NFIR of IndianRailwaymen Federation National

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IndianNationalTradeUnionCongress(INTUC) InternationalTransportWorkers'Federation(lTF) No.IV34lPt.1l

Dated:1310212014

The GeneralSecretariesof Affiliated Unions of NFIR DearBrother, Sub: Railway safety statement(ITF Circular No.036/RW04/2015).

dated9thFebruary,2015hasforwardedRailway ITF vide its circularNo.036/RW0412015 Safety statementwhich was adoptedat the Railway Workers' Section Conferenceheld in conjunctionwith the ITF Sofia Congressheld in August20l4.It hasbeenadvisedto makeuseof the statementby stressingthat TradeUnions may play a crucial role in promoting safetystandards unionsto at national,regionalandlntemationallevels.AccordinglyITF hasdesiredto encourage It has opportunities. other as at as well government promotethis policy at relevant forums with will assist also beenaAatd that inclusion of railway safetyin the ITF sectionwork programme joint unions in working with managementon safetytraining and investigationin establishing safetycommitteeandin developingsafetyculturethroughcollectivebargainingarrangements. dated9thFebruary2015alongwiththe copyof Copyof ITF's CircularNo.036RW0412015 draft statementfrom the ITF Railway Workers Sectionis enclosedfor adoptingthe sameto achievethe improvementin safetymeasure. Yours fraternallyn o.

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Encl: As above in Five Pases

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(Dr. M. Raghavaiah)''l GeneralSecretary

: RAILMAZDOR Telegram 22382, ,R\y.22283,22626,Fax:011'23744013,R1y' Ph.:011-2334{}305,650a7299 www.nfirindia.com : website [email protected], E-mail: [email protected]; ,EARLYDETECT|oNoFH|v/AIDS.PRoLoNGSQUALITYoFL|FE

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International TransportWorkers'Federation Federaci6n Internacional de tos Trabaiadores deITransporte F6d6ration internationale des ouvriersdu transport Internationella Transportarbetarefederationen Internationule Transportarbeiter-Fiideration Mex4ytapograr QeAepaqHrrpaHcnoprH14KoB ' t:err- ,[i iF Llt ril ,q.iie fil$ll

All membersof the ITFRailway Workers, Section All membersof the lrF Railwayworkers'sectionsteeringcommittee

Circularno.036/Rw0 4/2015

MU/JM/rb

9 February 2015

Dearfriends, RailwaySafetyStatement TheattachedITFpolicypaperon railwaysafetywasadoptedat the RailwayWorkers'Section Conference heldin conjunctionwith the ITFSofiaCongress in August2Ot4.ltwasbasedon the surveyof affiliatesanddiscussions at relevantSectionmeetings, includingits SteeringCommittee meetingin 201'4priorto the Congress. We alsosentseveralcirculars for you to commenton our draft text priorto the Congress. Our nextstepisto makeuseof the statementby stressing that tradeunionsplaya crucialrolein promotingsafetystandards at national,regionaland international levels.In Morocco,our railway unionUMTtogetherwith our railaffiliates in Tunisia andAlgeriabroughtthispolicypaperto the attentionof railwaycompanyONCFat an ITFseminarin November2ot4.Theydiscussed how railway safetyrelatesto unionwork, includingthe improvement of workingconditionsfor railwayworkers, andagreedin principle that they needa joint programme to promoterailsafety.InJuly20j.4,this paperwasalsointroduced anddiscussed at the ITF/ILO meetingfor railwayunionsin the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) region. We wouldliketo encourage your unionto promotethis policypaperat relevantforumswith your members, with management andwith government, aswellasat otheropportunities. We believe that inclusion of railwaysafetyin the ITF'sSection workprogramme will assistunionsin workingwith management on safetytrainingandinvestigation, joint safetycommittees in establishing andin developi ng safetyculture th roughcollectivebargainingagreements. Please let us knowyourprogress andoutcomes. We wouldalsobe keento hearfrom youwhether anyfurtherdiscussion is neededbetweenthe ITFand its affiliatesto furtherimproveand updatethis policyandfor what purpose.Our nextSectionSteeringCommitteemeetingis set in March20j.5for anyfeedback to be reflected duringCiscussion.

PresidentPaddyCrumlinGenera[ Secretary Stephen Cotton f-m*il t:liii-A r l f . * r g . ; i r Wrl: y*,rryw.ilfgic blri.*rg

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Please do not hesitate to contactme shourdyou haveanyquestiors. yoursin solidarity " , ; ,; " : -

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MacUrata SectionSecretary ITFInlandTransportSections Encl:RailwaySafetyStatement

