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[CNJRoss]

NTSB media advisory, 9/19/14:

NTSB to Meet on Special Investigation Report on Rail Roadway Worker Protection

WASHINGTON – The National Transportation Safety Board will meet to discuss the special investigation report on the recent surge in deaths of railroad and rail transit roadway workers on or near tracks. The NTSB report will look more closely at roadway worker safety and the issues behind the 15 fatalities in 2013.
Event: Board Meeting

Date/Time: Wednesday, September 24, 2014, 9:30 am ET

Location: NTSB Board Room and Conference Center
429 L'Enfant Plaza, SW Washington, DC

Participants: NTSB Board Members

The Board meeting will be webcast live. A link to the webcast will be available on the following page shortly before the start of the meeting: http://www.capitolco...n/ntsb/ntsb.htm

[CNJRoss]

NTSB news release:

In Special Investigation Report, NTSB Looks at Recent Surge in Railroad Worker Deaths
________________________________________
Sept. 24, 2014

WASHINGTON – The National Transportation Safety Board today issued a special investigation report on the recent increase in deaths of railroad and rail transit roadway workers on or near tracks and made recommendations to reduce the number of fatalities.

The Special Investigation Report on Railroad and Rail Transit Roadway Worker Protection provides details of 14 fatal accidents in 2013. Over the year, 15 roadway workers died. The number of deaths in 2013, the findings from investigations of those deaths and the increasing number of fatalities prompted the NTSB to look more closely at the issue of roadway worker safety and to recommend actions to address these issues.

Railroad and rail transit roadway workers are subject to on-the-job risks and hazards that are markedly different from those faced by other railroad employees. Of the fatalities in 2013, 11 resulted from 11 accidents on freight railroads and four were on commuter or transit railways. The average number of railroad worker fatalities has fluctuated but has remained about 6.4 per year from 1990 to 2013.

“Railroad roadway worker deaths have increased over the past three years,” said NTSB Acting Chairman Christopher A. Hart. “This trend is unacceptable.”

Among the report’s findings are that comprehensive job briefings could help prevent accidents and that national inspection protocols for work activities are necessary to ensure the safety of roadway workers.

The NTSB issued recommendations to the Federal Railroad Administration, the Federal Transit Administration, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Fatality Analysis of Maintenance-of-Way Employees and Signalmen Committee. The recommendations call for additional training, harmonization of standards, a national inspection program and greater stakeholder participation in roadway worker fatalities, among other measures.

An abstract of the special report is available at: http://go.usa.gov/dZfj
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NTSB Meeting Video (available for 3 months)

[CNJRoss]

NTSB news release:

Train Approach Warning from Watchman, Lookout, Subject of NTSB Safety Alert

7/31/2017

 

The National Transportation Safety Board Monday issued a Safety Alert warning rail workers of the risks of working on the tracks using only a watchman/lookout to provide the train approach warning.

 

Safety Alert 066 was prompted in part by the deaths of two rail workers who were struck and killed by a train in Edgemont, South Dakota, Jan. 17, 2017. The NTSB investigation found the sight distance used by the watchman/lookout was about half the distance required by federal regulations. The Federal Railroad Administration requires that workers be able to clear the tracks at least 15 seconds before a train moving at the maximum authorized speed can pass the work location safely.

 

“The accident cited in this safety alert, and other recent similar accidents, warrant a reminder to railroad employees to remain vigilant for approaching trains – whether they are the watchman/lookout or whether they are working on the tracks,” said NTSB Acting Chairman Robert L. Sumwalt.  “If a watchman/lookout does not devote his or her full attention to their duty of looking for approaching trains, they might not provide warning of an approaching train with sufficient time for their coworkers to clear the tracks. This alert highlights actions that when followed, will save lives railroad worker lives.’’

 

The NTSB Thursday also opened the docket for the Edgemont investigation. The public docket contains only factual information collected by NTSB investigators, and does not provide analysis, findings, recommendations or probable cause determinations. No conclusions about how or why an accident or incident occurred should be drawn from information contained within the docket. Opening the docket affords those with a need and desire for its contents the opportunity review what factual information has been gathered about the accident. Any analysis, findings, recommendations, or probable cause determinations related to the accident will be issued by the NTSB at a later date.

 

Railroad worker safety was previously addressed by the NTSB in its Special Investigation Report on Railroad and Rail Transit Roadway Worker Protection. ​​

 

NTSB Safety Alert 066 (Suitable for posting or distribution.)

 

[CNJRoss]

Progressive Railroading, 2/13/19:
 

NTSB examines roadway worker safety standards in fatal CSX accident

 

Shown is the track frog at the accident location. Photo – NTSB.gov

 

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released its preliminary report on a November 2018 accident in which a CSX train struck and killed a CSX track worker in Estill, South Carolina.

