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Network Rail staff allegedly smoking at Waterloo after a fire near the track

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George109

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There are many tweets about network rail staff at Waterloo smoking around the tracks when there has been a fire near the track!

Obviously I think these workers work incredibly hard and are entitled to a break and a rest while working especially in a safety critical job like this, so I have nothing against them having McDonald's and sitting down etc, just the smoking part of it.

Are they allowed to smoke? Or is this a rule that is never followed? Surely it is dangerous to smoke around the railway with all the diesel residue and litter that is on the railway (SWR still use diesel trains on some routes from Waterloo)

Thoughts?

https://twitter.com/lovepeterlove/status/1151531616679989248?s=19
@SirPeterHendy @networkrail your workers working really hard to fix the problem!!!!!!!! glad they’re eating a @McDonalds and all sat down resting! what a joke
https://twitter.com/Joealton1986/status/1151537891929133062?s=1
That’s the group I just tweeted about. Guy in first photo was smoking. Surely after a fire someone can tell him to stop?
Just to clarify, I was under the impression that smoking anywhere on the railway was illegal hence the smoking part but I stand corrected
 
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Bertie the bus

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My thoughts are it is the usual, pathetic social media outcry about nothing. Copying in the BBC and Daily Mail because they saw some people sat down and eating or smoking a cig. I despair.
 

richa2002

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The internet without social media would be a much better place.
 

civ-eng-jim

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Obviously I think these workers work incredibly hard and are entitled to a break and a rest while working especially in a safety critical job like this, so I have nothing against them having McDonald's and sitting down etc, just the smoking part of it.

Well.....some of the time they do.

As I don't smoke I don't really pay any attention to smoking rules so not sure what they are with regards to being on the track. I see people do it and I presume it's fine unless you're refueling something petrol or using oxyacetylene or similar.

With regards to diesel, it has a very high flash point so wouldn't cause a fire with a discarded cigarette butt. Arcing from third rail would have started diesel/oil fire by now were it an issue.
 

Antman

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My thoughts are it is the usual, pathetic social media outcry about nothing. Copying in the BBC and Daily Mail because they saw some people sat down and eating or smoking a cig. I despair.
Isn't smoking illegal on railway property? Whilst I can sympathise with those that do smoke rules are rules and I don't see anything pathetic about questions being asked.
 

Bertie the bus

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Nope. Smoking is not and never has been illegal on railway property. Smoking in enclosed spaces is illegal full stop. Smoking in open spaces on the railway is only illegal if there is no smoking signage. I doubt there are no smoking signs on the track.

Even if it was illegal contacting the BBC is pathetic. There couldn't possibly be any other description.
 

bengley

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Smoking is illegal at stations. It's not illegal to smoke where they are. If it was it would also be illegal to smoke when crossing a foot crossing/level crossing.

Snitches on social media are some of the worst people - looking to get people in trouble for something they deem to be incorrect, even if it isn't
 

ainsworth74

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Good grief. How dare they take a break and have something to eat! Clearly they should be working non-stop from starting their shift to the end of it just like everyone else does at their job! I certainly never take a break to have anything to eat or to clear my head! :rolleyes:
 

Mag_seven

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Good grief. How dare they take a break and have something to eat!

You will see stories like this in the right wing press everyday - all it takes is for a couple of say police officers to bee seen having a burger or something and its all "Why aren't they out chasing rapists and murderers". Its part of the daily assault by the right on public service workers.
 

George109

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Just to clarify, I was under the impression that smoking anywhere on the railway was illegal but I stand corrected :)

However do you think this sets a bad example? As in people having the "one rule for them another for us mentality"
 

Ianno87

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You will see stories like this in the right wing press everyday - all it takes is for a couple of say police officers to bee seen having a burger or something and its all "Why aren't they out chasing rapists and murderers". Its part of the daily assault by the right on public service workers.

