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Improvement notices

Improvement notices issued since 1 April 2006: 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006.

Copies of improvement and prohibition notices can be found on our Public register. Guidance on searching (PDF PDF 2135 Kb) the Public register is available.

Prior to 1 April 2006, the Health and Safety Executive enforced health and safety legislation for railways and you will find relevant notices on the HSE website.

2013

Company and notice number Brief description Issue date Compliance date Result

Bala Lake Railway

I/SJT/03/04/2013/1

 The railway did not have in place an established and maintained, complete and recorded Safety Management System meeting the requirements set out in Regulation 6 and Schedule 1 of the Regulations 3 Apr 2013 31 Jul 2013 Open

Great Western Society Limited

I/PT/GWS/06/03/13

 The Notice was served due to Great Western Society Limited’s failure to have effective arrangements in place to ensure the health and safety of their employees, volunteers and contractors when carrying out work at their Didcot Railway Centre this followed an incident on 7 March 2012 at Didcot Railway Centre when a volunteer received multiple serious injuries after being pinned against a brick retaining wall whilst attempting to manhandle an electrical transformer back into position after it had slipped from a movement skate. 6 Mar 2013 6 Sep 2013 Open

Babcock Rail Ltd

I/LVM/20130319/01

 Following an incident on 8 March 2013 in which a road-rail vehicle (RRV) was involved in an incident at Hope Station when a track worker on their track renewals site was struck by a RRV and become trapped between the RRV and the station platform. An Improvement Notice was served,  for Babcock Rail Limited’s failure to have effective management and monitoring arrangements in place to ensure the safety of those involved in track renewal work. 19 Mar 2013 30 Jun 2013 Open

Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd

I/Enf-Not-69/AC01

 The notice was issued due to Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd’s failure to demonstrate a robust process for the management of earthworks at risk of landslip, including the slope at Brithdir [Car] 18 miles 944 yards on 30th January 2013. 14 Feb 2013 30 Jun 2013 Open

Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd

Enf-Not-367/CAR01

 The Notice was served on Network Rail Infrastructure Limited for failing to have a suitable safe system of work in place when carrying out welding inspections on switch blades, including points at Bristol West Junction.
As a consequence a Network Rail employee amputated part of his thumb between the moving switch blade and stock rail whilst undertaking welding inspections at Bristol Junction on 772B points on the 23rd October 2012.		 26 Feb 2013 28 Aug 2013 Open
Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd

I/LVM/20130114/01		 Following inspections in November 2012 and December 2012 to check on Adjacent Line Open (ALO) working across the LNE, LNW and Western Routes a notice was issued due to Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd's failure to have in place effective arrangements to ensure that their risk control measures had been implemented for the risk to trains, from RRVs, construction plan and other vehicles, posed during adjacent open line working. 14 Jan 2013 31 Dec 2013 Open

2012

Company and notice number Brief description Issue date Compliance date Result
Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd

I/20121220/JSM

This followed an incident in March 2012 when a NR contractor received an electric shock from a signalling location cabinet which had not been earthed or bonded. The incident occurred in Huncoat, Lancashire on the LNW route, and is the second time in a year that this has happened at the same location.

As a result, a National Notice has been served as we believe there may be thousands of cabinets of a similar age and construction across Network Rail infrastructure, which are not earthed and bonded and/or where inadvertent contact with live conductors is foreseeable. The notice requires Network Rail to undertake a review of 650V signalling equipment to establish the scale of the problem, to develop an action plan for remedying any deficiencies found, to design and implement a safe system of work and to undertake a review of resource available to implement the action plan.

 20 Dec 2012 31 Jul 2014 Open
Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd

I/Enf-Not-63/AC01

Following an incident on 9 August 2012 outside Cardiff Central Station when a section of spandrel wall (approx. 15 metres) failed and collapsed, this caused a loss of support to the lines above, as well as fouling the (down) relief line below. The masonry also struck a passing train without causing significant damage to the train or any injuries.

The notice was issued due to Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd’s failure to have in place a suitable and sufficient process to manage the incomplete visual examination of structures, to ensure that necessary engineering judgements can be made.

 5 Oct 2012 31 Mar 2013 Open
East Coast Main Line Company Limited

I/20120823EC

The notice was served following an incident on 15 February 2012 when an air conditioning under-frame cover panel became detached from an East Coast High Speed Train as it passed over points, just south of Potters Bar station. The notice was issued due to their failure to have arrangements in place for ensuring that rail vehicles were returned to service in a safe condition following maintenance, and that they did not ensure the safety of passengers, employees or other individuals not in their employment as far as reasonably practical.

 23 Aug 2012 31 Oct 2012 Complied
Babcock International Rail

I/JJC/2012

The notice was served as part of a continuing investigation into an incident in July, when a machine operator became trapped in a track finishing machine, and was subsequently injured this occurred in Castlethorpe.

The notice was issued due to Babcock International Group Ltd’s failure to take effective measures, to ensure that access to the dangerous parts of machinery on the track finishing machine was adequately prevented.

