SHARED LEARNING – NRLN19-10 ON TRACK PLANT CONTACT WITH OVERHEAD LINE EQUIPMENT

Issued to: All Network Rail line managers, safety professionals and RISQS registered contractors

Ref: NRLN19-10 Date of issue: 13/06/2019 Location: National

In the first period of CP6 there were ten reported events of On Track Plant (OTP) contacting isolated and earthed Overhead Line Equipment (OLE).

Even when OLE is isolated and earthed, contact by OTP has the potential to cause serious damage and physical danger to people on site if broken components fall.

Damage may not be immediately visible, but the potential for failure once energised is greatly increased, impacting service performance later.

All instances of contact with OLE must be reported correctly.

Reducing the risk of OLE contact can be achieved by using the right plant with approved height limiters properly set and tested.

When an incident involving OTP contacting earthed and isolated OLE occurs, a Safety Related Event (SRE) report shall be completed.

Refer to NR/L2/ELP/27307 – Management of M&EE safety related event reports.

When an incident involving OTP contacting energised OLE occurs, this is RIDDOR reportable.

Section 12.2 – Planning says "where isolations are obtained, all works involving OTP shall be planned to maintain a safe distance from the OLE."