Category: Safety Alert
FRA Permits Self-Driving Freight Test Despite Warnings from SMART-TD
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has approved 22 waivers allowing Genesee and Wyoming Railroad subsidiaries to test autonomous freight rail cars, despite warnings from the SMART-TD union about the safety risks. Read on to see several critical flaws in the tech that make it obvious to us that railroading is better left to real railroaders.
Crews run blind after CN’s Comply365 app crashes
The Canadian National Railroad (CN) sent their crews rolling through communities without access to essential safety documents after a failed software upgrade. SMART-TD Alternate SLD Eric Stanger told SMART News that “The idea that there is not an adequate contingency plan in place for this is mind-blowing.” If you work for CN, fill out the safety condition report for every incident. The form is available on the SMART App and SMART-TD website.
New round of hazmat trainings announced
The next four rounds of training through the Rail Workers Hazardous Materials Training Program have been announced for October and into 2025.
ALERT for L.A.-area members — operator stabbing suspect at large
At 8:30 p.m. April 13, one of our SMART Transportation Division members was brutally attacked on the job. As of now, the suspected attacker has not been arrested and is still on the loose.
FRA issues safety bulletin on securing rolling stock
The Federal Railroad Administration’s Office of Railroad Safety issued the following bulletin on Feb. 13, 2024, in response to an industry fatality earlier this year. The text is reproduced below: The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is investigating an accident th [...]
SMART-TD Seeks Enforcement of FRA Safety Bulletin Following Fatalities Involving Newly Hired Conductor Trainees
“I’ve got two conductor trainees, both in the same state working for the same carrier whose lives have been cut short. The current condition of all railroad training programs is clearly in need of scrutiny. SMART-TD is not prepared to lose more of our men and women while we s [...]
FRA issues safety bulletin on grade-crossing shove moves after fatal accident
FRA SAFETY BULLETIN 2023-02 SUBJECT: Highway-Rail Grade Crossing and Shove Movement Accident The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is investigating a recent switching accident that resulted in a crew member fatality. Based on FRA’s preliminary investigation, a conductor w [...]
Switching Operations Fatality Analysis (SOFA) group issues info sheet
The Switching Operations Fatality Analysis (SOFA) Working Group issued a one-page information sheet last week regarding shove movements, reminding workers to take care during shove moves — “When in doubt, dismount!” According to the flyer, 27 of 34 fatalities anal [...]