WMSC Issues Safety Audit of WMATA Metrorail’s Power Systems

Courtesy of WMSC

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Washington Metrorail Safety Commission (WMSC) issued a safety audit report for Metrorail’s power systems.

The Washington Metrorail Safety Commission has issued a safety audit for WMATA’s Metrorail Power Systems. On X (formerly Twitter), it says the audit has identified positive practices “such as Metrorail’s consolidation of Preventive Maintenance Instructions (PMIs) which has made it easier for personnel to understand and utilize the correct procedure.”

In addition, the audit also identified three existing CAPs addressing findings from the WMSC’s Audit of High Voltage and Traction Power from 2021. The audit then required modifications, and the WMSC conducts its safety audits over a three-year cycle.

According to WMSC, the first finding is that Metrorail is not “consistently identifying, addressing, and preventing water intrusion in power rooms,” and included a photo below:

The second finding is that Metrorail is not ensuring that “adequate egress paths are maintained for power facilities.” The third finding was closed prior to the report being issued, but it found that the Metrorail Office of Power personnel were performing maintenance using torque wrenches that were out of calibration.

As a result of the audit, WMATA must propose a CAP for the first two findings within 30 days of the issuance of the report. The entire safety audit of Metrorail Power Systems can be found below: