Isolation Assistants

Our Ref: HSR/4/2
Head Office Circular: NP/245/21
7th July 2021
To: The Secretary
ALL BRANCHES
REGIONAL COUNCILS

Dear Colleague,

ISOLATION ASSISTANTS

Further to Head Office Circular NP/140/21, dated 30th April, I have received responses from both Network Rail and ORR.

Neither response takes us much further forward.

Network Rail “will investigate any circumstance where isolation assistants are undertaking isolation work should they not be qualified or competent to undertake such work” and requested that RMT’s health and safety representatives alert the relevant senior managers if they identify such events.”

ORR asked that members “use the appropriate reporting tool or procedure if they witness persons carrying out unsafe acts or activities carried out outside of allowed competencies”

Your National Executive Committee (NEC), at its meeting on 6th July 2021, noted and adopted the following report from its Health and Safety Sub-committee:

We note the responses on file from Network Rail and the ORR. We further note that Network Rail is convening an Overhead Line “Summit” at which we will be represented. The General Secretary is instructed to place a report from the Lead Officer on this Summit before this NEC.

Relevant Branches and Regional Councils to be advised

I am acting in accordance with these instructions.

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

Yours sincerely

Michael Lynch
General Secretary