Co Down company fined for major railway line repair breach

Northern Excavators Ltd, of Culcavy Road, Hillsborough, were found guilty of failing to remove an excavator bucket from the Belfast to Dublin railway line following an overnight operation for track rehabilitation works. This resulted in a six-carriage passenger train striking the bucket the following morning, fortunately with no significant injuries to passengers on board.

Breaches and fines for Northern Excavators Ltd are as follows:

a) Article 5(1) of the Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978, fine £4,000

b) Regulation 5(1) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulation (Northern Ireland) 2000, fine £4,000

plus court costs of £1,092.00.

Northern Excavators Ltd had been sub-contracted to carry out the work because of their expertise in working on railway lines. However they failed to have adequate safety precautions in place during this repair operation, which could have resulted in passengers being hurt or even killed.

HSENI Inspector Linda Murphy said: “This case highlights the dangers of railway maintenance with inadequate safe systems of working. Appropriate attention must therefore be given by those who work on such activities, to ensure that high standards of safety control are in place at all times.”