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The Importance of Effective On-Track Safety Briefings

Published: Dec 2 2015 9:47AM



Dedication:
The FAMES Committee dedicates its efforts to all roadway workers who have lost their lives in the performance of duty and to the families, loved ones, and coworkers they have left behind.


Mission Statement:
The Mission of the Fatality Analysis of Maintenance-of-way Employees and Signalmen (FAMES) Committee is to analyze all fatalities and selected related incidents in order to make recommendations to reduce the risk of future occurrences and eliminate fatalities to roadway workers.  


Following the implementation of the Roadway Worker Protection (RWP) Rule in 1997, there have been a total of 42 fatal RWP accidents, in which 44 roadway workers have perished, as ofDecember 31, 2011. The FAMES Committee was able to obtain data to analyze 39 fatal RWP accidents, which accounted for 41 of the 44 fatalities. The FAMES Committee analysis is based on the available data.

An On-Track Safety Briefing informs roadway workers of their on-track protection at the jobsite and is a vital component of the job briefing. On-Track Safety Briefings and Re-Briefings are interactive discussions intended to provide an opportunity for roadway workers to ask questions, raise any concerns, and verify their understanding of the on-track protection.

On-Track Safety Briefings and Re-Briefings are critical in preventing roadway worker fatalities. An analysis of fatalities by the FAMES Committee concluded an insufficient or nonexistent On-Track Safety Briefing or Re-Briefing as a possible contributing factor in 19 (46%) of the fatalities studied.1

Initial Briefings

An On-Track Safety Briefing must be conducted with roadway workers before they foul any track. The briefing must clearly identify the Roadway Worker-In-Charge and the details of the on-track protection. Every roadway worker must acknowledge their understanding of the ontrack protection to be utilized at the jobsite.

Before additional persons are allowed to join a roadway work group or utilize its protection, they must participate in a job briefing that includes an On-Track Safety Briefing prior to fouling any track.

Of the 19 fatalities associated with insufficient or nonexistent On-Track Safety Briefings, 8 occurred on an adjacent track. Consideration of adjacent track(s) must be a vital discussion point of the On-Track Safety Briefing.

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1, Of the 19 fatalities, two occurred in the same incident.

Employees working alone who are responsible for their own on-track protection must brief with a supervisor or other designated employee prior to fouling a track.

Re-Briefings

If on-track protection is modified or circumstances change, every affected roadway worker must participate in a re-briefing. FAMES analysis revealed that 6 fatally injured workers were not rebriefed after the on-track protection was modified or circumstances changed. The analysis also indicated an elevated number of roadway worker fatalities occurred following a meal period.

Good Faith Challenge

If at any time there are unresolved on-track protection issues, roadway workers need to exercise their right to initiate a good faith challenge and remain clear of the track(s) until resolved.

Recommendations:

  • Each roadway worker must participate in an On-Track Safety Briefing before fouling any track. The on-track protection must be appropriate for the job being performed.
  • The On-Track Safety Briefing should be an interactive discussion between members of a roadway work group concerning their specific on-track protection. Active participation is essential to an effective On-Track Safety Briefing. Ask questions! Voice concerns!
  • The On-Track Safety Briefing is not complete until every member of a roadway work group acknowledges understanding of the on-track protection to be utilized at the jobsite.
  • Roadway workers are empowered to initiate a good faith challenge if they believe the on-track protection is insufficient or does not comply with operating and safety rules.
  • Conduct an On-Track Safety Re-Briefing after meal periods or other extended periods of inactivity to remind roadway workers of their on-track protection.
  • Conduct an On-Track Safety Re-Briefing anytime the on-track protection is modified or conditions change which affect on-track protection.
  • Anyone joining a work group or utilizing that work group’s protection must participate in an On-Track Safety Briefing prior to fouling any track.
  • Employees working alone must conduct an On-Track Safety Briefing with a supervisor or other designated employee before fouling any track.
  • Open communications among work group members is critical to establishing and maintaining a safe work environment.
  • All members of the workgroup share responsibility to be observant of changing conditions or situations that affect their on-track safety and are empowered to request a re-briefing.

 


The FAMES Committee consists of safety representatives from a cross section of rail labor, railroad management, and federal regulators. FAMES is a continuous improvement process that relies on the candid sharing of available data and the views of its participants. To enable the process, FAMES explicitly refrains from making any findings regarding whether any past or present practice or protocol satisfies any legal duty or standard of care. 
The views, opinions, and recommendations contained in this report are those of the FAMES Committee and do not necessarily represent the views, opinions, or recommendations of any specific railroad, labor organization, or governmental agency.