BNSF News

Holidays Bring Hidden Danger

2008-12-18

The holiday season, with all of its excitement and distractions, is in full swing.

Click here for a safety briefing on staying safe at work during the holidays.

Statistics reveal that this time of year, railroad workers face a higher likelihood of serious and fatal injury from railroad switching operations than at any other. Sadly, the recent fatal injury of a BNSF employees who was struck by a train underscores how important it is for all employees to to maintain situational awareness and follow safe work practices at all times.

Especially dangerous are the days just before and after the New Year.

• More than 16 years of statistics for the entire U.S. rail industry reveal that rail-switching accidents cluster in the 24-day period from Dec. 22 to Jan. 14.
• Of 171 fatalities studied over this 16-year period, 20 fatalities (or about 12 percent of such fatalities annually) occurred during this 24-day period.

Moreover, since 1992, only four years have been fatality free during this 24-day span across the industry.

The injured employees are not necessarily new hires. According to the Switching Operations Fatalities Analysis (SOFA) working group report, almost as many injuries and deaths involve employees with many years of seniority as those with little experience. So don’t take anything for granted, even if you’ve previously done some job a thousand times.

By following SOFA’s lifesaving tips, rail employees engaged in switching operations stand a far higher probability of returning home safely to their families.

The SOFA group warns, be alert to the following special switching hazards that can take limbs and lives:

• Close clearances
• Shoving movements
• Unsecured cars
• Free rolling rail cars
• Exposure to mainline trains
• Tripping, slipping or falling
• Unexpected movement of cars
• Adverse environmental conditions
• Equipment defects
• Motor vehicles or loading devices
• Drugs and alcohol.

The SOFA group also offers five life-saving tips:

• Secure equipment before action is taken.
• Protect against moving equipment.
• Discuss safety at the beginning of the job and when the work changes.
• Communicate before action is taken.
• Coach less experienced employees to perform service safely.

Two of the SOFA life-saving tips are particularly significant in preventing fatalities: safety briefings before switching operations begin, or when the nature of work changes; and the mentoring of less-experienced employees.

Statistics prove that situational awareness is crucial to staying safe.

BNSF Headquarters

For more information on the company and its transportation solutions, visit the BNSF Web site at www.bnsf.com