C2/​2000R Train crew mem­ber in­jured in shunt­ing work at Kokkola, on 6 March, 2000

06.03.2000

On Monday 6 March 2000, a train crew member was injured while performing shunting work on Vaara railway yard at Kokkola. In a braking situation the worker’s hand up to the thumb stuck between a bundle of balks and the end beam. As a result of the accident the train crew member was put on sick leave for several months.

The accident was caused by an unbound bundle of Egyptian balks lying on frozen bottom blocks, starting to move out in a braking situation and bumping against the end. Because of heavy snowfall the high snow clearance bank close to the track started to hit the worker’s feet and therefore he climbed from the left end step to the wagon corner. With his right hand he clung to the handle and with his left hand to the end beam, from the load-space side.

In order to prevent corresponding accidents, the Accident Investigation Board of Finland recommends that a provision be added to the Train Safety Regulation (Junaturvallisuussääntö Jt) requiring a checking of the tying of the load in case fly shunting movements are performed in shunting work. Otherwise all necessary precautions should be followed in the moving of wagons.

Recommendation S151