FRA issuing Safety Advisory on staying alert and situational awareness

FRA is issuing Safety Advisory 2010-03 to remind railroads and their employees of the importance of situational awareness and the need to stay alert whenever the job that is being performed changes, particularly in main track territory.  

While the overall safety of
railroad operations has improved in recent years. However, a series of events
over the past 24 months highlight the need to review current railroad
procedures and practices. This safety advisory emphasizes the need for
railroads to review and update their current procedures relating to situational
awareness, alertness when working on or near main tracks and job briefings
whenever there is a change in situation.

FRA wishes to
reiterate concerns previously expressed to the railroad industry in a letter
dated January 26, 2010. In the present era of "instant communications and
technology and information overload," railroad employees need to maintain
complete situational awareness and avoid distractions. Railroad employees
should keep cell phones and other distracting devices turned off and focus
their full attention on the task at hand. Even slight lapses in situational
awareness can lead to tragedy.

FRA recommends that railroads:

(1) Develop processes that
promote safety mentoring of fellow workers regardless of their titles or
positions.

(2) Develop procedures that
address the need for dialogue between coworkers when exiting equipment near
tracks or moving equipment.

(3) Review their current
process regarding job briefings and determine best practices that encourage
constant communication about the activities at hand.

(4) Assess their current
rules addressing personal safety and employee behavior when on or near tracks,
with particular emphasis on main tracks.

(5) Review current rules
pertaining to activities that could cause employees to become distracted,
including rules pertaining to the use of electronic devices, with the view of
strengthening and expanding them to include all employees when they are on or
near tracks.

(6) Review current rules
pertaining to sounding the locomotive horn, with the view of requiring the horn
to be sounded when approaching and passing standing trains, especially at or
near grade crossings, regardless of whether such crossings are located in quiet
zones.

FRA encourages railroad
industry members to take action consistent with the preceding recommendations
and to take other actions to help ensure the safety of the Nation’s railroad
employees. FRA may modify this Safety Advisory 201003, issue additional safety
advisories, or take other appropriate actions necessary to ensure the highest level
of safety on the Nation’s railroads, including pursuing other corrective
measures under its rail safety authority.