Our ref: HSR/4/2
Head Office Circular: NP/152/23
25th August 2023
To: The Secretary
ALL BRANCHES
REGIONAL COUNCILS
Dear Colleague,
ORR ANNUAL HEALTH & SAFETY REPORT OF BRITAIN’S RAILWAYS
I have reviewed a summary from the Lead Officer of main items identified in the Office of Rail and Road (ORR)’s Annual Report of Health and Safety on Britain’s Railways 2022-2023:
https://www.orr.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2023-07/annual-health-and-safety-report-2022-23.pdf
At its meeting on 24th August 2023, your National Executive Committee noted and adopted the following report from its Health and Safety Sub-committee:
We note the report on file from the Lead Officer on ORR “Annual Report of Health and Safety on Britain’s Railways.”
We instruct the General Secretary to write to ORR to:
- question why they have not exercised their powers as a regulator in relation to the provision of toilets and their comment in their report that “It is unacceptable that the industry fails to provide adequate toilet facilities for staff and indeed this is a legal requirement”
- question and condemn ORR statement “Network Rail delivered a safe railway during industrial action, sensibly taking the decision to offer a much-reduced level of service in line with the imperative to deliver it safely and reliably”
- ask why there was no mention in the report relating to verbal and physical attacks on rail staff.
Additionally, the General Secretary to write to NWR to find out what they are doing to:
- meet the need identified by ORR that they drive change across their regions to achieve the action plan towards delivery of their 17 action points in relation to Mair and Slingo recommendations
- to address the issue highlighted by the ORR that “significant risk remains around the levels of drainage staffing and the provision of dedicated drainage teams.” And ORR comment that failure to apply Lord Mair recommendation across the regions means that “in effect, the status quo may lead to a failure to learn the lessons of Carmont”
- to address problems identified by ORR in relation to HAVS and ORR comment that NWR current “monitoring and assurance scheme is not working as well as it should.”
Branches and Regional Councils to be notified accordingly and for the Lead Officer’s report to be shared with them.
Branch and affected members to be informed by email and text.
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