A railway worker died and another was severely injured in an accident at Malmö freight yard, leading to a potential fine against their employer for safety violations.
In April last year, a tragic accident at the Malmö freight yard resulted in the death of a railway worker and serious injuries to his colleague. The workers were performing tasks in the track area without proper safety measures in place, as the train traffic was not suspended. Instead, a warning method that required one worker to keep watch was employed, but this method was ineffective in the area where the collision occurred, highlighting a critical lapse in safety protocols.
In response to the incident, Sweden's Work Environment Authority is now threatening the employer, Infranord, with a substantial fine of 250,000 kronor. To avoid this penalty, the company is mandated to enhance safety measures. New regulations will require teams that consist of only two workers to be assigned tasks that can be performed by one person at a time, as one must always be on lookout duty for approaching trains. This change is intended to prevent similar accidents in the future, ensuring a higher standard of safety in railway operations.
Furthermore, the company must ensure that all employees receive clear, written information regarding their duties, mitigating the risk of miscommunication or misunderstanding that could lead to hazardous situations. This case underscores the importance of stringent safety enforcement in the workplace, particularly in high-risk environments such as railway operations.
