--- title: Severn Valley Railway Hit With A Fine description: Severn Valley Railway faces a fine after an employee’s serious injury, highlighting the importance of work-at-height safety regulations. image: https://www.abilityint.com/hubfs/Images/severn-valley-railway-fined_e4ec9d739e1acbd022bb22744c1abd0c_2000.webp --- [01832 770759](tel:01832770759)[sales@abilityint.com](mailto:sales@abilityint.com) [01832 770759](tel:01832770759)[sales@abilityint.com](mailto:sales@abilityint.com) [![Ability International Logo](https://www.abilityint.com/hubfs/Ability%20International%20Logo.svg "Ability International Logo")](https://www.abilityint.com/) [![Ability International Logo](https://www.abilityint.com/hs-fs/hubfs/logo-1.png?width=183&height=50&name=logo-1.png "Ability International Logo")](https://www.abilityint.com/) - [Home](https://www.abilityint.com) - About - [About Us](https://www.abilityint.com/about) - [Health & Safety](https://www.abilityint.com/health-and-safety) - [Hire](https://www.abilityint.com/hire) - 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The incident took place at the company’s Bridgnorth Locomotive Works in February 2021 and has highlighted the critical importance of adhering to work-at-height safety regulations including the provision of adequate training and supervision. [![Request A Quote](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/7885436/interactive-190412425768.png)](https://www.abilityint.com/hs/cta/wi/redirect?encryptedPayload=AVxigLLJabHR53%2BxdzfPysYQPZzNVCjEVsOefao6chll2eONQlaeeX7SIo5RfHo3mBO2uGK0fV5JhLczc08UW4yHywAJKYe7GjH%2B1D8ECljY%2BWWYROyP9Xe1HcbZytdWWZrl0P0LUs0d4UOscV8mPb0gSC8P5xwUYG%2B5K5Il2UCoSFqOuXjfb8rXbmWE&webInteractiveContentId=190412425768&portalId=7885436) ## Painter Falls During Routine Maintenance The accident involved a full-time locomotive and carriage painter who was repainting a Mark 1 carriage at the Bridgnorth site. The worker had been operating alone and without a safety harness, and subsequently**[fell from a height](https://www.abilityint.com/blog/uk-finds-no-improvements-in-falls)** of around 13 feet and struck a metal storage cabinet before hitting the concrete floor. He sustained six broken bones in his lower back and suffered additional neck injuries. An investigation into the incident was carried out by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), the industry regulator. ## Failures in Safety Measures The ORR investigation revealed that Severn Valley Railway had failed to meet recognised safety standards when it came to working at height. The absence of a safety harness was just one of several safety failings identified, with a lack of safe systems of work and inadequate planning also contributing factors to the accident. The ORR also emphasised that the worker had received insufficient instruction and was poorly supervised. After overseeing the case, District Judge Strongman commented that Severn Valley Railway had “fallen woefully below the standards expected,” with this criticism reflecting the widespread view that proper safety measures and protocols are not optional, especially with regard to sufficient instruction and training along with suitable supervision. ## An Avoidable Incident HM Chief Inspector of Railways, Richard Hines, expressed his disappointment at yet another preventable accident occurring in the heritage railway sector. He noted that these types of incidents remain all too common, with safety failures leading to serious injuries or even fatalities. “This is yet another avoidable**[working-at-height incident](https://www.abilityint.com/blog/4-things-you-should-not-do-when-working-at-height-ability-international)** at a heritage railway which resulted in very serious injuries,” Hines said. “My thoughts are with the individual concerned. Our inspectors have recently met with heritage operators across the sector to reinforce expectations around the proportionate safety arrangements that must be followed to carry out such maintenance tasks. Poor standards are unacceptable and will not be tolerated.” ## Reinforcing Safety in the Sector Working at height remains one of the most hazardous tasks in many sectors, including rail and heritage operations, and employers are expected to take all necessary precautions to protect their workers. As safety standards continue to be enforced, it is hoped that the heritage railway sector will take note of this incident and ensure that workers are not put at unnecessary risk. Most of these cases involve insufficient supervision, or staff that either haven’t been trained properly or haven’t been retrained in the last five years. The Health and Safety Executive recommends retraining every five years as standards and best practices change over time, plus it helps avoid complacency. Such proper supervision, safety training, and the use of appropriate equipment should always be non-negotiable, especially when the lives and well-being of employees are at stake. ***To learn more about [safe working practices](https://www.abilityint.com/working-at-height-guide) and compliance with work-at-height regulations including the provision of proper training and supervision, [get in touch](https://www.abilityint.com/contact) with the team at Ability International today.