Regulations and laws concerning the use of flagmen/outlook

Hello,

I'm from Germany, but interested in UK railways. I coincidentally found an investigation report on a fatal accident at Whitehall West Junction in Leeds which took place in December 2009.
I read about a flagman which has to raise a blue and white chequered flag, to show a lookout at the work site, that a train has been detected travelling towards the site.
I found a picture on a private website:
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/gansg/2-track/02track5.htm

Now, I wanted to see the regulations concerning this system of work but could not find anything (I searched the rule books at rgsonline.co.uk and for laws on legislation.gov.uk).

Does anyone know, where I can find applicable laws or regulations concerning this? I would be appreciative to receive any information.

Thank You and best regards,
Patrick

The man with the blue and white flag is the advance lookoutman. It is low tech and very rarely goes wron. he was expecting a train to come from the other direction, he also should have been in a place of safety. He was trying to do a good job. Have you any links for German track worker rules?

patrick_kn said:

Now, I wanted to see the regulations concerning this system of work but could not find anything (I searched the rule books at rgsonline.co.uk and for laws on legislation.gov.uk).

Click to expand...

It's in Handbook 3 Duties of the lookout and site warden.

relayer said:

The man with the blue and white flag is the advance lookoutman.

Click to expand...

Not necessarily.

patrick_kn said:

Now, I wanted to see the regulations concerning this system of work but could not find anything (I searched the rule books at rgsonline.co.uk and for laws on legislation.gov.uk).

Click to expand...

Patrick.

Unlike Germany, the UK does not pass laws on matters such as this particular aspect of Railway work.

Work undertaken working on the Railway Infrastructure is carried out in accordance with Network Rail Standards in general. Activities that involve different Companies OUTSIDE of Network Rail control are covered by the Railway Rule Book.

Matters upon which the Government Legislate (pass Laws / Regulations) are set out in the following website.

Railway Regulations

Railsigns said:

Not necessarily.

Click to expand...

What makes you say that? The blue and white chequred flag is the advance lookout man, surely?

Loco Fitter said:

What makes you say that? The blue and white chequred flag is the advance lookout man, surely?

Click to expand...

The site lookout also uses a chequered flag to acknowledge the intermediate or distant lookout when he/she warns of a train approaching.

Tin Rocket said:

The site lookout also uses a chequered flag to acknowledge the intermediate or distant lookout when he/she warns of a train approaching.

Click to expand...

Correct.
If the distant / intermediate lookout does not receive an acknowledgement, they should immediately display a red flag to the approaching train as it has to be assumed that the men have not been warned, and or the line is unsafe for any other reason - eg Kango gets embedded. Not sure if this is still trained in - probably not.