Recommendation: USAN 006-02

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Ref # USAN 006-02
Status Open / In progress
Occurrence USAN 006 - Safety of Track Workers on or near the line
Occurrence Date 24 November 2025

Basis for Recommendation

The RAIU have found, that in three of the recent occurrences involving patrol gangers, the required sighting distances for the locations was not achievable; meaning that is not safe for patrol gangers to conduct track patrols; this information would be in the TAI.

The RAIU considers that IÉ-IM is not fully discharging its duties under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and the Railway Safety Act 2005. By accepting an avoidable level of risk in relation to track patrolling, failing to provide a place of work that is safe and without risk to health (including ensuring the safe access of staff to the railway line), and failing to adequately control and mitigate the known hazards associated with track patrolling, IÉ-IM has not reduced these risks to a level that is ALARP.

Recommendation

IÉ-IM should, with immediate effect, cease track patrolling, using TSCs working alone, in locations where the minimum sighting distances, set out in the IÉ Rule Book, cannot be met.

Where in the interim, track patrolling is required, alternative SSOWs should be introduced; however, supervisors and managers planning the SSOW should apply a risk control hierarchy (developed with consideration to the general principles of prevention), to ensure Red Zone working is the last choice.