Question to the Minister of Transport - NW2138

12 July 2018 - NW2138

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?

Source
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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

RNW2138-180712.docx

12 July 2018 - NW2138

Hunsinger, Mr CH to ask the Minister of Transport

Reply:

Source file

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