 train driver, 5
passengers, 3 road vehicle occupants, 1 cyclist and 1 pedestrian.
- 26 train incidents on level crossings.
- 479 train incidents caused by vandalism.
A further comment from Dr. Sefton was made of his successor and forthcoming
changes to the reporting of railway safety as follows:
" This will be my last report on rail safety. I expect to be handing
over to my successor before the end of this calendar year. It is also the last
report for HMRI whilst under the governance of the Health and Safety
Commission (HSC) and HSE. HMRI and HSE's Rail Policy Division will be merging
with the Office of Rail Regulation around the end of 2005. We are working hard
with ORR to ensure that all goes smoothly."
The Railway Safety Statistics can be accessed from the HSE webpages by
clicking the following:
Railway annual reports and safety statistics
The transfer response from the Health and Safety Commission (HSC) on
responsibility for railway safety regulation from HSC/E to the new Office of
Rail Regulation (ORR) can be accessed by clicking the following:
The Department For Transport's (DFT) Rail Review: Response from the Health and
Safety Commission (HSC) and Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
Article by Alexandra Johnston
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