Category: Safety Alert
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 analyzed by the SOFA group in the decade from 2011-2021 occurred during shove moves. The SOFA […]
FRA issues second safety advisory in two weeks’ time
The Federal Railroad Administration published a safety bulletin Dec. 29 regarding an unintended release of a train’s air brakes while stopped at a signal. The text of the advisory as published in the Federal Register is reproduced below. FRA is issuing Safety Advisory 2022-02 to make the rail industry aware of a recent issue encountered by a […]
FRA issues safety bulletin
The Federal Railroad Administration’s Office of Railroad Safety issued the following bulletin on Dec. 20, 2022: SUBJECT: Pre-Departure Inspections – Appendix D to 49 CFR Part 215 The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is investigating a recent fatal accident when a train operating on the mainline struck a piece of angle iron protruding from a freight […]
Safety alert issued after tripwires found in Missouri
A safety alert was issued this week after the discovery of tripwires by a Class I worker Aug. 19 stretching from rail spikes to a sign across the ballast near Harrisonville, Mo. “The affixing of these wires – difficult to find even when looking for them, much less see while performing professional duties along the […]
Watch the Skies — It’s National Lightning Safety Week!
Each year, about 20 million bolts of lightning strike the earth’s surface, and each can carry upwards of 300 million volts and 30,000 amps. While being struck by lightning is a rare event, over the past 10 years around 250 Americans have died this way, and thousands have been severely injured. Some workers face greater […]
SMART-TD National Safety Team gets new director
As the SMART-TD restructures to better serve our membership, the National Safety Team (NST) now has a new director. SMART-TD Alternate National Legislative Director Jared Cassity (Local 1377 in Russell, Ky.) has taken over as director for SMART-TD Chief of Staff Jerry Gibson (Local 313 in Grand Rapids, Mich.). “I have the utmost faith that […]
Switching Operations Fatality Analysis (SOFA) Working Group issues alert
The Switching Operations Fatality Analysis (SOFA) Working Group issued an alert late last week in response to three rail fatalities that have occurred since early March. Two of those incidents resulted in the loss of life of SMART-TD members — Taj Ellis and Buddy L. Strieker — and occurred during shove movements. The third incident […]
Hazardous Materials Training Program to offer online courses in April
In April, the Hazardous Materials Training Program is planning to host three courses virtually: Disaster Recovery/Response Course (2 hours) COVID-19 and Infectious Disease Response Awareness Training Course (90 minutes) DOT Hazardous Materials Awareness Course (8 hours over two days) The Disaster Response Recovery course is training for workers and community members who live and work […]