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3
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
According to the FTA's Fall 2008 Rail Transit Safety Quarterly workers from being struck by a moving train or piece of
Newsletter, between 2003 and 2008 the nation's heavy rail maintenance equipment.
transit systems experienced eight accidents that resulted in
the deaths of 10 right-of-way (ROW) workers, including track The initial panel discussion determined that the study
inspectors, track workers, and signal technicians, resulting in should address both heavy rail and light rail modes of transit.
a 300% increase in the rate of fatalities and injuries from their The literature review and agency interviews revealed that
historic average in the heavy rail industry. In 2010 two more modal delineations in track worker protection and overall
rail transit ROW workers lost their lives when they were struck safety programs are less relevant than an approach that con-
by a high-rail vehicle. siders a transit agency's infrastructure and operations and the
hazards associated with employees and contractors working
Of the 19 worker fatalities reported to the National Transit safely within those parameters. The key considerations are
Database (2003 to 2008) for rail transit, 17 were reported for listed here.
heavy rail service and two for light rail service. Over half
of those fatalities reported occurred on the ROW. This is in Environmental Factors
addition to the track worker injuries and close calls that
occurred on the ROW during the period. Environmental factors are any characteristics of the ROW or
infrastructure that create a hazardous condition limiting a
This study focuses on the practices implemented by several worker's ability to clear the track in the event of train or other
rail transit agencies to establish or improve track worker safety equipment or vehicle movement. Areas requiring special
protection programs. attention include:
· Tunnels. This environment, regardless of mode, presents
PROJECT OBJECTIVES AND BACKGROUND
a variety of hazardous conditions, including limited
The objectives of this study are to report the state of knowl- light and therefore visibility; limited sight distances; tight
edge and practice regarding wayside worker protection clearances; and acoustic conditions that can amplify,
programs at selected transit agencies and to document the deaden, or misdirect the sounds of oncoming trains.
state of the practice, including lessons learned and gaps in · ROW bridges and elevated structures. Although the
information. diminished light and acoustic problems inherent in
tunnels are not found in these areas, the hazards of tight
Improved safeguards and safety procedures can reduce clearances, combined with the need for prevention of
accidents and fatalities for rail transit wayside workers across falls and often amplified weather conditions, particularly
North America. This study identifies successful practices in wind and ice, present a unique set of hazards.
track worker protection that could serve as models or foun- · Tight or blind curves. Regardless of whether eight-car
dations for programs developed at the system- or industry- heavy rail trains are operating in revenue service or
wide level. high-rail equipment is moving to or from a work site, the
limited sight distance in tight or blind curves--above
The discussion of effective safety practices begins with an and below ground--presents a potentially very dangerous
understanding of the hazards facing rail transit ROW workers. condition.
There are myriad potentially dangerous conditions present · Multiple track ROWs. Most systems are configured with
on the ROW, including slip, trip, and fall hazards; energized a two-track main line; only one of the systems studied
power; tight and dark working environments; and elevated has sections with three or four running tracks. That
work zones. However, the most injurious and fatal hazard to configuration allows maintenance and construction
ROW workers continues to be the movement of trains and planners and supervisors to work with transportation
equipment through work areas. Although all of the agencies and operations personnel to explore ways in which a
included in the study have rules and practices to address the work site can be bypassed using a local or express track.
range of hazards, the focus of their programs is on protecting But the configuration presents a more dynamic and
