NTSB cautions workers about dangers of unsecured rail equipment

The National Transportation Safety Board this week issued a safety alert on the risks associated with unexpected movements of unsecured equipment on railroad track.

The notice was issued to help protect railroad employees, who face significant risk of serious injury or death when they enter the gauge of the track without first ensuring that all equipment on the track is stationary and properly secured against movement.

The board has investigated five accidents between July 2024 and July 2025 in which railroad employees were seriously injured or killed when they fouled the track and were then struck by unsecured equipment.

According to the alert:
• Unsecured equipment on the track can appear stationary but may start to roll unexpectedly when the brakes are released accidentally or applied incorrectly, or when an inadequate number of hand brakes are applied;

• Rail cars coupled with locomotives may start to roll when the locomotive controls are not properly secured or an engineer accidentally manipulates the throttle, reverser or brakes;

• Freight rail cars, including tank cars, may undergo unexpected movement when the material in the rail cars move, or the liquid in the tank cars slosh and create a shift in load;

• Slack action — the amount of free movement between connected rail cars before one car transmits its motion to the next — can lead to sudden and unexpected movement of rail cars;

• Moving equipment may strike or come in contact with stationary equipment positioned on the track and set the stationary equipment in motion; and

• When unsecured equipment moves on uneven or sloped track, the movement can be unexpected or intensified if the track slopes downhill.

Click here to view the NTSB's alert in its entirety.