I've noticed local bus drivers, even when stationary with engine off, make a point of stepping out of the cab to make a phone call - presumably to avoid ending up on social media
 

broadgage

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Sounds like a non issue to me.
Smoking is prohibited in almost all enclosed work places, and in virtually all enclosed public places.

No law prohibits smoking in most open air work places, which would include most railway tracks including those near Waterloo. General health and safety law could reasonably be taken as prohibiting smoking in the presence of petrol, flammable gases, or explosives, but that would not include most railway work.

And as for the fire risk, I agree that the odd steamer, and the frequent arcs from third rail pick up shoes would seem to be a greater risk.
And what about smoking by customers ? which though prohibited is still common especially in the late evening.
 

ag51ruk

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The Network Rail press release when the smoking ban came in is here- it defines stations and platforms (including open air platforms), as well as railway offices and road vehicles, as no smoking areas, but open air areas outside stations are not covered. Unless there are specific reasons not to smoke trackside (such as close proximity to fuel tanks) i don't believe it is restricted.

The ban on open air platforms is under the railway bylaws rather than non-smoking legislation.

https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/end-of-the-line-for-smoking-on-the-railways
 

Antman

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Just to clarify, I was under the impression that smoking anywhere on the railway was illegal but I stand corrected :)

However do you think this sets a bad example? As in people having the "one rule for them another for us mentality"

I'm sure I heard or read somewhere that smoking is illegal anywhere on railway property but maybe I'm mistaken.

As for people saying this is pathetic, well yes but a passenger is likely to say telling them that they can't smoke at the end of a deserted platform is pathetic so where exactly do they draw the line?
 

CeeJ

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Most likely on a break, but they were probably taking it at a time when they were waiting on some other cog to arrive (i.e. the problem has been identified, but requires X parts which are still 15 miles away). I understand it's frustrating to see people at work 'slacking', particularly when their life is being somewhat impacted, but it's a bit much to photograph them to 'expose' their laziness.

After all, if they really were just slacking, I don't think Network Rail managers would've been very happy with all those delay minutes adding up...
 

DarloRich

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My thoughts are it is the usual, pathetic social media outcry about nothing. Copying in the BBC and Daily Mail because they saw some people sat down and eating or smoking a cig. I despair.

You will see stories like this in the right wing press everyday - all it takes is for a couple of say police officers to bee seen having a burger or something and its all "Why aren't they out chasing rapists and murderers". Its part of the daily assault by the right on public service workers.

Good grief. How dare they take a break and have something to eat! Clearly they should be working non-stop from starting their shift to the end of it just like everyone else does at their job! I certainly never take a break to have anything to eat or to clear my head! :rolleyes:

spot on - a complete non story.

Close thread
 

Tom B

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A discarded cigarette wouldn't set diesel alight in normal circumstances.
 

Bletchleyite

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I've noticed local bus drivers, even when stationary with engine off, make a point of stepping out of the cab to make a phone call - presumably to avoid ending up on social media

I suspect it's probably company policy, so the company can establish that anyone who was witnessed/photographed using a phone in the driving seat has already broken the rules rather than them having an "oh, but the engine was off" get-out.
 

Tom B

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I suspect it's probably company policy, so the company can establish that anyone who was witnessed/photographed using a phone in the driving seat has already broken the rules rather than them having an "oh, but the engine was off" get-out.

I believe that, if a particularly pedantic copper were to witness it, sitting in the driving seat of a vehicle with the keys in your possession is enough to be "in charge" of the vehicle even if parked up and ignition off etc.
 

Bletchleyite

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I believe that, if a particularly pedantic copper were to witness it, sitting in the driving seat of a vehicle with the keys in your possession is enough to be "in charge" of the vehicle even if parked up and ignition off etc.

Not for those purposes, the law is very clear on when a phone may or may not be used, and that it is permitted when the vehicle is parked in a safe and legal location with the handbrake applied and the engine off.

For other laws e.g. alcohol you would be correct - people have I believe been convicted when they were in the pub with car keys in their pocket.
 
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