Reasons Why?
Although safety is continually improving,
accidents are still being recorded. The TAS is designed as a tool for
track workers and lookouts. It adds an additional layer of protection by
providing longer warning times as well as audible and visual alarms.
Maintenance of rail infrastructure is crucial for the smooth running of
the rail system and the maintenance work often needs to be done without
complete closure of the tracks.
This may mean that workers are required to work
on live lines or work adjacent to live lines. The frequency of the
trains increases which requires more track maintenance but limits the
potential for exclusive track occupancy by track workers. The track
workers maintaining the rail corridor are hence faced with an increased
danger of being struck by trains. The track maintenance work in the rail
corridor is considered as one of the most hazardous jobs in the
industry.
The rules and regulations for the track
working procedures have been revised and improved based on
analysis of the causes of fatalities that occurred in the past two
decades, resulting in a significant decrease in track worker fatalities.
However, accidents and fatalities still occur at worksites and track
worker safety is still a major concern for the rail industry. Potential
contributing factors listed are knowledge and experience, fatigue, time
pressure, distraction, noise, poor visibility, social norms and lack of
coordination between different groups.
Although safety is continually improving, accidents are still being recorded.
The TAS is designed as a tool for track workers and
lookouts. It adds an additional layer of protection by providing longer
warning times as well as audible and visual alarms.
Maintenance of rail infrastructure is crucial for the
smooth running of the rail system and the maintenance work often needs
to be done without complete closure of the tracks. This may mean that
workers are required to work on live lines or work adjacent to live
lines. The frequency of the trains increases which requires more track
maintenance but limits the potential for exclusive track occupancy by
track workers. The track workers maintaining the rail corridor are hence
faced with an increased danger of being struck by trains. The track
maintenance work in the rail corridor is considered as one of the most
hazardous jobs in the industry.
The rules and regulations for
the track working procedures have been revised and improved
based on analysis of the causes of fatalities that occurred in the past
two decades, resulting in a significant decrease in track worker
fatalities. However, accidents and fatalities still occur at worksites
and track worker safety is still a major concern for the rail industry.
Potential contributing factors listed are knowledge and
experience, fatigue, time pressure, distraction, noise, poor
visibility, social norms and lack of coordination between different
groups.