North Dakota rail safety inspectors issued 49 violations in 2017

The North Dakota Public Service Commission (PSC) earlier this month released 2017 inspection data from the agency's Railroad Safety Program, which identifies defects and violations that may result in accidents.

The program's two inspectors focus on two disciplines: track and motor power and equipment (mechanical). Statistics show those areas contribute to the largest number and most severe accidents in the state, PSC officials said in a press release.

Inspectors categorize their findings as informational, defect or violation.

"State rail inspectors covered a lot of ground in 2017 and consistently found areas to improve the safety of the system and avoid derailments," said Commissioner Julie Fedorchak. "They issued multiple violations related to wheel defects, side bearing problems, and switch issues all of which have a direct relation to derailments."

The Railroad Safety Program promotes a safety culture and rail system that is "safe for communities and efficient for the agriculture, energy, manufacturing and other key industries that depend on it," Fedorchak added.

Last year, the mechanical inspector inspected 9,661 rail cars, discovered 1,687 defects and issued 36 violations. The track inspector inspected 3,576 units, discovered 1,003 defects and issued 13 violations. One unit consists of 1 mile of track, a switch or turnout, and/or a single derail.

The program defines a defect as a condition that doesn't meet the minimum requirements prescribed by the Federal Railroad Administration. A defect doesn't pose an imminent danger, but if not addressed it could develop into a more serious problem.

The program defines a violation as a more serious problem that requires immediate attention. Depending on the severity, violations trigger compliance strategies such as fines, reduced speeds or removal of equipment from service.