Train Doors (Hansard, 5 February 1992)

§ Mr. John Browne
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport to what extent British Rail has implemented the recommendations made early last year by Knight Wendling Consultants in the report of its investigations into BR slam-shut doors.

§ Mr. Freeman
The Knight Wendling report made seven recommendations calling for further action or investigation by the British Rail Board. I understand from British Rail that action has been taken as follows:

Recommendation 1 which called for a thorough statistical review has been acted upon and is nearing completion.

Recommendation 2 called for revised safety notices. New notices have been designed for Mark II and Mark III stock and the programme of installation is largely completed.

Recommendation 3 which called for a computer simulation, has been undertaken by the Health and Safety Executive in co-operation with the BR Board. The results of this will be published in the report of the: HSE investigation.

Recommendation 4 required BR to consider and evaluate various engineering steps to improve safety. Much work has been done on this already and further work is being undertaken.

Recommendation 5 which called for BR to undertake a thorough examination of all locks and doors has been fully implemented.

Recommendation 6 which required BR to provide a special gauge for checking locks has been implemented.

Recommendation 7 which called for a safety campaign has been implemented through the provision of posters at stations and spoken announcements on trains.

§ Mr. John Browne
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 27 January,Official Report, column 405, if he will ask the Health and Safety Executive to release their early findings on the reliability of slam-shut doors to enable British Rail to take urgent interim measures before the production of the final Health and Safety Executive report in the spring.
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§ Mr. Freeman
The Health and Safety Executive intends to publish its report on the investigation into the pattern of falls from train doors as soon as it is ready. In the meantime the executive is maintaining close liaison with British Rail about the investigation.

Recommendation 1	which called for a thorough statistical review has been acted upon and is nearing completion.
Recommendation 2	called for revised safety notices. New notices have been designed for Mark II and Mark III stock and the programme of installation is largely completed.
Recommendation 3	which called for a computer simulation, has been undertaken by the Health and Safety Executive in co-operation with the BR Board. The results of this will be published in the report of the: HSE investigation.
Recommendation 4	required BR to consider and evaluate various engineering steps to improve safety. Much work has been done on this already and further work is being undertaken.
Recommendation 5	which called for BR to undertake a thorough examination of all locks and doors has been fully implemented.
Recommendation 6	which required BR to provide a special gauge for checking locks has been implemented.
Recommendation 7	which called for a safety campaign has been implemented through the provision of posters at stations and spoken announcements on trains.