SOUTH EASTERN RAILWAY

CEs CIRCULAR No.239

Sub: Safety Precautions at work-site in proximity to
running track.

Several incidents have occurred wherein contractors lorry while
working very close to the Railway line have infringed the moving
dimensions resulting into train accidents. Some accidents also took
place due to infringement left at work-site after closure of the work
such as repair in tunnels, Complete Track Renewals etc. Instructions
have been issued vide Railway Boards letter No. 98/CE-
II/PRA/63/CRS Dated 19.11.98 (Annexure-I), 98/CE/CT/15 Dated
13.08.98 (Annexure-II), 99/CE-II/PRA/32 Dated 20.04.2000
(Annexure-III), 2000/CE-II/PRA/12 Dated 16.05.2002 (Annexure-IV)
and CE/SERs Circular No.214 (Annexure-V) to take adequate
precautions so as to ensure that the Road vehicles do not come very
close to the Railway line and all works are executed under proper
safety cover.

Following instructions are issued in this regard:-

1. All permissible or sanctioned infringements should be
consolidated for each Division, Section wise. The
consolidated list should be in possession of DRM, ADRM,
Sr.DSO or DSO, Construction officers in-charge of the
Division and relevant extract with each Divisional and other
officers. These should be checked once a year at Assistant
officers level and it should be ensured that there is no
aggravation of any permitted infringement.
2. All works planned for execution close to the running lines
and fixed structures, on bridges, inside tunnels, cutting,
constricted area etc. should be carried out only after
preparation of detailed plans for the same and getting
clearance from Engineering Department of open line and
approval of competent authority to ensure that the execution
of the work will not in any way infringe the prescribed
schedule of dimension or aggravate existing permissible
infringement.
3. Special Training and Counselling should be imparted to all
Field staff engaged in maintenance of railway assets
regarding the Safety at work site and all of them should be in
possession of a Compendium prepared in the same format
as Engineering Standing order No.16 (Annexure-VI) issued
by the Railway Board in August,1999.
4. Similar training should be organised for railways Associates
and Contractors working in close proximity of the running
track as directed by the Railway Board in their letter
No.99/CE-II/PRA/32 of 20.04.2000.
5. All the works inside a tunnel, deep cutting, on bridges,
constricted area etc. should be carried out in accordance to
the provision on Chapter VIII of IRPWM (Annexure-VII) and
Para 1009 of Bridge Manual 1998 (Annexure-VIII) and
preferably under block protection.
6. Work should not be allowed to progress without prior
approval of the Engineer-in-charge in case of movement of
vehicle close to track is involved. Area of work and the area
where track are allowed to ply, should be demarcated on the
Plan and get the same acknowledged by the Contractor.
7. Machines and vehicles should ply 6m clear of the track. In
case movement at less than 6m up to maximum 3.5m clear
of the track is inescapable, it should be permitted in
presence of Railway Representative, not below the rank of
works Mistry/P.Way Mistry authorised by the Engineer-in-
charge who will be posted with hand signal flag to ensure
that lorries do not infringe the Standard Dimensions at any
time and to protect the track in case of any emergency.
8. The area of work should be demarcated by providing
loarricades and Sign Boards, which will enable the work-men
posted at site and also the lorry drives to have clear guide
lines of the movement on vehicles.
9. Movements of lorries near the track should be prohibited
during night. In case it is unavoidable, adequate protective
measures including lighting must be ensured.
10. In one block section, lorries should be permitted to work at
not more than two locations at a time.
11. Where tunings of lorries are found necessary in course of
work, locations for reversing for the purpose of turning
should be nominated and should be selected in such a way
that there is no dangers to the running train. At such
locations, a Railway official not below the rank of Works
Mistry/P-Way Mistry should be available wih Hand Signal
Flaf to ensure that the lorries do not infringe the Standard
Dimension for the running lines. Sufficiently strong stoppers
or rail barricades should be installed at such locations
wherever required to ensure that even by carelessness or
oversight the lorries do not infringe the fixed dimensions.
Wherever lorries have to take turn, the reversing should be
done in such a way the driver invariably faces the running
lines at all time.
12. Driver of the train must be served with caution order to
lookout for any obstruction at the place of work and be
prepared to apply brakes if any danger is apprehended.
13. Arrangement should be made to protect the track in case of
emergency at work site.
14. Engineering Supervisors and Contractors representative
should ensure the clearance of total infringements before
they leave the work site.

Wherever there is a likelihood of Contractors road vehicle
plying on the railway land next to running line or yard, certain clauses
attached herewith, as (Annexure-IX) should be incorporated in the
Special Conditions of Contract.


Encl:

1. Annexure-I: Railway Boards letter No.98/CE-II/PRA/63/CRS Dated 19.11.98.
2. Annexure-II: Railway Boards letter No.98/CE/CT/15 Dated 13.08.98
3. Annexure-III: Railway Boards letter No.99/CE-II/PRA/32 Dated 20.04.2000
4. Annexure-IV: Railway Boards letter No.2000/CE-II/PRA/12 Dated 16.05.2002
5. Annexure-V : Chief Engineer/S.E.Railways Circular No.214.
6. Annexure-VI: Rly. Boards Engineering Standing Order No.16
7. Annexure-VII: Chapter VIII of IRPWM
8. Annexure-VIII: Para 1009 of Bridge Manual 1998.
9. Annexure-IX: Special Conditions of Contract.



Sd/-
(A.K.Ganguly)
Chief Track Engineer

No. TC/TR-MAINT/POLY/Pt.IIIA/1295 Dated: 24.06.2002