Workplace accidents have fallen by more than 30% among the technical teams in SNCB’s workshops since 2017, the railway company reported on Friday. At the traction workshop in Arlon, the milestone of four years without an accident has been passed.
“Reducing accidents at work is essential for the well-being of staff members and helps to reduce absenteeism. For several years, particular attention has been paid to the ability of all members of staff to report problems and find out how to resolve them,” explains SNCB. Risk analyses and training are at the heart of the rail operator’s strategy.
In addition, an internal awareness campaign called #SafeTogether launched in 2021. It highlights the importance wearing of safety equipment, the visibility of staff in the workshop, the correct handling of heavy loads, vigilance when moving around and circulating in the workshop, the marking out of work areas, tidying up…
A rail maintenance worker at an SNCB - Infrabel workshop in Brussels. Credit: Belga / Eric Vidal
At the Arlon workshop, the team has recorded 1,481 uninterrupted days without a disabling accident at work. “Every day, new risks can appear, safety is never something you can take for granted,” stresses Sébastien Angé, the manager of the Arlon workshop. “We work on the principle of shared vigilance.”
The Arlon traction workshop, commissioned in 2016, is responsible for the maintenance and repair of 54 type 08 (Desiro) railcars. In total, SNCB has 12 workshops, 17 maintenance stations and employs nearly 5,000 technicians.
