Network Rail Crossing the Line Procedure

Our Ref: HSR/2/15
Head Office Circular: NP/234/21
2nd July 2021
To: The Secretary
ALL BRANCHES
REGIONAL COUNCILS

Dear Colleague,

NETWORK RAIL CROSSING THE LINE PROCEDURE

Further to Head Office Circular NP/156/21, dated 14th May, I received a report from the Lead Union Health and Safety Representative who had come across the practice of going across bridges and viaducts using the Crossing of the Line Procedure to do so.

This has now been placed on pause subject to the National Health, Welfare and Safety Council (NHSWC).

We could not be sure if this was happening or was being looked at in other routes/regions, and requested at the NHSWC that this practice be stopped and communications sent out that this will not be tolerated. This was agreed.

Your National Executive Committee (NEC), at its meeting on 29th June 2021, noted and adopted the following report from its Health and Safety Sub-committee:

We note the report form the Lead Union Health and Safety Representative on file and note that the matter was dealt with at the Network Rail National Health, Welfare and Safety Council on 10th June, where the company agreed to take up the two action points as suggested by our LUHSR that the practice must be stopped and that communications would be sent out stating that will not be tolerated.

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