Unions express anger at rail safety switch

Unions have warned that rail safety could suffer when the government switches responsibility from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to the Office of the Rail Regulator.

The proposal was made in the Rail White Paper published in July. It flies in the face of recommendations made by safety campaigners and by rail disaster enquiries, such as the Cullen Inquiry into the Ladbroke Grove train crash.

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: "The Government's decision to snatch safety responsibilities from the HSE is not a sensible one. We have grave reservations about giving rail safety to the Office for the Rail Regulator. Financial and safety regulation do not mix."

HSE union Prospect described the move as "disastrous". On behalf of staff in HM Railways Inspectorate (HMRI), Prospect general secretary Paul Noon slammed the decision: "If safety regulation becomes part of the body that makes decisions about funding or economic regulation, there is a real risk safety will be compromised."