The Guardian: Rail worker killed by train was fatigued and on zero-hours contract

According to an article in the Guardian, a rail worker in London was killed by a passenger train after having a zero hours contract, being extremely fatigued and having a fellow worker supposed to look out for him not turn up for work.

The worker’s company had “not sufficiently identified and addressed the risk of fatigue among zero-hours contracted staff”, nor “identified or prevented staff absenting themselves from work without being detected” according to the investigation report.

RTBU Loco Division Secretary Bob Hayden said, “these conditions are unacceptable for any rail worker. This doesn’t just affect the worker and his family, it’s also traumatising for the train driver just trying to take his passengers to their destination.”

“This is why unions are so necessary. They ensure that overseas incidents like this serve as a lesson and never happen to any workers here.”

Please click here to read the full article.