Track worker safety

Renewal work and maintenance of the railway infrastructure takes place daily. This work must often be carried out close to or on the running track known as 'the line'.

Some work can be done by machine but all work involves people and that presents considerable risk.  It is the responsibility of infrastructure managers such as Network Rail and London Underground to work with their contractors to plan ahead and manage renewal and maintenance work to minimise safety risks and disruption.

Green zone working

The safest way of undertaking maintenance and renewal work is to separate workers from trains. On Network Rail controlled infrastructure, this is known as 'green zone working' and involves blocking one or more lines to trains and/or setting up protected areas away from running lines. On London Underground most work takes place at night when the network is closed to passenger  traffic and the traction current is discharged. This time is known as ‘Engineering Hours’.

Red zone working

It is not always possible to block lines to traffic and some work has to take place on lines where trains continue to run:this is known as ‘red zone working’. ’Red zone working’ involves warning workers of approaching trains in time for them to get clear of the line and into 'positions of safety' well before the train arrives. This type of working requires very strict safety systems to be in place. This type of working requires very strict safety systems to be in place.

Risk Minimisation

We are concerned about the number of fatalities to railway trackside workers. We have worked closely with the rail industry to tackle this important issue and there have been significant reductions in the numbers of fatalities. The introduction of Network Rail’s ‘RIMINI’ (risk minimisation) standard has required improvements to be made to the way in which track work is planned and carried out.

RIMINI contains a hierarchy of protection methods, with green zone working as the first choice, followed by red zone working with an automatic means of warning, and finally red zone working with human lookouts as a last resort.

Our discussions with Network Rail about our inspection findings and the persistence of fatal accidents and serious injuries to workers on its tracks has led to a series of initiatives to address some of the behaviours and human factors that play a part in incidents. This includes programmes to raise standards of  safety critical communications and improve the safety culture.

More information about our strategy for employee safety can be found in Employee safety: summary strategy, in related documents below.

Last updated: 10 September 2008

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