Notice2022-23486
Safety Advisory 2022-01; Use of Portable Derails
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
October 28, 2022
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Railroad Administration
Abstract
FRA is issuing Safety Advisory 2022-01 to emphasize the importance of, first, ensuring that portable derails are clearly visible to train crews and operators of other on-track equipment, particularly at night and in other low-light conditions; and, second, having processes in place to ensure portable derails are removed when not necessary for on-track safety. This Safety Advisory recommends that railroads, and railroad contractors, review and revise their on-track safety manuals, as necessary, to ensure they include procedures and rules for the use of portable derails.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 208 (Friday, October 28, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 208 (Friday, October 28, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Page 65285]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-23486]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
Safety Advisory 2022-01; Use of Portable Derails
AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of safety advisory.
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SUMMARY: FRA is issuing Safety Advisory 2022-01 to emphasize the
importance of, first, ensuring that portable derails are clearly
visible to train crews and operators of other on-track equipment,
particularly at night and in other low-light conditions; and, second,
having processes in place to ensure portable derails are removed when
not necessary for on-track safety. This Safety Advisory recommends that
railroads, and railroad contractors, review and revise their on-track
safety manuals, as necessary, to ensure they include procedures and
rules for the use of portable derails.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Yu-Jiang Zhang, Staff Director, Track
and Structures Division, Office of Railroad Safety, FRA, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590, telephone: (202) 493-6460,
email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#cdb4b8a7a4aca3aae3b7a5aca3aa8da9a2b9e3aaa2bb"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="93eae6f9faf2fdf4bde9fbf2fdf4d3f7fce7bdf4fce5">[email protected]</span></a>.
Disclaimer: This Safety Advisory is considered guidance pursuant to
DOT Order 2100.6A (June 7, 2021). Except when referencing laws,
regulations, policies, or orders, the information in this Safety
Advisory does not have the force and effect of law and is not meant to
bind the public in any way. This document does not revise or replace
any previously issued guidance.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On August 29, 2022, a train crew operating in a railroad yard at
night encountered a portable derail placed on the track earlier that
day to protect multiple engineering work groups working on the track.
The train crew, which did not see the derail, operated their train
directly into the derail, striking it at approximately nine miles per
hour and derailing the first two cars of their train. The conductor,
who was riding the lead car, was fatally injured when the car rolled
over.
FRA's blue signal protection (BSP) requirements have long required
mechanical derails to be used for the protection of workers on, under,
or between rolling equipment to have a blue light illuminated at night.
See 49 CFR part 218, subpart B. Typically, in BSP work areas (e.g.,
mechanical shops), derails are located at known or fixed locations.
Roadway workers, however, use portable maintenance-of-way (MOW)
derails, which may be installed almost anywhere on non-controlled track
for protection.\1\ Because portable MOW derails are not required to be
marked or otherwise illuminated for conspicuity, even under conditions
of limited visibility, they can become hazards themselves if not highly
visible in low-light conditions. Accordingly, best practice dictates
that portable derails installed on track should be equipped with a
portable light or, at a minimum, reflectorized flags in low-light
conditions.
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\1\ See 49 CFR 214.327.
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In addition, portable derails should not be left on the track when
they are no longer necessary. For example, some railroads require their
roadway workers in charge (RWICs) to fill out a form before installing
the portable derails. This form typically requires the RWIC to record
the date, location, installation time, and removal time of the portable
derail. Formalizing the process for installation and removal of
portable derails heightens the awareness of the presence of portable
derails and the importance of removing these derails from the track
when they are no longer necessary.
FRA notes that some railroads require employees to place a tag on
the steering wheel of their hi-rail vehicles when placing shunts on the
track. A similar process for placing portable derails would safeguard
against roadway workers unintentionally leaving portable derails on the
track.
Recommendations
In light of the above discussion, FRA recommends that railroads and
railroad contractors:
1. Review with their employees the circumstances of the fatal
accident described in this Safety Advisory.
2. Review and revise as necessary, their on-track safety manuals to
ensure the use of portable derails is adequately addressed and, at a
minimum, that these manuals:
a. Provide that portable derails be equipped with a functioning
light or a reflectorized flag when used at night or under other
conditions of limited visibility; and
b. Include procedures to ensure that portable derails are removed
when no longer necessary, such as procedures to track the location and
use of portable derails.
FRA encourages all railroad industry members to take actions
consistent with the recommendations of this Safety Advisory. FRA may
modify this Safety Advisory, issue additional safety advisories, or
take other appropriate action necessary to ensure the highest level of
safety on the Nation's railroads, including pursuing other corrective
measures under its rail safety authority.
Issued in Washington, DC.
John Karl Alexy,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety Chief Safety Officer.
[FR Doc. 2022-23486 Filed 10-27-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
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