The train was traveling northbound when the incident occurred Nov. 30 in the CSX Columbia subdivision at the north end Estill siding switch. The welder was occupying the track as the train approached; an additional roadway worker was at the work location and had been assigned to watch for approaching trains and warn the welder.

 

Continue here.

[CNJRoss]

NTSB 2/11/19:

 

 

​Preliminary Report: Railroad - RRD19FR002

 

Executive Summary

 

​The information in this report is preliminary and will be either supplemented or corrected during the course of the investigation.

 

On November 30, 2018, at 10:20 a.m. eastern standard time, CSX Transportation (CSX) northbound freight train F-794-30, traveling about 50 mph, struck and killed a CSX track welder. The accident occurred at the North End Estill Siding switch, MP S-449.7, on the CSX Columbia subdivision in Estill, South Carolina. The welder was occupying the track as the train approached; an additional roadway worker was at the work location and had been assigned to watch for approaching trains and provide a warning to the welder. The crew members of train F-794-30 told investigators that they did not realize that a person was on the track until moments before impact. The crew of train F-794-30 sounded the train horn and bell; however, there was no response from the roadway work group. At the time of the accident, the sky was clear; the wind was from the southeast about 4 mph, and the reported temperature was 60°F.

 

The CSX Columbia subdivision consists of 137.5 miles of single main track between milepost S-359.7 and milepost S-497.2. According to CSX documentation, on average there are 22 trains that operate daily over the CSX Columbia subdivision. Train movements on the main tracks in this area are controlled by centralized traffic control and governed by operating rules, general orders, timetable instructions, and the signal indications of an absolute block system.

 

The roadway work group consisted of a track welder and one additional roadway worker who was assigned as a watchman/lookout.[1] The welder had been tasked to repair the surface of a track frog in the switch at the North End Estill Siding switch.[2] (See figure 1.) During interviews, the watchman/lookout stated that prior to the accident the welder had told him that the work was complete. The welder and the watchman were both headquartered in Yemassee, South Carolina. The welder had about 10 years of railroad service, and the watchman had about 4 years of railroad service.

 

 

 

Figure 1. Photo of track frog at the accident location.

 

The National Transportation Safety Board investigation is ongoing. Future investigative activity will focus on the CSX operating rules and Federal Railroad Administration safety standards regarding roadway worker protection. Investigators will also review and assess the effectiveness of both the internal and external oversight of the applicable rules and standards.

 

Parties to the investigation include CSX Transportation; the Federal Railroad Administration; the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen; the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers; and the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division.[3]

 

1. A watchman/lookout is a railroad employee who is trained and qualified to watch for approaching trains and give notice of trains in ample time for employees working on the tracks to clear prior to the train’s arrival.

2. A track frog is a component of a railroad switch that allows the wheels of railroad rolling stock to transition from one track to another. The frog is connected to the switch points by the closure rails and is the last component of a railroad switch.

3. The Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division spells the word “Employes” in its name with one e. Therefore, we are using that spelling in this report.

 

Probable Cause

 

The information in this report is preliminary and will be either supplemented or corrected during the course of the investigation.

 

[CNJRoss]

1/20/22

 

 

 

 

NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD ADVOCACY UPDATE

 

 

Five-Year Anniversary of Deadly Rail Accident Highlights Continued Need to Improve Rail Worker Safety

 

 

 

Five years after the Jan. 17, 2017, Edgemont, South Dakota, tragedy in which two railroad roadway workers were struck and killed by a BNSF train, we continue to advocate for implementation of recommendations addressing rail worker safety as a result of its investigation.We determined the probable cause was the improper use of train approach warning by the BNSF Railway roadway work group to provide on-track safety, and issued seven safety recommendations.

 

Of the seven safety recommendations, all remain open and five are open with unacceptable action. The recommendations issued to the Federal Railroad Administration and BNSF Railway address safety issues including improper use of train approach warning, deficient watchman/lookout equipment, and incomplete roadway worker on-track safety briefings.

 

• In 2020, the NTSB investigated eight accidents involving railroad and transit worker fatalities. These alarming statistics are why “Improve Rail Worker Safety” is an item on the NTSB’s 2021 – 2022 Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements.

 

For more details on this accident investigation, visit our investigation page.

 

 

Related:  

BNSF freight train vs 2 employees in Edgemont, SD-- 2 fatalities

 

NTSB 2021-2022 Most Wanted -- Rail Worker Safety

[CNJRoss]

Progressive Railroading, 1/24/22

NTSB highlights need for better rail-worker safety

 

 

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) used the fifth anniversary of a deadly railroad worker accident to advocate for recommendations that would address worker safety.

 

SNIP

 

Improving rail-worker safety is one of the NTSB's 2021-2022 “Most Wanted” list of transportation safety improvements. The latest Bureau of Transportation Statistics data shows 456 employee on-duty fatalities since 1997. In 2020, the NTSB investigated eight accidents involving railroad and transit worker fatalities.

 

 

More here.