Federal Railroad Administration

Transcription

1 Federal Railroad Administration September 19, 2006 Regulatory Activities Roadway Worker Protection Continuous Welded Rail 2006 Annual Conference

2 Railroad Safety Advisory Committee The Railroad Safety Advisory Committee (RSAC) is a collaborative working group comprised of members from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and representatives from the rail industry including: management, labor, contractors, and suppliers. Working groups are chartered to collaborate and effect consensus on recommendations for a specific regulation.

3 Railroad Safety Advisory Committee The working group then presents its consensus recommendations to the full RSAC for acceptance. Revisions and/or new regulations are developed by the FRA based upon the full RSAC recommendations. The information contained in this presentation is preliminary and subject to change based on final consensus of the working group, approval by the full RSAC, and the final rule as written by the FRA.

4 Roadway Worker Protection Working Group Due to numerous technical bulletins and interpretative issues, the RWP working group was chartered in The working group first met in April, 2005, and has held ten meetings thereafter. It is expected that the group will complete its deliberations in February 2007.

5 RWP Working Group Consensus Definitions Effective securing device Allows use of devices such as wedges (if secure) and specifies placement of devices and tags Maximum authorized speed Prohibits use of temporary speeds for train approach warning and individual train detection On-track safety manual Specifies the elements required in the manual

6 RWP Working Group Consensus On-track safety program documents Lone worker provision Recognizes the impracticality of lone worker having to carry the on-track safety manual when walking track a significant distance On-track safety rule revisions Recognizes the necessity of publishing ontrack safety procedures in temporary documents such as bulletins (must be carried with the manual)

7 RWP Working Group Consensus Supervision and communication Briefing and discussion of adjacent tracks New briefing element that requires identification of adjacent tracks to assure protection on such tracks when required or otherwise necessary Location of roadway worker in charge Briefing must include information about the accessibility of the roadway worker in charge

8 RWP Working Group Consensus On-track safety procedures, general Roadway workers walking across tracks Addresses procedures that enable roadway workers to cross tracks without formal on-track safety in place (recognizes the practical reality where workers might need to cross a track while not directly engaged in activities defined in the rule)

9 RWP Working Group Consensus On-track safety procedures, general Provision for on-track snow removal and weed spray equipment to operate and move on noncontrolled track without making the track inaccessible

10 RWP Working Group Consensus Exclusive track occupancy Crew or worker name on authority Allows for the use of a work crew designation system to be used with authorities (procedures must include precise communication protocols to ensure trains and other on-track equipment contact the designated roadway worker in charge before entering working limits)

11 RWP Working Group Consensus Foul time Addresses question of on-track occupancy Prohibits movement of train and on-track equipment into or within the foul-time limits

12 RWP Working Group Consensus Verbal protection New type of working limits - verbal protection (similar to foul time) Specifically for interlockings/control points and permits on-track movements within such limits

13 RWP Working Group Consensus Inaccessible track Anticipates locations where a locomotive and train crew (with or without cars) can be used as a physical feature at one or more points of entry into inaccessible track working limits

14 RWP Working Group Consensus Roadway work group on-track safety Proposes an automatic trigger for mandatory adjacent track on-track safety if: 1. The adjacent track has a centerline 19 feet or less; 2. The adjacent track is a controlled track; and 3. A roadway work group is on the ground performing with on-track roadway maintenance machines (other than hi-rail), regardless of the scope of work

15 RWP Working Group Consensus Lone worker procedures Allows use of individual train detection at control points consisting of only signals Prohibits lone worker using individual train detection from using a roadway maintenance machine, equipment, or material that cannot be readily removed by hand

16 RWP Working Group Consensus Audible warning from trains Significantly modify this section to provide more clarity concerning the requirement that train horns be sounded and bells rung approaching roadway workers Provide some flexibility on how railroads can craft their rules to address certain operational constraints and practical realities

17 RWP Working Group Consensus Roadway worker in charge training Training and qualification requirements for roadway worker in charge Clarifies contents of annual on-track safety training Allows qualification to be a longer cycle but not to exceed a span greater than 24 months Training to address railroad procedures concerning location and availability of roadway worker in charge

18 RWP Working Group Consensus Training & qualification, general Training and qualification requirements for watchmen, flagmen, lone worker, and machine operators Clarifies contents of annual on-track safety training Allows qualification to be a longer cycle but not to exceed a span greater than 24 months

19 RWP Working Group Topics for future consideration Training of employees other than roadway workers who protect roadway work groups Contractor training, general Yard limits and application of on-track safety Definition of roadway worker Block register territory Snow removal at passenger station platforms

20 Continuous Welded Rail SAFETEA-LU August 10, Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act - A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU)

21 Continuous Welded Rail SAFETEA-LU Required the FRA to revise the Federal Track Safety Standards (49 CFR Part 213) by: Requiring railroads to address cracks in joint bars in their CWR plans; Establishing a program to review CWR joint bar inspection data Instructing FRA inspectors to obtain copies of the most recent railroad CWR plans; and

22 Continuous Welded Rail Interim Final Rule (IFR) On November 2, 2005, the IFR regarding CWR was published addressing: Joint bar cracks, and Joint bar inspection data The FRA ensured their inspectors were provided copies of the railroad CWR plans through non-regulatory action

23 Continuous Welded Rail IFR Comments to the Docket Seventeen comments were submitted to the Docket, regarding Inspection frequency Training/re-training Availability of CWR Plans Economic analysis Joint inventory and results recordkeeping

24 Continuous Welded Rail IFR Comments to the Docket Other comments to the docket The IFR should not require railroads to inventory CWR joints or record inspection results by joint It is unnecessary for IFR to apply to joints next to turnouts and diamonds since monthly inspections of turnouts and diamonds are already required The requirement to inspect for rail-end batter or mismatch should be clarified

25 Continuous Welded Rail IFR Comments to the Docket The railroads should not be required to remove pavement or crossing pads to inspect joints Railroads should be permitted to operate an irregularly scheduled train over Class 2 CWR without the required CWR joint inspections Current inspection frequency is a one-size-fitsall approach that will not establish sufficient levels of safety under certain conditions

26 CWR Working Group February 16, 2006 the CWR Working group was established to review and revise the CWRrelated provisions of the Track Safety Standards It was determined that the first task would be to address the IFR pertaining to inspection of joints in CWR

27 CWR Working Group Tasks Review the IFR on inspection of joint bars in CWR territory; comments on the IFR; and prepare recommendations for the final rule Review FRA inspection data and the pertinent accident/incident data and reporting criteria Evaluate further enhancements for the management of CWR to prevent track buckling and joint failures, including design, maintenance, and inspection

28 CWR Working Group Update Four meetings held; next meeting January 2007 On July 19-20, 2006, the Working Group reached consensus on recommended language for 49 CFR Part 213, Section 119, Paragraph (g) pertaining to the inspection of CWR joints Consensus was reached on a Fracture Report for the collection of data regarding CWR joints

29 CWR Working Group Consensus (g) Rail joints Railroads will develop Action Items in CWR to address joint conditions Walking inspections of CWR joints and repairs for railroad identified Action Items In lieu of the inventory of CWR joints: Risk-based approach to CWR joint safety based on tonnage, class of track, and passenger traffic Dependence on capturing additional data

30 CWR Working Group Consensus (g) Rail joints When cracked or broken bars are found during weekly track inspections, monthly turnout inspections, and periodic CWR joint bar inspections, a fracture report will be completed Fracture report data will be sent to FRA twice annually Railroad must inspect joints at turnouts; and may in the vicinity of turnouts, during monthly switch inspections A track owner may seek approval from FRA to use alternate procedures

31 CWR Working Group Topics submitted by FRA for future discussion Training: Develop standards for the qualifications of a person who inspects and maintains CWR and recurrent training Special Inspections: Incorporate in paragraph (f), indications of damage to joints, environmental conditions or other factors Plans: Develop a mechanism for updating and submitting program procedures to FRA HQ and for the notification and resubmission criteria for modifications to program plans

32 CWR Working Group Topics submitted by FRA for future discussion Manuals: Maintenance and retention of procedures/guidelines in the field by maintenance of way personnel Ballast and Anchoring Criteria: Develop specific criteria within program plans

33 CWR Working Group Accident Review Team Review accidents with track buckling as the primary or secondary cause Consider accidents investigated by FRA and NTSB Review accident/incident records forwarded to the FRA