Railway Industry Focus – Risk Assessments

For employees or sub-contractors, working trackside on the railway can be a very dangerous environment. The most obvious risk is being struck or involved in a near miss with a train. Employers will also use heavy machinery on a regular basis which can result in a significant injury or prove fatal if used incorrectly.

BLM has dealt with personal injury claims within the rail sector ranging from spinal injuries caused by lifting heavy equipment to limbs being trapped when using a D75 track loader, which is similar to a JCB digger.  To avoid or reduce the risk of such accidents occurring it is imperative the task is planned correctly and part of that planning should involve assessing the risk of injury.