Attacks on rail staff are on the increase according to Health
and Safety Executive statistics.
The figures, which will not be officially released by the
HSE until September, show that attacks have increased by 21 per cent on the
previous year, from 379 to an estimated 460 incidents.
John Robinson, the new chairman of Railtrack, said that
employees were subject to more attacks after the Hatfield train crash last
year.
Addressing shareholders at the annual general meeting
chairman of Railtrack John Robinson paid tribute to his staff.
“I would like to thank our front line staff, who have faced
the brunt of our problems this year – be it working long hours, daily
engineering work in appalling weather or facing the wrath of passengers and
customers over our problems.”
He added that as a consequence of constant criticism morale
is low and that dealing with these issues has to be management’s key task.
A spokesperson for Railtrack said that the company has a
robust selection process to ensure that new recruits have the correct skills.
All front line staff take part in customer liaison and conflict avoidance
training and are regularly monitored and reviewed.
Railtrack employees also have access to independent
counselling organization Care First should they need any support.
By Katie Hawkins
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