Question NW2138 to the Minister of Transport

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12 July 2018 - NW2138

Profile picture: Hunsinger, Mr CH

Hunsinger, Mr CH to ask the Minister of Transport

(1)What (a) number of Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) staff have been (i) injured or (ii) died while (aa) on duty and/or (bb) on Prasa premises over the past three financial years and (b) are the details of (i) the location where the incident took place and (ii) the circumstances surrounding the incident; (2) whether the incident have been reported to the SA Police Service; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what is the progress of each case; (3) whether any claims were lodged against Prasa; if so, what (a) amount was claimed and paid out and (b) support has been provided to the employee or dependents?

Reply:

1. (a) (i) (aa) & (bb) Injuries on duty (Disabling Incident, (DIs))

2015/16 - 315 Dis

2016/17 - 272 Dis

2017/18 - 282 Dis

(ii) (aa) & (bb) Fatalities

2015/16 - 8 Fatalities

2016/17 - 4 Fatalities

2017/18 - 3 Fatalities

(b) Details (i) and (ii) Fatalities:

Year

Month

Region

Description

2015/16

April

Gauteng – Rail

Train driver died in a train accident which took place in Denver.

 

June

 

The incident occurred during a station closure at Olifantsfontein, wherein a colleague was assaulted by a commuter. The Safety Patroller (deceased) was rushing to assist the assaulted colleague when he did not observe an approaching train from the South about to enter the station. He moved too close to the line in operation and was struck by the train and died on impact.

 

September

 

Rolling Stock employee was electrocuted while attending to faults on a train at Braamfontein Depot.

 

August

Western Cape – Rail

Platform Marshall fell between the platform and the train while on duty and was struck by train.

 

May

MLPS - Rail

Two (2) employees died in a train collision between a TFR and MLPS train which took place at the Eastern Cape.

   

Autopax

Bus Accident (2 Incidents)

2016/17

Dec

Gauteng Rail

Section Manager was hit by train while out to crank points.

 

Dec

 

Employee died from a company motor vehicle accident.

 

July

Western Cape Rail

An employee was on the platform learning the train line routes when he got robbed by unknown men and got shot.

 

September

 

An employee was robbed and stabbed while waiting for the train.

2017/18

June

Gauteng - Rail

This was a community service delivery related incident wherein community members blockaded the rail with foreign objects. When members of the Protection Services attempted to remove the objects to allow train movement, it agitated the community members and violence broke out between the security personnel and the community members which resulted in the stoning to death of a colleague.

 

Nov

 

Employee was applying earth wire on the down main line and was electrocuted.

 

Dec

Kwa-Zulu Natal – Rail

Protection Services Personnel was assisting passengers to board busses as trains were not available. This was at Mangosuthu Highway close to Lindokuhle Station. While crossing the road he was knocked down by a motor vehicle which failed to stop and then sped away. He was then struck by a second vehicle which also failed to stop and sped away.

(b) Details (i) and (ii) Disabling Injuries:

Business Unit

Year

No

Description

PRASA RAIL

 

2015/16 

313

Assaults by fare evading commuters and the public, Injuries resulting from company motor vehicles, Electrocutions, Smoke Inhalations resulting from high tension burnouts, Trips and falls resulting from uneven surfaces and on platforms, Unsafe acts etc.

 

2016/17

262

 
 

2017/18

278

 
 

Total

853

 

PRASA CRES

2015/16 

1

Hearing loss case was identified in Cape Town

 

2016/17

2

Employee driven over by a car and sustained minor injury to her leg – poor communication between the driver and passenger.

     

Fell from the stairs; he didn’t do the three point contact

 

2017/18

44

Tree branch fell on the person who was cutting trees at Durban but sustained minor injuries – the injured didn’t conduct a risk assessment before the works

     

Inhaled gas fumes at Umjantshi House, Johannesburg, which resulted from a burst generator piping and was send to the hospital for treatment – faulty piping system.

     

Strained back while she was lifting some chemical containers – poor lifting techniques and lack of lifting equipment

     

An employee was involved in a car accident on the N1 highway while he was returning to Umjantshi, Johannesburg using his personal vehicle from a meeting in PRASA House, Pretoria

 

Total

7

 

AUTOPAX

2015/16

1

Bus accident-Head Injury

 

2016/17

1

Slipped and fell at workshop- Fractured ankle left foot (October 2016)

 

201718

7

Bus tyre/wheel- Lost middle finger (July (2017)

     

Bus Accident – Head Injury (July 2017)

     

Bus Accident- Right Hand Injury (December 2017)

     

Attacked by passengers- Left eye Evisceration (November 2017)

     

Bus Accident – Upper body Injuries (March 2018)

     

Bus Accident – Hip injuries (March 2018)

 

TOTAL

09

 

Grand Total

869

 

2. Reporting to SAPS:

Year

Month

Description

SAPS reported

Progress

2015/16

April

Train driver died in a train accident

Cleveland SAPS Case no:291/04/2015

Police were notified as well as other stakeholders (EMS) as per the GP Contingency Plan. Further to this the Police had requested the final board of inquiry report, which was submitted to them.

