167. Supplementary memorandum
submitted by the Rail Safety and Standards Board
CONTROL OF RAILWAY TRACKWORKERS
When giving evidence to the Select Committee
considering the draft Corporate Manslaughter Bill last Monday,
I undertook to provide a written supplemental answer to the question
posed concerning the control of the competency of trackworkers.
Essentially, the attached report[1]
of the November 2004 checks undertaken by Network Rail confirms
my oral answer that in excess of 99% integrity is being achieved
through application of the Sentinel secure registration regime.
Indeed, this report demonstrates that 99.6% was found in the large
scale check of 2,307 track safety cards.
Network Rail have advised me that given the
very high levels of compliance identified in November 2004 and
at previous large scale national checks going back for three years,
the decision has been taken to devolve and adopt a more targeted
check regime. Network Rail has further advised me that they have
not detected any cases of actual or attempted fraud or other illegal
activity since the scheme started in 1999.
Clearly the adoption of the SENTINEL scheme
has been effective in causing employers and individuals not willing
to meet the required standards to withdraw from railway track
and other infrastructure work.
Please let me know if the Committee would like
further information.
November 2005
1 Report of weekend Sentinel card checks are available
at: www.sentinel.uk.net Back
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