MOW worker fatality prompts FRA safety bulletin

The Federal Railroad Administration has issued a safety bulletin to remind railroads and their employees and contractors to ensure proper safety precautions when working on, near and around roadway maintenance machines (RMM).

FRA officials issued the bulletin as part of its ongoing investigation into a fatal accident involving a maintenance-of-way worker who died following injuries suffered during on-track excavation activities.

The precautions call for:
• railroads to provide employees adequate training on railroad rules for roadway workers who operate and work near RMM;
• railroads to provide employees appropriate periodic oversight of compliance with railroad rules for roadway workers who operate and work near RMM;
• railroads to empower employees to seek immediate clarification of any safety rule, and the right to challenge rules for roadway workers who operate and work near RMM;
• employees to understand the importance of conducting proper job briefings that address all known safety risks involved in the work to be performed;
• employees to understand the importance of good communication between machine operators and roadway workers assigned to work on or near RMM; and
• employees to understand the importance of complying with railroad rules while working on or near RMM.