ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONAL STANDARD FOR MINIMUM SAFE DISTANCE FOR CONDUCTOR/GUARD DISPATCHED TRAINS

Our ref: HSR

Head Office Circular: NP/97/24

9^th April 2024

To: The Secretary

All branches and Regional Councils

 

Dear Colleague

 

ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONAL STANDARD FOR MINIMUM SAFE DISTANCE FOR CONDUCTOR/GUARD DISPATCHED TRAINS

 

I write in connection with replies I have received from Lead Officers explaining how the above sits within Companies that come under their areas of responsibility. 

 

At its meeting on 4^th April 2024 your National Executive Committee (NEC) met to consider a report from its Health and Safety subcommittee from when it met to consider the above - and the NEC adopted the following: 

 

We note the contents of the correspondence from the lead officers, for which they are thanked. We recognise fears that a minimum safe distance for conductor/guard dispatched trains may increase the number of guards on disciplinary hearings and/ or dismissals for a breach of any new rule. This being the law of unintended consequences. For any incident the company may simply need to show that a passenger’s leg, arm, pushchair, wheelchair, etc. was ‘across the line’, and declare that the Guard takes responsibility. 

 

We recognise the importance of PTI (platform train interface) risk assessments which take account of potential station hazards including such issues as platform furniture, design and layout. It is extremely important that RMT Health and Safety representatives are involved in the PTI assessment process and for the rep to ensure the assessment meets the legal standard of “suitable and sufficient. 

 

The General Secretary is instructed to place the correspondence on file, to notify the NEC of any further developments and to write accordingly to branches and regional councils - also reminding them of the importance of safety rep involvement in PTI assessments. 

 

Please bring this circular to the attention of all relevant members.

 

I am acting in line with these instructions. Please bring the contents of this circular to the attention of relevant members. 

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

 

Michael Lynch, General Secretary