NRMU/HQ/104/4 30.3.2018
The General Secretary,
All India Railwaymen’s Federation,
New Delhi.
Comrade,
Sub: Draft Documents submitted by NRMU(CR/KR) during AIRF
safety seminar of TMD Staff on 2.4.2018 at NDLS.
At the outset this union extents its hearty congratulations and compliment the decision taken by AIRF to hold an All India Safety Seminar of TMD department on 2.4.2018 at NDLS. This timely initiative of federation has well appreciated by the TMD staff of C.Rly and they expressed their gratitude for providing them an opportunity to participate in the event.
It is a matter to reckon that in consequent to the formation of TMD department in Civil Engineering stream of Indian Railways, its importance has been spread wide along with mechanization and automation processing in the track laying and maintenance works with utilization of different type of modern track machines and specialized skilled labour force. The importance of this department is going to break the boundary of its present structure and will play a crucial role in infrastructural development of track length and its upkeep. More and more sophisticated machines are likely to be introduced in the near future and the staff strength is invariably needs to cross its leaps and bounds. Hence the present predominance of this department in the safety category will have a multi faceted lift in the coming years.
Few important points related with safety aspects pertaining to TMD department and staff matters are appended below for your kind perusal and deliberation in the proposed safety seminar and thereafter for representation at appropriate forum for prompt attention and positive disposal.
SAFETY CONCERNS:
1. Filling up of Vacancies & Non creation of additional Posts: The present vacancy position of staff in this department is too high. The sanctioned strength approved on the availability of machines decades back have not been reviewed till now. In C.Rly against the sanctioned strength of 1008 posts only 648
Men are in position leaving 360 posts vacant to the tune of about 38%. Apart from that, additional machines have been introduced widely for which creation of staff has not been done.
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Therefore it is an alarming situation whereby the lower rank staff are compelled to discharge responsibilities of higher posts in high and sophisticated machines such as UNIMAT, UTV and Tamping Machines without any benefits, perform over hours of duty even forgoing their legitimate daily and weekly rest periods, unintentionally forced to adopt unsafe working practices and indulge in short cut methods and invites disastrous results. The peculiarity of Mumbai division of C.Rly where the block corridor is only available during night, additional staff strength to the tune of 50% of the machine attached staff is needed to deploy for maintenance of the machines.They are also deprived of their family and social obligations as very often they are denied of their leave and rests. Hence to upkeep the safe work culture and to maintain the safety standard intact in working of machines thevacancies of the staff in different cadres of TMD department needs to be filled and additional manpower must be allocated with immediate effect.
2. Amendments required in G&SR. Various provisions in chapter 4 of G&SR such as 4.12, 4.25 (1), 4.45, 4.46, 4.47 (1&2), 4.65 etc needs a relook which pertains to prohibition of push back working of UTV machines on Main lines, provision of Guard while working of UTV and movement of camping coaches with provision of breaking apparatus, hand break, side lamp and tail lamp and exchange of numbered TTM permits for working in the section and dispatch of multiple machines in the section on single authority respectively. To ensure safety effectively, pilots also needs to be given as is being provided to tower wagon working during movements in block periods. Provision of imposing Caution Orders in the adjacent lines of the block with a speed restriction of 30 kmph must also to be mandated.
3. Regulate deployment of staff to minimum night shifts in a week & Implementation of 21/07 days roster. The present pattern of utilization of staff for continuous night shifts at a stretch to even 26 days in a month is creating fatigue and other stress related problems to them. This further propel the staff for error of judgement in their respective duties that causes irreparable damage and threat to the safe working environment. Their absence from their residence and family members for working at far flung remote areas for prolonged period along with this continuous night shifts is therefore detrimental to the interest of safety and is very hazardous. Therefore the night shift of the staff must be mandated to a maximum of 2 nights in a week and accordingly the rosters of their duties must be amended.
Despite of repeated reminders from the Railway Board, C.Rly zonal administration are showing apathy towards implementation of 21/07 days roster citing the high volume of vacancies existing in the zone. This itself shows the callousness of the administration that have done nothing to fill the vacancies and have not prioritized the need of creation of posts adequately to meet the requirement of staff to operate additional machines introduced. The requirement of
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staff strength for the purpose of RG/LR and Trainee Reserve posts are also not considered till now. The onus of their lapses are being fallen upon the staff which deprived their legitimate privilege of 21/07 days roster which would have given tremendous relief to the staff working at remote areas. It is therefore imminent to introduce this roster which has already implemented in 8 zones till now uni-formally at all remaining zones including C.Rly with immediate ef
4. Inadequate Track Machine Sidings and Non availability of Basic amenities where it available: Track Machine sidings are too inadequate in comparison to the number of machines available in all divisions especially in Mumbai division of C.Rly. Necessary plan or road map has not been prepared by the administration for additional machine sidings against the additional expected machines invariably to be introduced in the coming days. Basic requirement of electric lights, pathways, water and other staff amenities are un available in most of the sidings. Rest facilities required for the staff at these sidings are also unseen. It is therefore necessary to create machine sidings in tandem with the availability of the machines in all divisions ensuring all facility for their maintenance and comfort of the staff.
STAFF MATTERS
1. Rest room facility of TMD staff must be upgraded on par with Running room facilities given to the running crew. They may be permitted to avail their rest in running rooms in earmarked beds where rest rooms are unavailable.
2. The duty hours of the staff deputed to work in machines placed at different locations may be counted from their head quarters and they may be provided exclusive transportation facility to reach the locations/sidings to take charge of the machines.
3. In consideration to the strenuousness, element of risk and hazardous involved in their job the R&H allowance may be given to TMD staff.
With this the above is submitted for consideration.
Yours comradely,
( Venu P. Nair )
General Secretary
