Executive summary
At approximately 1100 on Thursday, 27 April 2000, the Lyttelton shunt was operating in Woolston yard when wagon LPA 5218 loaded with scrap metal derailed due to the track condition. The wagon overturned and fell on the rail operator who had been riding on the shunt. His injuries were fatal.
The safety issues identified included actioning of identified track gauge exceedances and the factors which contributed to the wagon overturning. Two safety recommendations were made to Tranz Rail Limited, to address these issues.
Related Recommendations
limit the use of four-wheel wagons to the carriage of homogeneous loads where the likelihood of asymmetrical loading is minimal, and give consideration to an early phasing out of all four-wheel revenue wagons.
Introduce code procedures for the use of the EM80 recording car on important yard roads covering: • tracks to be inspected • exceedances applicable • classification and actioning of defects.