R2024-01 Level crossing accident at Kurkimäki timber loading site on 6 February 2024 resulting in the death of the shunting foreman

A shunting unit pushing empty timber transport wagons collided with the trailer of a vehicle combination for timber transport at Kurkimäki timber loading site on 6 February 2024. The vehicle combination was crossing a level crossing. The shunting foreman directing the shunting unit was killed in the accident. The material damage caused by the accident was minor.

A student in independent work practice at the timber loading site was leaving the site in a vehicle combination. Wagons involved in shunting were temporarily standing at the level crossing located on the original route. The student chose a route via another level crossing. A shunting unit was approaching the level crossing. The shunting foreman was standing on the footstep of the first wagon of the unit in the direction of travel. The shunting foreman intended to disembark at the level crossing. The shunting foreman noticed the vehicle combination that was approaching the level crossing and that stopped before the crossing and probably assumed that the driver had noticed the approaching shunting unit. The shunting foreman prepared for jolts caused by braking and turned round so that his back was towards the level crossing. The vehicle combination driver failed to notice the approaching shunting unit. The shunting unit collided with the rear of the trailer at slow speed. In the collision, the shunting foreman was stuck between a wagon and the trailer and was killed.

The accident was typical for an unguarded level crossing, and the failure of the vehicle combination driver to notice the approaching shunting unit and the manner in which the shunting foreman interpreted the driver’s intentions both contributed to the course of events.

The safety of timber loading sites was examined more thoroughly in the investigation on the basis of users’ experiences. Several operators work at timber loading sites at the same time, and they are not necessarily familiar with the content of each other’s work and do not have the capacity to take into account the impacts of their own work on the activities of other parties or overall safety. At a site with several operators but no jointly agreed cooperation procedures or communication methods, employees are more prone to make decisions that are not necessarily safe to other operators. There is currently no actor at timber loading sites that would coordinate different functions and be responsible for overall safety.

Most of the timber loading sites have level crossings even though traffic at them could also be managed without crossing tracks. Planning of timber loading sites and operations at them are guided by such factors as maximising of timber volumes. The combined effect of cramped conditions and vision barriers on traffic safety has not been fully recognised in the planning of the sites.

There are no safety requirements or guidelines for level crossings at timber loading sites to support planning and maintenance. Furthermore, the requirements for level crossings on the public road network do not apply to them.

To improve safety, the Safety Investigation Authority recommends the following:

1. The Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency should, in its capacity as the owner of the timber loading sites, assume responsibility for developing the overall safety of the sites, especially the coordination of operators’ work practices and definition of communication practices. [2024-S38]
2. The Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency should update the planning guidelines for timber loading sites so that the sites can be planned without level crossings. If level crossings are needed at the sites, safety requirements that are independent of the site classification should be specified for them. [2024-S39]