In 2022, the European Union Agency for Railways reported that 24 railway workers from across the EU died in work-related incidents and a further 41 were seriously injured.
The organisation’s ‘Report on Railway Safety and Inoperability 2024’ noted that although many operators have adopted a policy of zero tolerance and implemented measures to prevent fatalities, “no clear progress in reducing railway casualties has been observed in the last few years.”
by Zonegreen Ltd.
Moving trains are one of the biggest causes of accidents investigated by the EUA and there was an increase of 12% in the number of significant incidents from 2021 to 2022 across all categories, despite safety targets being prescribed by EU legislation.
It is evident from these statistics that more priority needs to be given to the safety of rail workers and that staff in depots are among some of the most at risk. Managing an undeniably dangerous combination of high-speed vehicles, high voltage electricity and powerful machinery on a daily basis requires everyone to remain vigilant and aware of the policies and procedures in place.
The complexity of the maintenance environment means the required focus on safety cannot be overstated and the key to making long-term improvements is to identify blind spots, embrace modern technology and uphold standards.
At the forefront of developments in depot safety is UK-based Zonegreen. The specialist companyhas established itself as a global leader in depot protection during the last 20 years and serves facilities as far afield as Australia, New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates. It became part of the Sentric Safety Group in March 2023, joining forces with other international safety brands who protect people in the workplace by reducing the margin for human error.
Prioritising depot safety
Sheffield-based Zonegreen develops technology that reduces the risks faced by depot workers, whilst allowing the safe and efficient control of rail vehicles.
Zonegreen’s flagship Depot Personnel Protection System (DPPS) is installed in some of the most advanced maintenance facilities around the world, protecting people from plant and vehicle movements.
Staff using the latest iteration of the system are issued with contactless RFID cards that can be programmed with various levels of authorisation, depending on the person’s role and position within the depot operation’s hierarchy. When beginning work in an area of risk, they log on to road end panels that prevent Network Rail-approved derailers from being lowered, providing physical protection by stopping trains entering the occupied road.
Access permission must be given to a train by a supervisor via the controlling road end panel, which is positioned at a convenient location within the maintenance building. This is usually next to the depot doors, giving the operator a clear view of incoming and outgoing vehicles. Only after the derailer has been lowered will the shunt signal change to ‘proceed.’ Audible and visual warnings are then activated to alert staff to imminent vehicle movement.
Zonegreen’s system is one of the safest on the market, boasting independent certification to prove its compliance with both the hardware and software integrity requirements of SIL 2 – a reliability assessment of the relative risk reduction provided by a safety system. It is also the most thoroughly tested and proven in use, offering a low-risk option to depots looking to improve their working environment. In addition, Zonegreen’s’s third generation DPPS RFID panel has been independently certified by Eurofins to be compliant with both the EN 300 330-V2.1.1 radio emissions standard and railway standard EN50128/50129.
Reliability and traceability
Included in the DPPS package is Zonegreen’s advanced Depot Manager SCADA software, which offers an overview of the entire protection system and complete traceability. It displays the location of personnel and the status of plant and equipment, whilst providing key information to make operations easier and quicker to implement.
For example, the technology can identify peak movement times, allowing additional focus to be placed on safety during these highest risk periods. The system also provides additional visualisation that can run alongside other depot control software to ensure a complete operational picture.
Christian Fletcher, Zonegreen’s Head of Engineering, said: “Significant railway accidents are costing European rail operators around €4 billion, with fatalities accounting for 65% of this figure. We are constantly working to find new ways to develop and extend our DPPS technology to help depots reduce these costs, and most importantly, save lives.
“We future-proof our system by using modern electronics and an innovative software design that makes it easier to modify and expand. This has improved the user experience, consolidated the safety benefits and allowed for potential upgrades, something a number of depots have taken advantage of recently.”
“Although our technology effectively reduces the margin for human error that is so often the catalyst for major accidents, there is still no industry-wide picture of the risks in depots and more needs to be done to improve working conditions. In 2022, the employee fatality rate within the EU was 80% higher than that among passengers and despite safety targets, it is clear more needs to be done to protect staff.”
Australian depot upgrades
Workers at Alstom’s Wulkuraka depot in Queensland, Australia are among the latest to benefit from upgrades to DPPS.
The system was originally implemented on 14 roads ten years ago, in advance of the depot’s opening and it has now been installed on an additional double-ended road by Zonegreen’s Australian partner, Andrew Engineering. The latest contactless technology has been integrated with the existing safety system, whilst Depot Manager was also upgraded to accommodate the changes.
Christian Fletcher added: “It was a pleasure working at Wulkuraka again and we were honoured Alstom chose to invest in our latest equipment, demonstrating its faith in us and DPPS. We remained in constant contact with the onsite team throughout the installation and this project demonstrates perfectly how the modular nature of DPPS allows it to be adapted easily to the evolving needs of depots.
“Our growing reputation worldwide and the viability of our intuitive technology have led new operators to approach us for protection and existing clients to expand and update their systems. We continue to enhance our suite of products and look forward to helping more facilities across Europe secure the safety of personnel.”
Safety in numbers
As part of the Sentric Safety Group, Zonegreen has the opportunity and tools to expand its portfolio worldwide. It joins international safety product brands, Castell, Kirk, STI and Salvo, to protect people who work in high-risk environments. These respected brands have come together in the belief that there can be no compromise when it comes to safety.
Thanks to its commitment to excellence and global outlook, Zonegreen has recently celebrated its 3,000th order, only three years after it signed its 2,000th contract, highlighting the company’s rapid pace of development. It achieved this latest milestone after agreeing a deal to service DPPS regularly at Northern Rail’s Newton Heath facility in Manchester, England.
Gemma Houghton, Sentric’s Head of Rail, commented: “Our mission is to ensure the long-term protection of people, productivity and business reputation. Zonegreen is a perfect ambassador for our group, doing exactly that through the development of innovative technology and vast sector experience.
“Zonegreen’s reputation continues to grow, yet it remains focused on upholding the excellent, long-term relationships it has with its clients. This includes leading brands such as Network Rail, Siemens and Hitachi, to name but a few.”
To find out more about DPPS or Zonegreen’s suite of depot safety systems, telephone (0114) 230 0822, visit https://www.sentricsafetygroup.com/sector/railway-safety-solutions/
or follow them on LinkedIn: Zonegreen Ltd.
Share on:
