{"id":13046,"date":"2011-09-07T04:40:23","date_gmt":"2011-09-07T04:40:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/utu.org\/?p=13046"},"modified":"2011-09-07T04:40:23","modified_gmt":"2011-09-07T04:40:23","slug":"situational-awareness-saves-limbs-lives-careers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.smart-union.org\/situational-awareness-saves-limbs-lives-careers\/","title":{"rendered":"Situational awareness saves limbs, lives, careers","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"
During the first six months of 2011, 37 serious injuries occurred during switching operations, resulting in three fatalities and eight amputations, according to the Federal Railroad Administration.<\/p>\n These accidents emphasize that there is no more dangerous civilian occupation than working in a railroad switching yard, where accidents too often kill, maim and end careers.<\/p>\n Yard safety requires situational awareness, which is a state of mind coupled with teamwork, communication and uninterrupted attention to the task at hand.<\/p>\n To combat yard fatalities and career-ending injuries, the Switching Operations Fatalities Analysis (SOFA) Working Group was formed in 1998.<\/p>\n It is a peer review group comprised of representatives from labor, management and the Federal Railroad Administration \u2014 all collaborating to bring railroaders home in one piece.<\/p>\n SOFA\u2019s five lifesaving tips that can save yours:<\/strong><\/p>\n *<\/strong> Secure all equipment before action is taken.<\/p>\n *<\/strong> Protect employees against moving equipment.<\/p>\n *<\/strong> Discuss safety at the beginning of a job or when work changes.<\/p>\n *<\/strong> Communicate before action is taken.<\/p>\n *<\/strong> Mentor less experienced employees to perform service safely.<\/p>\n The SOFA Working Group also warns of special switching hazards:<\/strong><\/p>\n *<\/strong> Close clearances<\/p>\n *<\/strong> Shoving movements<\/p>\n *<\/strong> Unsecured cars<\/p>\n *<\/strong> Free rolling rail cars<\/p>\n *<\/strong> Exposure to mainline trains<\/p>\n *<\/strong> Tripping, slipping or falling<\/p>\n *<\/strong> Unexpected movement of cars<\/p>\n *<\/strong> Adverse environmental conditions<\/p>\n *<\/strong> Equipment defects<\/p>\n *<\/strong> Motor vehicles or loading devices<\/p>\n *<\/strong> Drugs and alcohol<\/p>\n The SOFA Working Group\u2019s lifesaving tips are proven to reduce your risk of a career-ending injury or death while on the job.<\/p>\n The UTU is represented in the SOFA group by Louisiana State Legislative Director Gary Devall, Minnesota State Legislative Director Phil Qualy and Kansas State Legislative Director Ty Dragoo.<\/p>\n To view recent SOFA Working Group reports, and advisories related to inexperienced employees, close clearances, industrial track hazards, job briefings and mainline train hazards, click on the following link:<\/p>\n<\/a>A UTU-member conductor employed by Canadian Pacific in LaCrosse, Wis., suffered a severe injury \u2013 being pinned beneath a freight car that derailed and tipped over — during a switching operation Sept. 5. The 43-year-old conductor had less than one year of service.<\/p>\n