Shunter under rake of wagons
Working in marshalling yards, on track complexes and railway tracks where trains travel or are shunted, is very hazardous. Industrial accidents of this kind rarely receive public attention. The absolute number of accidents is low, but the number of individuals carrying out the work is itself also limited. If we determine the number of accidents per ten thousand employees, it emerges that working on the track, i.e. the work of shunters and radio-controlled train drivers, is the most hazardous job category in the country.On 20 August 1999, a serious accident occurred at the Waalhaven marshalling yard in Rotterdam. In this accident, one shunter was severely injured. The seriousness of the accident and the high risk for this category of employee led the Board to take the decision to investigate the accident. The TRIPOD method was employed. This investigation method was developed by the Universities of Leiden and Manchester, on behalf of a major petrochemical company. This method is focused on manageable factors. The subject of the investigation was above all specific action aimed at preventing accidents in the future.
Shunter under rake of wagons
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