A PLAQUE commemorating railway workers who were killed while on duty was unveiled at Hereford Railway Station on International Workers Memorial Day today following a RMT union campaign.

The memorial lists the names of seven workers who died in various accidents near or at the cathedral city station between 1851 and 1928.

Leominster & Hereford RMT branch secretary James McLelland said that most of the railway workers were killed due to being expected or ordered on to tracks without a lookout for oncoming trains.

He added that the plaque only lists their first initials as record-keeping of the train workers who were injured or killed was an “afterthought, which only came into place following serious action from unions who campaigned for it.”

Mr McLelland added he was unable to obtain records of Hereford railway workers who died at work following the nationalisation of British Rail.

“The railway can be a very dangerous place to work. Even as late as 1980, 36 workers were killed on duty every year, a rate of one fatality every ten days,” he said.

“Plenty of people moan about health and safety nowadays but it’s important to remember that every health and safety regulation that exists was written in blood, and that people died for those regulations to be in place. 

“Unfortunately, accidents do still take place in the workplace, including right here in Hereford, and today is a day not just to remember the people who’ve died in previous accidents, but to redouble our efforts to ensure that everyone who goes to work comes home again to their families.”

The plaque has been installed by Transport for Wales following approach by the RMT branch.