AGM Item 46: Network Rail use of CCTV footage in near miss incidents

Our Ref: HSR/2/15
8th October 2019
Head Office Circular NP/189/19
THE SECRETARY
ALL BRANCHES
ALL REGIONAL COUNCILS

Dear Colleague

AGM ITEM 46: NETWORK RAIL USE OF CCTV FOOTAGE IN NEAR MISS INCIDENTS

The following resolution was carried at the AGM 2019:

This Branch is greatly concerned regarding Network Rail using Train CCTV footage in Near Miss Incidents that are still under investigation.

It is Network Rail’s policy to show footage from the Train after a Near Miss incident to all Maintenance staff just a few days after it has occurred and while the investigation is ongoing.

Our Branch believes this is having a devastating effect on our Members who having been sat in interrogation type interviews, and not knowing if they will be losing their jobs or not, as it could potentially be a Breach of the Life Saving Rules and therefore Gross Miss Conduct. Then to be in the workplace and have colleagues finger pointing and whispering behind their backs after seeing the CCTV footage and coming to their own conclusions as to the individual’s fate.

Furthermore, we believe that showing this evidence whilst the investigation is still ongoing is unfair on the individual who would expect to have a fair and unbiased hearing. This would be near on impossible after everyone has seen a crucial part of this evidence and cast their own opinion.

We should all learn from our mistakes, what our Branch wants is a full investigation carried out into the Near Miss. All the evidence to be kept private until there has been a hearing and it is fully established what exactly happened and then show the footage to all staff so that we can learn from the incident and hopefully stop it from happening again.

At their meeting of 26th September 2019, the National Executive Committee noted and adopted the following report of their Health and Safety Sub-committee:

We instruct the General Secretary to take up this matter in line with the resolution.

Branches and Regional Councils to be informed.

I am acting in accordance with these instructions. Please make the contents of this Circular available to all appropriate members.

Yours sincerely

Mick Cash
General Secretary