[miningmx.com] — SAFETY standards in the South African rail transport industry are rapidly declining, with more than 1,000 injuries recorded in the first half of 2011, trade union Solidarity said on Monday.
“There were 1,376 injuries in the first half of 2011,” Solidarity ‘s occupational health and safety division head Paul Mardon said in a statement.
“This total is only 556 injuries below the total number of injuries in 2008, one of the deadliest years in the history of the rail transport industry, when 434 fatalities and 1,932 injuries were recorded,” he said.
Mardon said accidents were often caused by human error: safety signals and speed limits were frequently disobeyed, and train drivers were inexperienced or incompetent.
The number of injuries was an indication that although the government encouraged South Africans to use public transport, it was no longer viable and safe, he said. Solidarity had demanded that Transnet send drivers on refresher courses and for competency tests, and regulate shifts to prevent accidents caused by fatigue.
It wanted safety measures reviewed and enforced by strict disciplinary measures; more visible and complete barriers at railway crossings; and stricter access control particularly in densely populated areas
It also wanted retired train drivers used for skills transfer and the re-establishment of a railway police force.
Transnet said it had noted the concerns would “work closely with all relevant parties to address the challenges we face in this regard”.
Mardon said millions of people relied on rail transport and their safety was important.
“Transnet has admitted that there are problems with respect to the competence and conduct of train drivers. These problems must receive immediate attention,” he said.
“What makes matters worse is that the regulators of railway safety are not always aware of what is happening on the railways.”
He said crime was negatively impacting rail infrastructure, with the theft of sleepers, rails and cables causing derailments and contributing to the malfunctioning of signals.
