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Network Rail has been fined £3.75 million for health and safety violations that resulted in the deaths of two track workers in Wales in July 2019. Gareth Delbridge, 64, and Michael “Spike” Lewis, 58, were struck by a train while engaging in maintenance work on the live South Wales mainline, as no safety lookouts were positioned to alert them, according to a report by the Office of Rail and Road.
The Swansea Crown Court found Network Rail guilty of breaching the Health and Safety Act 1974. In addition to the fine, the company was ordered to pay costs of £175,000. Investigations revealed that the workers, who were wearing ear protection, did not hear the train's warning signals, largely due to unsafe practices and inadequate planning by Network Rail, which failed to follow prescribed safety protocols.
Richard Hines, the HM chief inspector of railways, stated that the fine reflects the severity of the company's failures, emphasizing the need for a collective industry effort to enhance worker safety and prevent future tragedies.