Close Call Archives - SMART Union

Conductor’s quick action saves boy from being struck in Pa.

August 25, 2020 A boy’s life was saved Aug. 14 and a potential tragedy averted thanks to the fast-thinking actions of Mike Bobrosky III, a member of Local 1006 (Brownsville, Pa). That morning, Reese Pearson, 9, who has autism, ran off from his home in Morgan Township, Pa. His mom immediately called police, according to reports from KDKA […]

Tags Local 1006, Mike Brobosky, two person crew

NCTD joins with SMART TD, NASA & FRA to participate in C3RS program

August 19, 2019 The North County Transit District (NCTD) has teamed up with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to add an extra level of safety for its staff, contractors and the public. On August 1, 2019, NCTD entered into a partnership with NASA, the FRA, Bombardier Transportation USA, Inc., and […]

Tags C3RS, FRA, NASA, NCTD, North County Transit District

SEPTA signs on for Confidential Close Call Reporting with SMART TD, BLET & FRA

December 14, 2016 In a press release, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) signed an Implementing Memorandum of Understanding (IMOU) with SMART TD Local 61, BLET and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for the Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C3RS). Below is SEPTA’s press release: PHILADELPHIA (December 12, 2016) – SEPTA, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), […]

Tags C3RS, Confidential Close Call Reporting System, FRA, SEPTA

NJT mandates 2-person train crew for Hoboken and Atlantic City hubs

October 6, 2016 ABC News.com reported that following last week’s deadly New Jersey Transit crash in Hoboken that killed a woman standing on the platform and injured more than 100 commuters, NJT announced a new mandate that requires the presence of both the engineer and a conductor during the final phase of the commute, when the trains are pulling into […]

Tags commuter rail safety, freight rail safety, HR 1763, NJT crash, rail safety, two-person crews legislation

Confidential Close Call Reporting system expanding

September 23, 2013 The Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C3RS) took a significant step forward Sept. 1 by expanding the geographic coverage for Amtrak train and engine workers from 10 Amtrak yard facilities to all Amtrak-owned and dispatched territory throughout the system. The C3RS is a partnership between the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Federal Railroad […]

Tags Confidential Close Call Reporting

Confidential Close Call Reporting proving its worth

May 15, 2012 It’s confidential and no-fault. And the result, according to the Federal Railroad Administration, is a significant reduction in rail workplace derailments that too often lead to serious injury and death — plus, as a bonus, better labor/management relationships and improved operational performance. We’re talking about four pilot projects called Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C3RS), whose core value […]

Tags Amtrak, C3RS, Canadian Pacific, Confidential Close Call Reporting System, CP, Federal Railroad Administration, FRA, John Previsich, New Jersey Transit, north platte, Portage, Union Pacific

BNSF conductor loses leg in yard accident

February 4, 2011 WILLMAR, Minn. — A 31-year old BNSF conductor , a UTU Local 1177 member, suffered a leg amputation in a yard accident here Feb. 3 — the second UTU member to endure such an accident in 2011. Corey Lynn Kluver, the father of three young children, reportedly was making a cut of cars in a […]

Close calls pilot tests positive on UP

December 14, 2010 NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — Union Pacific is four years into its five-year pilot Confidential Close Calls Reporting System (C3RS) and participants are giving it high marks for improving safety culture. C3RS encourages engineers, conductors, trainmen and yardmasters to report close calls that may have resulted in accidents or injuries without fear of discipline or FRA […]

Alert commuter rail crew saves life near Boston

December 13, 2010 STOUGHTON, Mass. — An alert and ever vigilant Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad crew — that recognized the difference between a bag of clothes between the tracks and a human being — saved a life in this Boston suburb last week. The MBCR crew, with engineer Chris Holm at the throttle and conductor John Gibbs (UTU […]

Confidential close call reporting on Amtrak

September 13, 2010 The UTU’s fourth Federal Railroad Administration sponsored risk-reduction pilot project, known as “Confidential Close Call Reporting System” (C3RS), has been formalized in a memorandum of understanding among the UTU, Amtrak and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen. As its name implies, the pilot project permits conductors, engineers, trainmen and yardmasters to report — voluntarily, confidentially […]