Troon Station Fire

Our Ref: HSR/2/7
Head Office Circular: NP/319/21
24th August 2021
To: The Secretary
ALL BRANCHES
REGIONAL COUNCILS

Dear Colleague,

TROON STATION FIRE

Following receipt of correspondence from the ORR in response to RMT’s concerns about the fire which occurred in an unstaffed Troon station, at its meeting on 19th August, 2021, your National Executive Committee noted and adopted the following report from its Health and Safety Sub-committee:

We note the reply from ORR on file and the Lead Officer’s comments.

It is clear from the reports received that unstaffed stations are a danger not only to the public but also to staff.

It is completely unacceptable for companies to put profit before safety.

The RMT will continue its campaign to have every station fully staffed.

The General Secretary is instructed to write to Abellio ScotRail demanding that stations are not left unstaffed following the fire at Troon station, which could possibly have been avoided or reacted to sooner had the station been staffed, pointing out also that the absence of staff is contrary to information published by the company in relation to its accessible travel policy and Schedule 17.

The General Secretary is also instructed to contact RMT’s Scottish Parliamentary Group in order to draw up an Early Day Motion on this subject in order to highlight the safety critical nature of stations being fully staffed.

The General Secretary is further instructed to place the report from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service before this NEC once it has been published.

Branches and Regional Councils to be informed.

I am acting in accordance with these instructions and will keep members advised of any developments.

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

Yours sincerely

Michael Lynch
General Secretary