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The RAIB is investigating an accident to an infrastructure worker who was struck a glancing blow by a train as he walked close to the track near to Poole station in Dorset.

At around 10:30 hrs on Friday 12 July 2013, an employee of MGB Engineering Ltd (part of a team working on a signalling contract for Network Rail Infrastructure Projects) was working on equipment in a lineside cabinet approximately 380 metres the London side of Poole station. He left the site to collect some equipment needed for the work in hand and had commenced walking on his own towards Poole station alongside the up line when he was struck from behind by a step on the leading coach of a train running from Bournemouth to Poole.

Train 5B17, a five-car Class 444 unit operated by South West Trains with no passengers on board, had approached the area on the down line, but crossed to the up line shortly after passing the lineside cabinet where the individual had originally been working, and struck him soon afterwards. See image below. The infrastructure worker suffered minor injuries in the accident.
 
(http://www.raib.gov.uk/cms_resources/Poole.jpg)
Image of accident site. Train 5B17 was approaching from Bournemouth and travelling towards Poole station which is approximately 250 metres from where the accident occurred.

The RAIB^s investigation will examine:
- the sequence of events leading up to the accident;
- the actions of the infrastructure worker and the driver of train 5B17; and
- the planning of the safe system of work, how it was briefed by the Controller of Site Safety, and the extent to which all parties were aware that bidirectional working was permitted over the short section of the up line where the accident occurred.

The RAIB^s investigation is independent of any investigation by the Office of Rail Regulation.

The RAIB will publish its findings, including any recommendations to improve safety, at the conclusion of its investigation. This report will be available on the RAIB website.

Learning points

19 The RAIB has identified the following key learning points:

For staff working on or near the track
- The need to be vigilant at all times when walking or working close to the line.
- The importance of using authorised access points to get on or off the railway, and thus minimising the distance people need to walk alongside the line (Rule Book, Handbook 1, section 3.1).

For train drivers
- The need to sound the train^s horn as it approaches each group or individual, unless it is clear that all people on or near the line are aware of the train^s approach (Rule Book, module TW1, section 10.2).

For infrastructure managers
- The importance of controlling vegetation close to the track which may obstruct the safe walking route along the cess.