 9 Aug 2012 24 Sep 2012 Complied
Network Rail Limited

I/ENF-NOT-57/JPMcG		 The notice was issued following a number of incidents in Scotland where trains struck failed earthworks which were obstructing the line. This was due to Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd’s failure to have in place, suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks associated with earthworks failures during adverse weather. Therefore preventing them from having control measures in place, to ensure that persons were not injured should a train collide with landslip debris, or was derailed because of loss of support to the track. 3 Aug 2012 14 Dec 2012 Complied
Whitwell and Reepham Railway Preservation Society Ltd 

I/SJT/14/06/12/1		 The Notice was served against Whitwell and Reepham Railway Preservation Society Ltd on 14 June 2012 relating to an inspection at Whitwell Station, Reepham, Norfolk, and was issued due to their failure to have in place an established, complete and recorded Safety Management System. 14 Jun 2012 30 Sep 2012 Open
London Undeground Limited

I/KS29052012		 The notice was issued due to London Underground Limited’s failure to have in place adequate and effective precautions to prevent electrical equipment on trains, which have been made dead from accidentally being electrically charged, when work was being undertaken nearby, and was in relation to a visit on 25th May 2012 to London Underground’s Ruislip Gardens Depot to investigate an accident to a train maintainer, who received an electrical shock on 30th April 2012. 29 May 2012 20 July 2012 Complied
Network Rail Limited

I/ENF-NOT-34/JPMcG
I/ENF-NOT-35/JPMcG		 The notices were issued due to Network Rail Infrastructure Limited’s failure to have in place suitable and sufficient measures to ensure that handrails were working correctly and not in any danger of falling, resulting in a risk of injury. This followed an incident on the 4th May at Invertiel Viaduct, Kirkcaldy (on the East Coast Mainline) when a handrail failed and fell, although it did not actually reach the ground, part of it broke up, causing some asbestos and cement debris to fall onto the public highway below. 22 May 2012 30 Sep 2012 Complied
Signalling Solutions Limited

I/JB/SSL/01/2012/05
I/JB/SSL/02/2012/05		 Following a site inspection that was carried out on 8th and 9th of May 2012 at the site located next to Thetford Station, known as Thetford Dock two Improvement Notices
were issued due to Signalling Solutions Limited’s failure to have in place a safe system of work when excavating concrete for the installation of signalling cables. The site was also found not to be adequately monitored or supervised to ensure that employees and contractors were not at risk.		 14 May 2012 9 July 2012 Complied
Balfour Beatty Rail Ltd

I/KPD/22/04/2012/01		 Following an inspection on 22 April 2012 at a construction site next to Horley Railway Station, Surrey.
An Improvement notice was issued due to Balfour Beatty Rail Infrastructure Services Limited’s failure to have in place arrangements for the effective control and monitoring of preventative and protective measures necessary for safe vehicle and pedestrian movement.		 2 May 2012 2 July 2012 Open
Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd

I/MM01010512		 Network Rail failed to effectively control the risk from road rail excavators when working under live overhead line equipment (OLE) which may inadvertently make contact with the OLE, causing danger to their employees and other workers nearby. 1 May 2012 28 Feb 2014 Open
Network Rail Infrastructure Limited

I/303893550		 The Improvement notice was issued as a result of Network Rail Infrastructure Limited’s failure to have in place suitable procedures to ensure that work carried out on DC electric traction feeder cables are undertaken without causing danger to their staff. This was following an incident that occurred on 10 February 2012 when Network Rail workers were replacing/repairing feeder cables (DC electric traction) within the NR Wessex (Eastleigh) Delivery Unit. 29 Mar 2012 31 Oct 2012 Open
Harsco Rail Limited

I/UASTBW07022012HR		 The Improvement Notice was served, following weekend inspection work on 28-29 January 2012 at Watford South Junction where stoneblowing work was taking place. The inspection highlighted that effective measures had not been taken to prevent operators accessing the work heads and other moving parts (danger zone) of the stone blower when in operation. 10 Feb 2012 30 Apr 2012 Open
Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway Company (1983) Limited

I/4272418/2		 The Improvement Notice was served against Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway Company (1983) Limited relating to an investigation into an incident that occurred on 13 November 2011 in which a runaway locomotive collided with a stabled train and a derailment occurred at Furnace Sidings, Blaenavon.
The Improvement notice was issued due to their failure to have in place a suitable and sufficient Competence Management System.		 31 Jan 2012 5 Apr 2012 Complied
Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway Company (1983) Limited

I/4272418/1		 The Improvement Notice was served against Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway Company (1983) Limited relating to an investigation into an incident that occurred on 13 November 2011 in which a runaway locomotive collided with a stabled train and a derailment occurred at Furnace Sidings, Blaenavon.
Then notice was served as they failed to have in place suitable and sufficient Traction and Rolling Stock Inspection and Maintenance arrangements for their Diesel Traction, Carriage and Wagon Departments to enable them to be maintained in a safe working order.
31 Jan 2012 5 Apr 2012 Complied

Last updated: May 2013

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