Fire Precautions (sub-surface railway stations) England Regulations.

BRITAIN’S BIGGEST rail and Tube union hailed today’s scheduled tabling in parliament of new fire-safety regulations for sub-surface stations as vindication of a five-year campaign to retain standards imposed in the wake of the 1987 King’s Cross fire, which claimed 31 lives.

The new Fire Precautions (sub-surface railway stations) England Regulations, which should come into force in October, represent a “huge victory for common sense”, retaining the key provisions of regulations introduced two years after the fire, says RMT

The government had planned to scrap the 1989 ‘Section 12’ regulations altogether, replacing them with the less specific 2005 ‘Fire Safety Order’ which would have relied in part on a voluntary system based on risk-assessment.

However, in the wake of a massive RMT-led campaign, the government postponed scrapping Section12, and finally incorporated its key provisions in a new regulatory framework.

An early-day motion tabled by Hendon MP Andrew Dismore and signed to date by 40 MPs (text below) also welcomes the new regulations and the extensive consultation that has resulted in the key elements of the Section 12 regulations being retained.

“This is a huge victory for common sense which recognises that fire-safety in underground stations should not be down to the discretion of employers but requires strict regulation and enforcement,” RMT general secretary Bob Crow said today.

“RMT members who campaigned long and hard to retain the 1989 sub-surface fire-safety regulations will be delighted that their key provisions will remain in place

“The King’s Cross Fire stands as a constant reminder of the need for the best possible safety regime, and it is fitting that after a rigorous process we have reached a regulatory framework that will maintain the essential standards put in place after the tragedy.

“Thanks largely to consultation with unions whose members are on the front line, provisions for safe staffing levels, training, means of escape, construction methods and other safety aspects will remain firmly in place.

“John McDonnell, the MP whose intervention in the Regulatory Reform Committee in 2004 first stopped the Section 12 regulations being scrapped, deserves thanks, as do the very many Tube and rail workers and others whose determination has borne fruit,” Bob Crow said.

ends

Notes to editors: The 1989 Regulations were made under Section 12 of the Fire Precautions Act 1971, and were added on the recommendation of the Fennell Report into the 1987 King’s Cross fire. They cover ‘sub-surface stations’, including those on underground systems, but also national rail stations which are ‘sub-surface’, including Birmingham New Street and several in Liverpool. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, was introduced alongside the Section 12 regulations in 2007.

The new regulations – the Fire Precautions (sub-surface railway stations) England Regulations – were scheduled to be laid before parliament today, and will come into force in October.

Until then the Section 12 regulations and 2005 Fire Safety order will continue to operate in tandem.

Early Day Motion 118
Railway Fire Safety Regulations
Tabled by Andrew Dismore and signed by 39 others at March 31 2009

That this House notes the forthcoming introduction of new regulations which update and strengthen fire safety regulations at sub-surface railway stations; further notes that the original regulations were introduced after the tragic King's Cross fire in 1987, and welcomes the fact that key aspects of the original regulations have been retained, including minimum staffing levels and adequate staff training; further welcomes the fact that the new regulations are being introduced following extensive consultation between the Government, trades unions, the Fire Brigade and transport operators; and congratulates the trades unions for their vigorous campaigning in standing up for the safety of the public and their members.

For current list of signatories, please visit:
http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=38229&SESSION=899