Our Ref: HSR/2/1
Head Office Circular NP/279/20
13th November 2020
The Secretary
ALL BRANCHES
ALL REGIONAL C OUNCILS
Dear Colleague
MARGAM PORT TALBOT SOUTH WALES
Following on from the tragedy at Margam on 3rd July 2020 in which two RMT members were killed the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has published its final report into the accident.
Our first thoughts are with the families and friends of our members who lost their lives and our members who witnessed this tragic incident.
The RAIB report is comprehensive and raises many issues of concern relating to industry standards, processes and arrangements and supports many of the concerns on track worker safety that RMT has been raising for many years. All parties in the industry need to reflect on the implications of the report and strive to put track safety as a top priority and make the necessary changes with the aim of eliminating fatalities and serious injuries.
RMT will continue to engage with Network Rail, the rail companies and the authorities on issues arising from the report and will be pushing for the highest track safety standards possible in order to protect our members.
The report has been considered by the National Executive Committee who have referred it to their Health and Safety Sub-committee for detailed analysis and development of a strategy to ensure the report’s recommendations are fully considered by the company and the safety authorities.
The report can be downloaded at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/report-112020-track-workers-struck-by-a-train-at-margam
I will keep you informed of developments with this matter.
Yours sincerely
Mick Cash
General Secretary