SSW JSC(09)3rd

Draft Minutes 09/28 – 09/45

Stagecoach South Western Trains Limited

DRAFT Minutes of a meeting of Joint Safety Committee
held on Wednesday 23 September 2009 at Friars Bridge Court

present: Stewart Palmer Managing Director (chairman)

Andy Pitt Designate Managing Director
Jan Chaudhry Operations Director
Christian Roth Engineering Director
Ian Johnston Customer Services Director
Andrew Welsby Human Resources Director
Brian Cook Head of Safety and Environment
Keith Usher Acting Head of Operational Standards
Barbara Davenport Head of Employee Wellbeing
Graham Morris District Organiser (ASLE&F)
Martin Dye Company Council Representative (ASLE&F)
Dave Gunningham Drivers Health and Safety Representative (ASLE&F)
Alan Martin Health and Safety Representative, Island Line
Peter Gale Regional Organiser (RMT)
Rickey Goodman Company Council Representative (RMT)
Bill Read Drivers Health and Safety Representative (RMT)
Malcolm Campbell Health and Safety Representative (RMT)
Iain Anderson Divisional Secretary (TSSA)
John Walsh Health and Safety Representative (TSSA)
Andrew Edwards Legislation and Standards Manager (secretary)

Apologies for absence were received from:

Mick Pollek Regional Industrial Organiser, Unite the Union

Item
JSC 09/28 The Chairman welcomed Committee members. The Committee noted the
minutes of the last meeting, held on 10 June 2008.

JSC 09/29 The Committee reviewed the items on the actions tracking log. Any actions
carried forward have been recorded on the log, which is appended to these
minutes.

JSC 09/30 The Legislation and Standards Manager gave a presentation to Committee
members on South West Trains’ and Island Line’s safety performance for
Periods 2, 3, 4 and 5 2009/10.

30.01 Performance Indicators

The Committee noted the improving trend in the performance
indicators, which continues to be positive, compared with the TOC
average.

(continued…)

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JSC 09/30 Safety Performance (continued)

30.02 Door Operating Irregularities

The Committee noted that there continues to be a number of door
operating irregularities each period despite the numerous actions that
have been taken to reduce the number since the Desiros were
introduced. The Committee accepted that there will be an underlying
level of human error associated with this task. The Committee noted
that the company have included provision for a technological solution
to the problem as part of the HLOS funding proposal for the 10-car
railway.

30.03 Staff Assaults

The Committee noted that the number of physical assaults and cases
of verbal abuse / threat appear to be at a consistent level. The
Drivers’ Health and Safety Representative (RMT) asked if we could
investigate the number of these incidents where the member of the
public is under the influence of alcohol. The Head of Safety and
Environment agreed to investigate whether there is a connection and
to report back to the Committee.
ACTION (2009-11): Head of Safety and Environment

30.04 Wording of Safety and Environmental Performance Report

The Company Council Representative (ASLE&F) expressed his
concerns about some of the wording of the commentary into the
circumstances of the SPAD at WK126 signal. The Acting Head of
Operational Standards explained the reasons for the current wording,
but agreed to consider the issues raised for future reports.

JSC 09/31 The Committee noted that there were no significant issues affecting South West
Trains or Island Line from recent issues of the CIRAS journal.

JSC 09/32 The Company Council Representative (ASLE&F) raised the issue of cab-
cooling on the 455 fleet and gave an example of a date when drivers had
raised the issue of 455 units remaining in service when air-conditioned Desiro
stock was stabled in Clapham yard. The Operations Director advised that stock
changeovers had been made on at least two occasions during the summer but
that various operational issues had made this more difficult than originally
anticipated. The Chairman advised that we are still putting pressure on
Porterbrook to rentalise the cost of the modification to the 455 fleet over the
lifetime of the units but Porterbrook remain unwilling to do this.

(continued…)

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JSC 09/32 Class 455 cab-cooling (continued)

The District Organiser (ASLE&F) advised that because of the length of time this
issue has been ongoing, it will not be acceptable to be in the same position
next summer and asked that the company enter into early discussions with
ASLEF about a temporary stock plan for Summer 2010 as well as pursuing
resolution of the issue of funding for the modification to the Class 455 fleet with
Porterbrook.
ACTION (2009-12): Operations Director

JSC 09/33 The Head of Employee Wellbeing briefed the Committee on the findings of the
trial into the new method of carrying out screening for drugs. The Head of
Employee Wellbeing advised that the trial had been successful and that the
screening results for the new system matched those of the existing method of
screening.

The Committee agreed that the new method of screening should be used in
future for all for-cause and random screening.

