NETWORK RAIL – WELDING FUMES AND GASES

Our ref: HSR

Head Office Circular NP/210/25

28^th November 2025

 

To: All Secretaries Branches and Regional Councils

 

Dear Colleague

 

NETWORK RAIL – WELDING FUMES AND GASES

 

I recently received a report from the Lead Officer relating to Network Rails progress in addressing issues arising from an ORR (Office of Rail and Road Regulator) Weld Fume Improvement Notice and inadequate exposure for workers to welding fumes. 

 

A National Welding Working Group looking at this issue (on which RMT are represented) -  has been operating under significant pressure from Network Rails Capital Delivery to increase the number of welds completed per shift. Discussions at the working group have looked at a number of compromises that would enable welding to be carried out safely. 

 

In connection with this at its meeting on 25^th November 2025, your National Executive Committee (NEC) resolved as follows:

We instruct the General Secretary to thank Chris Adair for his work on this project with Network Rail to address issues arising from the ORR improvement notice on the Company regarding inadequate control of worker exposure to welding fumes. 

 

We note the progress that has been made in relation to key changes. We instruct the General Secretary to notify the Company that there should be a limit number of 4 or 6 welds (depending on the welding process being used) – and note that there is still need for outside testing of FFP3 filters. 

 

We are concerned as to how robust a ‘dynamic risk assessment’ will be if over this number of welds are required. 

 

We believe that there needs to be a thorough review of planning processes to make sure that when these new measures are introduced, they take cognisance of real-world pressures to get the job done and assess where the onus regarding responsibility to ensure welding is carried out safely best sits. 

 

We instruct the General Secretary to keep us involved in further progress regarding this welding fumes and gases work stream and that progress reports are shared with this NEC. 

 

Branches and Regional Councils to be notified accordingly.

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

 

Yours sincerely

 

Eddie Dempsey, General Secretary