Railway Safety Draft statementfrom the ITFRailwayWorkers'Section to be one of the safestmodesof transport,therehave Despitethe fact that railwaysareconsidered in 2010which across the worldsincethe lastCongress of seriousrailwayaccidents beena numben in 2013.In includeBelgium ancjCanada havecometo the attentionof the lTF.Theexamples people in February 2012, and a further 3 peoplewere killed in a single incident Argentina were 51in May 2013andin July20L3, killedon the samelinein June2013.Two peoplewerekilledin Belgium in Canada, 78 killedin Spainand5 killedin an incidentin the south 50 werekilledor reportedmissing Altogether, the ITF in Sw;tzerland. In August,2O'J,3 a traindriverwaskilledin a trainaccident of Paris. to the unionsin thesecountriesto expressour sympathy.lt is haswrittenover40 messages that moreneedsto be done. unprecedented, andhasledusto believe the followingstatementin conjunction Forsuchreasons, the ITFRailwayWorkers'Sectionissues at of the ITFin Sofia.lt is basedon a surveyof affiliatedunions,discussions with the 43'dCongress (November 201211, and the decision of the Section Conference in Toronto the ITFRailwaySection (July2013)andEsher(June2014). Steering Committee meetings heldin Brussels Why safetyis important Section.Foryears Railwaysafetyhasalwaysbeenan importantpriorityfor the ITFRailway'Workers' 'Saf::ty First'.Thisis about the sloganfor the ITFRailwayWorkers'SectionActionDayhasbeen and but alsoaboutsafetyfor passengers for our members, keeping the railways asa safeworkplace thereisalsoa hugepotentialfor damageanddeath. the publicin general. lf not managedproperly,

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Thedesignof the safetysystems systems Technical railwayworkercanmake.mistakes. eventhe best-trained Aswith everyprofession, Theprinciple mustbethat no a barrierto human-error. sothat theyconstitute shouldbe designed Thehigherthe trafficdensityandspeedof the train, singlehumanerroris ableto causean accident. handle'onboardthe systems mustbe.The'deadmern's support the technical the moreadvanced is well known.In a modern locomotive, stoppingthe train if the driverbecomesincapacitated, including speed trainprotectiofisystems, with automatic thismustbe supplemented environment More speeding. andfrom dang€rous warningsignals the trainfrom passing controlpreventing doesnot meanthat traininglevelsbe.rreduced. barriersystems advanced technical

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mostly Thetrain networksare groruingand becomingmorecomplexbut the ideasof restructuring job certain outsourcing cuts and operations, stations single driver introducing implycostsavings staff. services to non-professional is equallyimportantto ensuresafetybutfar too oftenwe of the infrastructure Propermaintenance and introductionof automated of the intervalsbetweeninspections lengthening seestaffreductions, out by trained carrieC to properinspections systems with poorerquality asa substitute inspection put pressure on politicians, employeesin orderto savemoney.lt is importantthattradeunions in the andbudgetholderswho cangrantmoneyfor newsafety-relatedinvestments decision-makers infrastructu re.

A collisionbetweena train andanothervehicle,for $ Specialattentionmustbe givento levelcrossings. I instance,usuallyhasfatalconsequences. All levelcrossings, wherethere is potentialfor collisions,

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I shouldbe equipped with automaticbarriers andotherpreventive equipment, to limitspeedor stop roadvehicles from crossing the trackwhena train,isapproaching t

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Thehumanfactor Workersmustbe ableto safelyoperatethe railwaysystem.Thetrainingmustbe thorough,with enoughtimeto learnboththeoryandpractice. lt is especially importantto allownewcomers to the industrytime to gaina certainlevelof practicalexperience beforethey aregivenfull responsibility for safetyrelatedtasks.Trainingand competence shouldbe provedby officialcertification systems.

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Socialconditions, especially workingtime legalregulations and Collective Bargaining Agreements are veryimportantstandards. Forworkersto stayvigilant,the lengthof dayand nightshiftsmustbe properlyregulated, drivingtime mustbe limited,andthe lengthsof breaks,dailyrestand protection against violence mustbe guaranteed, asmustpropernoiselevels, temperature andworkplace ergonomics. At the sametime goodregulations areof littlevalueif theyarenot implemented. Far too oftenwe seeemployersputtingpressureon the workersto work overtimeandto bendthe regulations whentherearetrain delays.Safetymustcomebeforebeingon time. Safetycannotbe compromised evenwhenit comesto bullettrainsbecause anysmalltechnical defector lrumanerror canleadto massive casualties. procedures, Training procedures workingtime regulations andenforcement shouldall be important partsof the railwayworkers'Collective Bargaining Agreements. Therightof eachindividualworkerto refuseto carryout dangerous or unsafework is enshrinedin ILOconvention 155Article13:

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"A workerwho hasremovedhimselffrom a work situationwhichhe hasreasonable justification to believepresents an imminentandseriousdangerto hislifeor healthsharlbe protected from undue consequences in accordance with nationalconditions andpractice". Sixty-twocountriesratifiedthis conventionandthis rightis implementedin nationallaborprotection laws.Thisrightisfundamental to railwayworkers.lf a situation is considered aspotentially dangerous, the work(trains)shouldbe stoppedwithoutthe workersbeingdisciplined. Onthe contrary,in our viewthey shouldbe rewarded.Evenif thisspecificILOconventionis not ratified,it setsaninternational standard for workersworldwideandshouldbe respected, How railwaysafetycan be maintainedand improved Railway safetyis abouttechnical equipment andthe interaction with hu,rranbeings. Everychinge that isdoneon the technical side,or in the organization of workor comfianies, shouldhavea focus to improvesafety.Thisshouldbe provenby riskassessments with meanirrgful unioninvolvement. Riskassessments shouldbe transparent andthe tradeunionsshouldhavethe rightto consult independent expertsat the costof the companies.