 

June

Safety Patroller was hit by train

Olifantsfontein SAPS, case no: 256/06/2015

The Police were notified as well as other stakeholders (EMS) as per the GP Contingency Plan. Department of Labour was also informed. The commuter who was assaulting the colleague was arrested and sentenced to three years which was wholly suspended.

 

September

Rolling Stock employee was electrocuted

No case number was given / recoded

All stakeholders such as EMS, Police and Department of Labour were informed.

 

August

Platform Marshall struck by train.

SAPS attended the incident although no case was registered

No criminal case was opened as this was an injury on duty

 

May

Two (2) employees died in a train collision (MLPS)

Bisho SAPS Case: 0033/05/15.

 The case is closed

   

Bus Accident (2 Incidents)

Case Number 312/10/2016

Case Number 138/04/2015

Bus number ZFF 242 GP

Bus number YVD 529 GP

2016/17

Dec

Section Manager was hit by train

Moffat View SAPS Case no: 89/12/2016

Police were notified as well as other stakeholders (EMS) as per the GP Contingency Plan. Department of Labour was also informed.

 

Dec

Employee died in company motor vehicle accident.

No case number was given / recorded

Stones were placed on the road and the employee lost control of the vehicle. He was taken to Lenmed Hospital where he was declared dead at 02h20.

 

July

An employee on the platform robbed and shot.

Case no 302/07/2018 (Bishop Lavis)

3x Suspects prosecuted and convicted to 25 years imprisonment.

 

September

An employee was robbed and stabbed

Mannenberg Case 260/09/2016

Case Pending

2017/18

June

Protection Services Staff member assaulted and stoned to death.

Kliptown SAPS Case no:506/06/2017

Police was informed of the situation as well as other stakeholders. The matter is still under investigation by the SAPS.

 

Nov

Employee electrocuted.

Johannesburg Central SAPS Case no: 1080/11/2017

Police were notified as well as other stakeholders (EMS) as per the GP Contingency Plan. Department of Labour was also informed.

 

Dec

Protection Services Staff member hit by cars.

349/12/2017

Closed undetected.

3. Claims against PRASA:

a) All injuries (DIs) and fatalities have been reported to the Department of Labour as per the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act (COID) Act 130 of 1993 as amended. We do not have any other claims.

b) Support provided

Year

Month

Description

Support provided to dependents

2015/16

April

Train driver died in a train accident

Family Counselling and company funeral benefit

 

June

Safety Patroller was hit by train

Family Counselling and company funeral benefit

 

September

Rolling Stock employee was electrocuted

Family Counselling and company funeral benefit

 

August

Platform Marshall struck by train.

The employee was married to a policeman with two children. Assistance was given to the family by both Metrorail and SAPS. The team worked together for counselling and was never referred to Metropolitan.

 

May

Two (2) employees died in a train collision (MLPS)

A full debriefing was provided to the family members.

EWP assisted the family members to go and identify the bodies with the assistance of PRASA EWP Service and Provider Metropolitan Health.

Telephonic follow – ups were done by PRASA EWP Specialists.

21 employee debriefings were done

One employee is still undergoing Occupational therapy.

 

April

Bus Accident (2 Incidents – April and October)

Family Counselling and company funeral benefit

2016/17

December

Section Manager was hit by train

Family Counselling and company funeral benefit

 

December

Employee died in company motor vehicle accident.

Family Counselling and company funeral benefit

 

July

An employee on the platform robbed and shot.

EAP assistance was given to the wife, the son and the daughter. The family was referred to Metropolitan for further intervention.

 

September

An employee was robbed and stabbed

Trauma  debriefing was provided

2017/18

June

Protection Services Staff member assaulted and stoned to death.

Family Counselling and company funeral benefit

 

November

Employee electrocuted.

Family Counselling and company funeral benefit

 

December

Protection Services Staff member hit by cars.

Memorial service was held at Prasa

Family was referred to Prasa EWP external service provider for trauma debriefing and counselling.

The wife of the deceased was seen for individual counselling by EWP for psychotherapy

Work visit was done at the depot in order to check the progress of the wife

Continuous psychotherapy as part of management and treatment of the case.

Source file