NFIR

Registration No. : RTU/Nnnl31 12012

Natiorial Federation of IndianRaihuaymen 3, CHELMSFORD ROAD,NEWDELHI- 11O055 Affiliatedto i lndian NationalTradeUnion Congress(INTUC)& InternationalTransportWorkers'Federation(lTF) No. IV/Safety/A

Dated: 12thJuly 2017

The Secretary(E), Railway Board, New Delhi. Dear Sir, Sub:

Policy on'Drunkennesson Duty.'

Ref:

(i) (ii)

Railway Board's letter No. 2009/Safety(DM)l6ll2lCommitteedated 20/052014addressedto the Federation. NFIR's letter No. IV/Safetv/A dated0910612014 to Railwav Board.

Respondingto the proposal received from Railway Board vide letter dated 2010512015, detailedcommentswere fumished by the Federationvide its letter dated09/0612014to facilitate the Railway Board to hold discussionswhile framing policy on the subject. Federation is however disappointedto note that though a period of nearly three yearspassed,no discussions have beenheld to decidepolicy for issuing instructionsto the ZonalRailways. 2. Reports received by the Federation reveal that the Zonal Railways have resorted to arbitrary decisionsignoring extantinstructionsof Railway Board as listed below:: (i) (iD

whenever LP/ALP/LP (Shunting)/Guardfails the breathalyzertest, they are not booked for a train, though they passin the 2"d breathalyzertest, Such of these staff are marked in 'Non Run" casualty in CMS under option "Inquiry." After inquiry, &Sper the instructions of Power Officer/Traffic (Optg) Officer (in caseof Guard) they are to be bookedon line and

(iii)

in case LPIALP/LP (Shunting)/Guardfail in 2ndtest also, D&AR action being initiated.

3. Complaints received from the Running staff reveal that the Breathalyzersused for conductingtest in the Divisions are quite old and not working properly, consequentlydo not give correct results. Also 2noBreathalyzertest is not conductedon the staff which resultsinto wrong assessmentand unjustified disciplinary proceeding!.,,*"dimposition of penalties on the staff thoughthey deservedto be let off. 4. On S.C.Rly, during sign "ON", if staff foundpositiveon lst BA test,he is being allowed for secondBA test on spareBreathalyzerand when found negative,he is not being allowed to work train. Theseinstructionsare nowhereavailablebut being followed on S.C. Rly. Contd.Page...2

Phone:011-23343305,65027299, Rly.03A-22283,22626, Fax: 011-23744013,Rly-22382 E:mail: [email protected], Website: www-nfirindia.org

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//2/t 5. The Railu'ay Board is silent (RB letter Dt.27.11.2001)on vital issuesthat, if staff found positive, whether he should be checkedon spareBA equipmentor not? and on secondcheck, if found negative whether he shall be allowed to work train or not ?. Since Railway Board's guidelinesare not specific, the Zonal Railways are follorri,ingtheir own practicesduring BA test and resortingaction under D&A rules on running staff. Federationhas also come to know that the Railway Board vide letter No. 2009/Safety (DM)/6/12/Committee dated 18/04/017 have clarified to the South Central Railway that rhl policy on 'Drunkennesson Duty' issuedvide Board's letter dated27lll/2001is applicableat present. Federationbrings to Board's notice that thesepolicy instructionsare not being adhered to, by the Zonal Railways (asmentionedin para 2 above). 6. Federation also states that the instructions on the subject provide for "State of Art Bteathalyzerequipmentcapableof giving exact level of Alcohol content in the blood including print outs to be introduced. Thesebreathalyzersshouldnecessarilyhavethe memory function so that in caseof suspecta print out can be taken." Unfortunately,theseinstructionsare not being followed onZonal Railways, consequentlyRunning staff are being victimized un-necessarily. 7. NFIR, therefore, requests the Railway Board to kindly intervene and issue suitable clarification to the Zonal Railways to save staff from hardships. A copy of the instructions issued may be endorsedto the Federation.Federationalso requeststhe Board to kindly reply indicatingthe actionon Federation'sletterdated09/0612014. Yours faithfullyo

-f, (Dr. M. Raghavaiah)/ General Secretarv-Qopy to the Executive Director (Safety),Railway Board,New Delhi. to the GeneralSecretariesof ZoialUnions ofNFIR. ,,/Copy t M"douCqrtre[rlFlR.

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