Media centre

Wednesday 11 Jan 2006

RAIL ‘HORROR FILM’ RELEASED IN NEW SAFETY DRIVE

Region & Route:

National

A hard-hitting film showing the harrowing consequences of poor trackside safety has been launched today, by Network Rail. The film will be distributed via DVD to every team of track workers in the country to remind them of the safety consequences of their actions. The three-minute presentation, ‘Hit or Miss’ is deliberately short and even shocking in its content to ensure it gets the message across to Network Rail’s 15,000-strong trackside workforce. In the film a worker takes a call on his mobile phone whilst working on the track. The resulting harrowing sequence is seen from his, his team’s and a train driver’s perspective. The presentation is accompanied by a safety quiz which is completed before the showing of the film. Iain Coucher, Network Rail’s Deputy Chief Executive, commented: “There have been four accidents in the past year where trains have hit and killed track workers. This is four too many. These deaths are a stark reminder of the importance of being vigilant at all times when working on the railway. “Network Rail has a clear responsibility to reinforce this message. I would encourage everyone to see this DVD. Its launch will remind everyone employed on the railway of the importance of safe working at all times. It is not just the bereaved and injured who suffer – the effect on co-workers and drivers too can be catastrophic. No job is more important than your safety. We must all work together to help make such tragic accidents a thing of the past.” Network Rail has been rolling out an integrated safety campaign under the banner ‘Safety 365’ of which ‘Hit or Miss’ is a vital part. Other elements of the push on safety – which is for all the railway industry, not just Network Rail – include poster campaigns on issues such as hazards and walking and manual handling as well as a scheme to report the number and type of incidents across Network Rail. ‘Hit or Miss’ has been developed by Network Rail’s Marketing Services department in conjunction with The Edge, a leading corporate film producer.