NSW, Senseless loss - Coroner slams rail deaths
Chris D
BY JACQUELINE VAN AANHOLT AND THE SINGLETON ARGUS
TMW, 17/03/2009 8:44:00 AM
A TAMWORTH railway worker died because nobody knew he and his mate were
working on the line, a coroner has found.
John Patrick Turner, 49, of Tamworth and Geoffrey John Johnson, 48, of Greta
had been working on a stretch of line just 500 metres from Singleton Railway
Station at 6am on July 16, 2007, when they were struck down by an unladen
coal train.
The driver of the train had not been told workmen were even in the area.
Coroner Stephen Jackson was scathing in his criticism of the Australian Rail
Track Corporation's communication system, when he handed down his findings
at the inquest into the deaths.
"It is unfortunate that it takes the death of two rail workers to bring
these matters to public scrutiny," he said.
The men would have been working in the dark at 6am in July.
Despite this, their presence was not flagged to the oncoming train because
they were operating under "no authority required" (NAR) worksite rules.
This appeared to raise an anomaly that the coroner wants rectified.
The inquest was told if a cow, for example, was found on the line this would
be reported to the network controller, who would then advise train crews.
Under the NAR system, the network controller was not required to tell train
crews of the presence of rail workers on the line, however.
While stopping short of requesting the abolition of the NAR method of
working, Mr Jackson said communications had to be improved.
Mr Turner and Mr Johnson had been working on a set of points that had
malfunctioned a short time before.
Mr Jackson said the NAR system should not be used during hours of darkness
or when visibility was affected by environmental factors.
He said at least two lookouts should be in place.
Mr Jackson said working hours also needed to be looked at.
He suggested fatigue - both on the part of the track workers and the train
crew - may have been a factor.
Mr Jackson suggested new rules to set maximum duty times with specified
mandatory off-duty periods be introduced.
Australian Rail Track Corporation chief executive officer David Marchant
said the final report would hopefully bring much-needed closure for the
families of the two men.
"While no words can alleviate the pain of such a loss, on behalf of ARTC I
would again like to extend my deepest sympathy to the families of the two
employees killed in this tragic accident," he said.
"I hope ... the coroner's inquest will provide some real closure for them."
Mr Marchant said the ARTC had already directed the NAR system not be used
after dark.
He said the ARTC would examine Mr Jackson's findings.
"The ARTC takes the coroner's findings very seriously and will examine them
thoroughly in the interests of maintaining the highest safety standards on
our rail corridors," Mr Marchant said.
At the time of going to press, the Rail, Bus and Trains Union had not
responded to a request for comment.