TRACKSIDE SAFETY / Page 1 of 1
Trackside Safety
Overview This talk will cover: some hazards and precautions associated with working on railways.
Some hazards
1 The danger of injuries resulting from the impact of moving trains cannot be overemphasised.
2 Besides direct impact, there is also the danger of being dragged under fast moving trains by the variations in air pressure as the train passes by.
3 Electrified lines create extreme hazards; beware electrical dangers from overhead lines and third and fourth line systems.
4 Scaffold must be properly erected to cater for the movement of trains.
5 Some of your work may be in confined spaces – refer to tool box talk ‘Working in confined spaces’.
6 The effects of alcohol and drugs, including some prescription drugs, will reduce your concentration and safety – refer to tool box 'First Aid’.
Precautions
1 You must be trained and competent to work in a railway environment – ensure you carry your track safety card or you will be refused access to the site.
2 Your Person in Charge of Work (PICOW) will set up a safe system of work; always follow the directions given particularly with regard to safety.
3 Familiarise yourself with the differences in, and restrictions imposed, when working in RED and GREEN zones.
4 Always wear the correct standard of PPE, including high visibility clothing.
5 Always treat overhead lines and the third rail as live.
6 Remember that an electrical isolation does not guarantee safety; it does not prevent non-electric locomotives from using the track.
7 Never allow yourself or anything you are using or handling to come within 2.75 metres of the overhead rails.
8 Exercise extreme care if handling scaffold poles or other metallic objects.
9 Ladders must be wooden or of approved non-conductive materials, never metallic.
10 If you have to remove trackside fencing, replace it as soon as it is practical.
Do you have any questions for me?