Rail Movement Safety Tips ... Implementing Safe Practice Reminders Is Critical For Avoiding Accidents
Implementing safe practice reminders is critical for avoiding accidents
Failure to perform safe rail movement causes injuries, fatalities, and damage to equipment and property every year. Below are safe practice reminders and ideas to help negate potential incidents and promote safe practices:
• Always have a plan before starting the rail movement. A ground person walks the tracks to remove derailers. Remove any unused chocks, blue flags, or anything that can create trip hazards. The ground person can preset switches while visibly inspecting the tracks and switches. Ensure all railcars are past the switch line to avoid accidental contact.
• Ensure all personnel and equipment are off of the tracks, and personnel are aware of the upcoming rail movement.
• Every person involved in the rail movement should have a radio with a designated channel for rail movement only. Ensure radios have a fresh battery before starting.
• Always have a guard posted to prevent pedestrian and vehicle access at all crosswalks, intersections, and crossings before approaching during rail movement.
• High-visiblity reflective vests should be included in the ground persons PPE.
Clear communication is key to safe rail movement. A repeat command rule should be established on the radio between the rail operator and the ground person.
• Clear communication is key to safe rail movement. A repeat command rule should be established on the radio between the rail mover operator and the ground person. For example: the ground person says on the radio, “Standby while I make the switch” and the rail mover operator replies “Standing by while you make the switch.” The rail mover operator knows to remain at “all stop” until notified by the ground person with further instructions.
• The “danger zone” is the area where personnel step in between railcars or rail movers to connect or disconnect knuckles and air couplers, and open or close angle cocks. This area poses the greatest risk for the ground person. The ground person can never enter the danger zone without informing the rail mover operator on the radio and hearing the rail mover operators repeat command acknowledging the danger zone.
• When removing chocks and blue flags, store the chocks and blue flags as not to create a new trip hazard.
• Manual brakes on the railcars should not be released before the rail mover attached has full air pressure built for the air brake system.
• Rail mover operator sounds the horn before any movement in any direction. c
• The rail mover operator should never travel faster than the ground person can walk. Riding the railcar as a ground person is not recommended, as dismounting usually is done on sloped gravel surfaces and has potential for trip hazards.
• The ground person gives accurate distance readings on the radio to the rail mover operator to ensure safe connecting, spotting, and making switches of railcars. For example, the ground person tells the rail mover operator “five railcars to connect.” The rail mover operator responds, “five railcars to connect.” The countdown continues with the appropriate response from the rail mover operator to close the distance, such as “four railcars to connect, three railcars to connect, two railcars to connect, one railcar, half railcar.” After the half a railcar response from the rail mover operator, the ground person will keep the speaker button depressed on the radio so there is no interruption and say, “20 feet, 10 feet, 5…4…3…2…1… connected”.
The danger zone is the area where personnel step in between railcars or rail movers to connect or disconnect knuckles and air couplers and open or close angle cocks.
• The ground person sets required brakes and chocks per the number of railcars and grade of the tracks before telling the rail mover operator to disconnect.
• After rail movement is complete, install derailers and blue flags at all rail entrances to the facility.
Source: Glenn Dickey, All-Safe program manager at AgriSphere Services, LLC, Decatur, IL: gdickey@agrisphere.com – www.agrisphere.com.