RMT fights for vital underground safety rules

The RMT rail union is stepping up its campaign to defend fire safety regulations on underground railways.

The Section 12 regulations, brought in after the King's Cross fire in 1987, amended the Fire Precautions Act 1971. This Act was repealed when the new Fire Safety Order was introduced in October, but union pressure led the government to agree that the Section 12 regulations could continue until April 2007.

The regulations stipulate minimum staffing levels, means of detecting and warning of fires, means of escape and firefighting, standards of construction and training and various other precautions that are not specified in the Fire Safety Order.

John McDonnell MP has tabled a House of Commons Early Day Motion, calling on the government to retain the regulations.

RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: "It is hugely disturbing that, less than two decades after Kings Cross and with the July 7 bombings still fresh in our minds, it remains possible that the strict minimum safety standards could be removed."