*** [![Working-at-Height-Guide-LONG-CTA.1](https://www.abilityint.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/Working-at-Height-Guide-LONG-CTA.1.webp?width=691&height=269&name=Working-at-Height-Guide-LONG-CTA.1.webp)](https://www.abilityint.com/working-at-height-guide) - Recent - Topics - Archive Recent Topics - [Working At Height (70)](https://www.abilityint.com/blog/tag/working-at-height) - [injuries at work (23)](https://www.abilityint.com/blog/tag/injuries-at-work) - [Working at heights (22)](https://www.abilityint.com/blog/tag/working-at-heights) - [Work At Height Equipment (21)](https://www.abilityint.com/blog/tag/work-at-height-equipment) - [desksurfer (20)](https://www.abilityint.com/blog/tag/desksurfer) - [Working At Height Equipment (16)](https://www.abilityint.com/blog/tag/working-at-height-equipment) - [Health & Safety (10)](https://www.abilityint.com/blog/tag/health-safety) - [access platform (7)](https://www.abilityint.com/blog/tag/access-platform) - [Scaffold tower hire (6)](https://www.abilityint.com/blog/tag/scaffold-tower-hire) - [injuries (4)](https://www.abilityint.com/blog/tag/injuries) - [Rent a scaffold tower (3)](https://www.abilityint.com/blog/tag/rent-a-scaffold-tower) - [Scaffold tower for sale (3)](https://www.abilityint.com/blog/tag/scaffold-tower-for-sale) - [Work At Height Violation (3)](https://www.abilityint.com/blog/tag/work-at-height-violation) - [work related injuries (3)](https://www.abilityint.com/blog/tag/work-related-injuries) - [Chimney Access (2)](https://www.abilityint.com/blog/tag/chimney-access) - [Scaffold tower lease (1)](https://www.abilityint.com/blog/tag/scaffold-tower-lease) - [Servicing Work Equipment (1)](https://www.abilityint.com/blog/tag/servicing-work-equipment) - [case studies (1)](https://www.abilityint.com/blog/tag/case-studies) - [scary facts (1)](https://www.abilityint.com/blog/tag/scary-facts) See all Archive - [August 2026 (2)](https://www.abilityint.com/blog/archive/2026/08) - [July 2026 (2)](https://www.abilityint.com/blog/archive/2026/07) - [June 2026 (4)](https://www.abilityint.com/blog/archive/2026/06) - [May 2026 (2)](https://www.abilityint.com/blog/archive/2026/05) - [April 2026 (2)](https://www.abilityint.com/blog/archive/2026/04) - [January 2026 (1)](https://www.abilityint.com/blog/archive/2026/01) - [December 2025 (1)](https://www.abilityint.com/blog/archive/2025/12) - [November 2025 (1)](https://www.abilityint.com/blog/archive/2025/11) - [August 2025 (109)](https://www.abilityint.com/blog/archive/2025/08) - [May 2025 (2)](https://www.abilityint.com/blog/archive/2025/05) - [April 2025 (3)](https://www.abilityint.com/blog/archive/2025/04) See all ### Subscribe by email Share this [Share on X](https://x.com/intent/post?url=https://www.abilityint.com/blog/severn-valley-railway-hit-with-a-fine&text=Severn+Valley+Railway+Hit+With+A+Fine) [Share on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.abilityint.com/blog/severn-valley-railway-hit-with-a-fine&t=Severn+Valley+Railway+Hit+With+A+Fine) [Share on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.abilityint.com/blog/severn-valley-railway-hit-with-a-fine&t=Severn+Valley+Railway+Hit+With+A+Fine) Previous story [← Will A Desksurfer Fit Into A Lift?](https://www.abilityint.com/blog/will-a-desksurfer-fit-into-a-lift-abilityint) Next story [Autumn-Proof Your Work At Height →](https://www.abilityint.com/blog/how-to-work-at-height-safely-in-autumn) ## You May Also Like These Related Stories [What Responsibilities Do Employees Have When Working At Height?](https://www.abilityint.com/blog/what-responsibilities-do-employees-have-working-at-height) ![What Responsibilities do Employees Have Working at Height?](https://www.abilityint.com/hubfs/Images/construction-worker.webp) [injuries at work](https://www.abilityint.com/blog/tag/injuries-at-work) ### What Responsibilities Do Employees Have When Working At Height? 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