JSC 09/34 The Head of Employee Wellbeing gave an update on swine-flu affecting
South West Trains and Island Line Trains employees. There have been 58
cases during the summer with the peak being experienced in July. The NHS is
advising that numbers are expected to increase again in the autumn, although
most of the cases are expected to coincide with the new school term. The Head
of Employee Wellbeing advised that South West Trains and Island Line Trains
will follow the government advice on the level of precautions that are
appropriate and confirmed that we have contingency arrangements in place in
case we need to introduce further control measures.

JSC 09/35 The Regional Organiser (RMT) advised the Committee that there is some
confusion in the working time limits operated by the company for
non safety critical employees. The Human Resources Director and
Customer Service Director advised that there have been no changes in the
working time limits since the Safety and Health Manual was last revised and
set out the working time limits in Paper A. The Health and Safety Representative
(RMT) advised that some managers and roster clerks are unaware of the limits.
The Head of Safety and Environment agreed to publish the limits within the
Safety and Health Manual procedure.
ACTION (2009-13): Head of Safety & Environment

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JSC 09/36 The Company Council Representative (RMT)advised the Committee that there is
an issue with the positioning of the Oyster machine within the ticket
office at Wimbledon. The Company Council Representative (RMT) confirmed
that the issue had been raised locally but could not be resolved satisfactorily.
The Customer Service Director agreed to look into the matter and to respond
directly to the Company Council Representative (RMT).
ACTION (2009-14): Customer Service Director

JSC 09/37 The Legislation and Standards Manager advised the Committee of a proposal
to carry out another safety culture survey as described in Paper B. The
Committee accepted the proposal.

JSC 09/38 The Head of Safety and Environment advised the Committee of the launch of a
safety publications database for use by managers and health and safety
representatives.

JSC 09/39 The Regional Organiser (RMT) advised the Committee that Fleet Company
Council have raised an issue regarding the number of first aiders / appointed
persons proposed for one of the traincare depots. The Human Resources
Director and Head of Safety and Environment agreed to look into the issue and
to set out clearly the company’s position based on legal requirements and the
content of the Safety and Health Manual procedure.
ACTION (2009-15): Human Resources Director /
Head of Safety and Environment

JSC 09/40 The Regional Organiser (RMT) advised the Committee that one of the Area
Managers has indicated that 3 monthly health and safety walks will now be
carried out once a year. The Head of Safety and Environment agreed to look
into the matter and to ensure that health and safety walks continue to be
carried out in line with the company procedure.
ACTION (2009-16): Head of Safety and Environment

JSC 09/41 The Drivers Health and Safety Representative (RMT) asked for an update on
progress with the proposed Cycle to Work scheme. The Human Resources
Director advised that the scheme had been postponed whilst the organisational
changes affecting the Human Resources department had taken effect. The
Human Resources Director advised that he would look into reinvigorating the
scheme.

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JSC 09/42 The Company Council Representative (ASLE&F) raised an issue regarding train
drivers having to use the same bus as passengers for late night services that are
disrupted due to engineering work. The Company Council Representative
gave an example of Northam Drivers having to make a 2-hour bus journey on
a Saturday night during August.

The Chairman indicated that the normal principle in these circumstances is that
we will not provide taxi facilities for traincrew if we expect our passengers to
travel by bus, however the circumstances as set out are worthy of review. The
Chairman asked the Drivers Company Council representative to provide the
information to the Operations Director who agreed to raise the issue at his
team meeting and to review the guidelines for the provision of taxis in these
circumstances.
ACTION (2009-17): Drivers Company Council
Representative

ACTION (2009-18): Operations Director

JSC 09/43 The Company Council Representative (ASLE&F) raised an issue regarding the
general cleanliness of the SWT fleet at the moment, particularly Class
455 units. The Chairman advised that the recent drive to take cost out of the
business has undoubtedly had an effect on the general cleanliness of the fleet.
The company will work hard to maintain the right balance so that trains and
workplaces are maintained to an acceptable level.

JSC 09/44 Members of the Committee expressed thanks on behalf of their members for the
work that Mr Palmer has done to improve safety during his time on the railway,
in particular in his role as Managing Director of South West Trains and wished
him a happy retirement.

JSC 09/45 The date of the next meeting of Joint Safety Committee is Wednesday
16 December 2009 and will be held in the Beaulieu Room, Friars Bridge
Court starting at 13:00.

Please advise the Legislation and Standards Manager of any items for inclusion
on the agenda for this meeting by 5pm on Tuesday 1 December, including any
supporting papers.

Proposed meeting dates for 2010 will be circulated as soon as they are
available.

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