A systemfor recordingincidentsor nearmissesthat couldhaveledto dangerous situationsmustbe established. Thesafetyculturemustencourage individuals to reportsituations, evenif the individual reportingis involvedin the situation.Railwaycompanies shouldestablishsafetymanagements systemsclearlysettingout how the work isto be safelycarriedout. Involvement and participation of workersand unionsis a crucialpart of both anymeaningful incidentreportingsystemand safety management system"Safetymanagement systemsshouldbe openandtransparent, upholding 'whistleblowing' principles of and'no blameculture'. It is alsoimportantthat independent safetyregulatoryand investigative authoritiesare established. Theymustbe independent from infrastructure managers andrailwaycompanies andbe responsible for approvalof the safetymanagement systemsof companies, carryout inspections to monitorthat the dayto dayoperationsare conductedin a safewayand havethe authorityto stopthe railway operations in the caseof seriousobservedsafetybreaches or non compliances. Speciallinksshould be established from unionsto the safetyauthorities to enablethe free reportingof safetyconcerns. Safetyauthoritiesshouldnot be involvedin activitiesrelatedto the development and promotionof openmarketconditions. Also,safetyauthorities mustpublish the resultsof compliance audits. In somecountries, tradeunionshavetakenthe initiativeto establishsafetycommittees, in many casesjointlywith management, at companylevelto discuss safetymattersand in thiswaytry to establish a commonunderstanding with the management on how to dealwith safetyrelatedissues. Whistle-blowers problems exposing and expressing safetyconcernsmustnot be punishedfor their actions.Workersare on the groundandthey arethe firstto seeproblems.

In caseof accidents Everycountryshouldhavean independent accidentinvestigation body. lt is especially important that it is independent from the criminalinvestigation system.Theaccidentinvestigation bodyshould alsoinvestigate incidentsthat mightleadto seriousacciderits. Thepurposeof the investigation shouldbe to findthe rootcauseof the accident andgo beyondmistakes madeby individuals in other wordstheyshouldnot apportionblame.Theimportantthingisto identifywhy the accident was allowedto happenand why it wasnot prevented. Thisis aboutestablishing a just andfair cultureto avoidfutureaccidents. TheITFalsostronglyopposesthe 'my handsare clean'culture,where management excusethemselves on the basisof actingaccording to proceduresif the accident happened, it is proofthe procedures were inadequate. Thetra{e unionsshouldbe involvedin the accident investigation andshouldhaveunlimitedaccess to the resultsand detailsof the investigation. Safetyvs profits

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policiesare a hugehindranceto the development Neo-liberal of a soundsafety.ultrr". Safetycosts money.Whenthe huntfor profitisthe maindrivingforcebehindthe runningof a railwaycompany,

the workersandthe usersof the railwayfaceseveralchallenges in keepingsafe.Understaffing, reducedtime for trainingand increased stressat work areall problemstradeuniiffil6?eal

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Thestructuralchanges withinthe railwaysare alsoproblematic for railwaysafety.Thesplittingup of companies andthe widespread useof outsourcing andworkforceagencies makesthe linesof responsibility unclear.Experience andtraininglevetsareoften low,sincemanyof thesecompanies performingrailwayservices often havetheir mainoperationsin othersectors.Railwaycompanies operatewith their own speciallydesigned safetyprocedures, whichcanleadto misunderstandings andconfusionamongworkersshiftingjobs.At the sametime, in manycountries,the safety authorities are assigned tasksas an authoritytoenforcecompetitionandto openthe market.This shiftsthe focusawayfrom safety. Therole of unionsin guaranteeing safety Therailwayworkers'tradeunionsarethe strongestguarantee for upholdingand developing a high levelof railwaysafety.ln thiswork we shouldseekalliances with othersupportiveforcesin civil society,for instancepoliticalpartiessympathetic to the situationin the iailwaysector,and passenger organizations. Tradeunionsmustplayan activerole in maintaining andimprovingoperationalsafetylevels.The Collective Bargaining Agreements musthavestrongsafetyrelatedprovisions for issuessuchas workingtime regulations, professional training,work placestandards and procedures for active participation in the safetywork of the company.Healthandsafetyissuesmustbe an integratedpart of tradeunionwork asa whole,and havethe supportof the tradeunionleadership. Internationaltrade union cooperationfor raitwaysafetymust be stronger International cooperationbetweenthe railwayworkers'unionsis becomingmoreand more important.Theliberalization and privatization policiespursuedby manygovernments aregeneral, globaltrends.Governments learnfrom eachotherandimportsolutions. Tradeunionsalsowork togetherand learnfrom eachother,but cooperation mustbe evenstronger.We havethe tools,the nationaltradeunions,the regionalcooperation andthe railwaysectionof the lTF. Tradeunionsolidarityfor a saferailwaysysteml