Leeds railway station staff 'fail to help' fall woman

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Leeds railway station staff 'fail to help' fall woman


The woman fell on one of the escalators, which run alongside the steps between platforms at Leeds station

A train operator is investigating a claim that its staff at Leeds railway station refused to help a woman who fell on an escalator because they were not "people handling-trained".

The incident was witnessed by commuter Tom Lees who described the worker's response as "shameful behaviour".

Mr Lees contacted the BBC after being given the explanation by station staff.

Northern Rail has apologised for the incident and said it was investigating the claim.

Mr Lees said the woman fell backwards after she lost her footing while travelling up an escalator connecting the platforms. He said: "Some passengers nearby quickly grabbed to help her and shouted to the staff who were stood down the bottom of the escalator about 20 yards away and they sort of refused to help. I went and spoke to them to ask them why they wouldn't help. They said they weren't allowed to get involved because they weren't 'people handling-trained'."

In a statement, a spokeswoman for Northern Rail said: "We report any accident directly to Network Rail so a qualified first aider can be alerted. We will be carrying out a full investigation and rebriefing our staff on customer support on the frontline."

The woman who fell on the escalator is not believed to have been injured.

[ChrisB]

Regardless of training, I would hope any staff could at least push the escalator emergency-stop button....

[Red Squirrel]

Just as long as they are escalator handling-trained...

[ChrisB]

Everyone knows how to push that button!

[phile]

"People Handling trained".   Where was this silly phrase dug up from as are many others from people who invent their own Health and Safety Rules.

[ChrisB]

Try the unions....

[ellendune]

"People Handling trained".   Where was this silly phrase dug up from as are many others from people who invent their own Health and Safety Rules.

Many nurses have severe back problems from handling people.  Adults are after all heavier than the 23 kg that one person is supposed to be able to carry safely. They are therefore regularly training in proper handling techniques.  So it is an issue. 

However, they should have been able to offer other support until someone properly trained arrived.

[ChrisB]

Who said the woman needed lifting single-handed, as a deadweight? Very rare forvthat need

[ellendune]

Who said the woman needed lifting single-handed, as a deadweight? Very rare forvthat need

I did not mean that but it is still an issue.

[ChrisB]

More likely "not my job, Guv!"

[JayMac]

Aren't we being just a little too critical of the staff here based on one alleged quote from said staff?

Possibly clumsily worded, but having worked on a station I was told what I could and couldn't do with regard to being insured. Now, I would most likely help in this situation, but I can fully understand an employee not covered or trained to do refusing. It must be remembered that even First Aiders are not exempt from negligence claims. As soon as someone volunteers to assist they owe the person they are assisting a 'duty of care'. We don't know whether the staff involved were covered by any indemnity insurance provided by their employer. If they aren't, then, again, I can understand a lack of willingness to assist.

Attempt to pick someone up and then drop them causing further injury? That could lead to a claim.

What role the unions have in this is also unknown so it's unfair to lay blame at their door. We don't even know if the staff members involved are union members.

[SDS]

I wonder if that passenger was drunk or messing around on the escalator. It all seems one-sided at the moment.

Anyhow its a Notwork Fail station, so their staff should at a minimum be keeping an eye out.

I would not have picked up the person, I would have pressed the big red button and kept the escalator clear and told the person to keep still till properly trained (and insured) assistance arrived.

[JayMac]

I wonder if that passenger was drunk or messing around on the escalator. It all seems one-sided at the moment.

Anyhow its a Notwork Fail station, so their staff should at a minimum be keeping an eye out.

I would not have picked up the person, I would have pressed the big red button and kept the escalator clear and told the person to keep still till properly trained (and insured) assistance arrived.

As with my post about being unduly critical of the staff with such limited information, the same applies with regard to speculation about the person who fell.

Also, it may well be a Network Rail* managed station but we do have a clue as to the nearby staff. Northern Rail have apologised. Network Rail staff may well not have been nearby to 'keep an eye out'.


*Notwork Fail. Any excuse to have a dig, eh? 

[ChrisB]

It was clarified not long ago tgat if 1st aiders give treatment as proscribed in their training, they would not be liable for any claim against them

[JayMac]

Clarified by whom? Primary legislation?

And 'proscribed'? vb. Past tense. Forbade, denounced, condemned.

The UK^▸ (United Kingdom) does not have a 'Good Samaritan' law.  Whilst it's unlikely that a first aider would be prosecuted if they further injured someone they had gone to assist, negligent action on their part could still be deemed illegal. Or if not criminally negligent then the negligent action could give rise to a civil claim.

Only 'could'. There are, as far using the internet to research, no cases I can find where a first aider has been prosecuted for a criminal offence. That's not to say there haven't been civil claims settled (or equally, withdrawn) before court. 

I'm unaware of any UK legislation that specifically protects anyone giving first aid from prosecution or civil claim. Be they trained or not.

Unlikely, is the best word to describe the potential for a criminal prosecution or civil claim. But never say never.