Report 08/2020: Collision between mobile elevating work platforms at Rochford
Collision between mobile elevating work platforms, Rochford, Essex, 25 January 2020.
Summary
At around 10:57 hrs on Saturday 25 January 2020, a mobile elevating work platform (MEWP) collided with a stationary machine of the same type on which two people were installing overhead line equipment. They both suffered minor injuries. The machine operator in charge of the MEWP had lost focus while driving the machine, and was alerted by other members of staff shouting at him to stop. At that point the machine was travelling too fast to stop before striking the stationary MEWP. The machine operator had driven away from the machine controller, who was responsible for the MEWP’s movements, without permission, and drove the machine at around 10 mph (16 km/h), while using the on-board CCTV screen to view the route ahead. These actions were contrary to the applicable operating rules.
Other causal factors were ineffective supervision of the machine operator and confusion among staff about who was in charge of the safe movement of on-track plant on the site. Cultural factors on the site led to poor working relationships between machine operators and controllers and an excessive focus on ‘getting the job done’, rather than compliance with rules and operating standards. Network Rail’s assurance processes had not identified these issues.
Recommendations
RAIB has made five recommendations, each addressed to Network Rail. The first is to review and clarify the roles and responsibilities of staff working in possessions and work sites to avoid duplication of responsibilities and confusion arising between roles. The second recommendation is that Network Rail should undertake a review of the way that the Sentinel scheme is managed, in respect of incident investigations and how training providers and primary sponsors assess the English language skills of staff who undertake safety critical duties.
The third recommendation is addressed to Network Rail (Anglia), to review its reporting and response process for accidents and incidents, and the fourth recommendation seeks a review of the equipment currently used to alert staff to a dangerous situation within a possession or work site. The fifth recommendation is to commission an independent review of the internal culture and working practices of Network Rail’s Overhead Condition Renewals business unit. The investigation also identified five learning points.
Response to recommendations:
- RAIB will periodically update the status of recommendations as reported to us by the relevant safety authority or public body
- RAIB may add comment, particularly if we have concerns regarding these responses.