20 February 2026
RMT Press Office:
RMT has accused Network Rail of failing to provide adequate toilet and welfare facilities for maintenance patrol workers, warning that the situation may amount to breaches of health and safety law.
A union survey of more than 120 members across multiple regions has exposed widespread and systemic shortcomings in access to toilets, washing facilities, rest areas and hygienic welfare vehicles.
The findings reveal that 72% of workers rarely or never have access to adequate toilet facilities while on patrol, while 71% say they are never provided with clean, private washing or changing facilities when taking breaks.
Nearly 70% rate welfare vehicle hygiene as poor or very poor, and almost 70% frequently rely on public facilities such as petrol stations or fast-food outlets because no proper welfare is available.
Only 3% believe current arrangements meet legal requirements under health and safety and CDM regulations, and more than two-thirds report experiencing, or potentially experiencing, health issues linked to inadequate welfare provision.
And 87% back union action to secure immediate improvements, including reinstating local welfare support roles.
The survey also highlights the damaging impact of Modernising Maintenance. Just 3% of respondents believe welfare conditions have improved since its introduction, while 38% say they have significantly deteriorated.
The restructuring programme has reduced staffing levels and removed local welfare support roles to unacceptable levels, weakening planning standards and leaving welfare arrangements inconsistently documented in Safe Work Packs, according to the union.
RMT General Secretary Eddie Dempsey said: “Rail workers carrying out safety-critical duties should never have to rely on petrol stations or fast-food outlets to access a toilet.
“These findings show that basic welfare facilities are not being provided consistently or adequately. That raises serious questions about compliance with health and safety law which is something we are urgently taking up with the employer.
“Modernising Maintenance has stripped away vital local support and reduced staffing to unacceptable levels. Productivity targets cannot come before workers’ health, safety and dignity.
“Network Rail must act immediately to guarantee proper toilet, washing and rest facilities and ensure full compliance with its legal and frankly moral obligations to their workforce.”
RMT is calling for guaranteed access to adequate toilet and washing facilities on all patrols and fault attendance, proper planning, and documentation of proper and suitable welfare arrangements in all Safe System of Work Packs, reinstatement of local welfare support roles, an independent review of compliance with health and safety and CDM welfare requirements, and immediate improvements to vehicle hygiene and food preparation standards.
The union has warned that if urgent steps are not taken, matters will be escalated through industrial, regulatory, and legal channels.
END
Notes:
RMT says the scale and consistency of these findings raise serious concerns about compliance with the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 and the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, which require employers to provide suitable and sufficient sanitary and washing facilities that are readily accessible and properly maintained.
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