Safety Rules Flashcards
(6 cards)
S-1.1 Job Safety Briefing
Employees must participate in a job safety briefing before beginning work and when work or job conditions change. The briefing
includes a discussion of the general work plan, existing or potential hazards, and ways to eliminate or protect against hazards. Outside
parties or contractors involved in the work or who are in the work area must also be included in the job safety briefing.
Employees Fouling the Track
Employees must always be alert and expect the movement of trains, engines, cars or other moveable equipment at any time, on
any track and in either direction. Before fouling any track, employees have an individual responsibility to determine it is safe to do
so. If the track is occupied by rail equipment, employees must insure appropriate protection has been provided for the task to be
performed as indicated in the following rules:
Safety Rule S-13.1.1 - Going Between Cars or Locomotives
Safety Rule S-13.1.3 - Tracks (Crossing tracks, stepping on rails and fouling tracks)
Safety Rule S-13.1.11 - Installing or Removing Marker
Safety Rule S-13.2 - Coupling/Uncoupling Rail Equipment
Safety Rule S-13.3 - Air Hoses and Angle Cocks
Safety Rule S-13.4 - Crossing Over Rail Equipment
Safety Rule S-13.6 - Operating Hand Brakes
Safety Rule S-13.7 - Operating Switches and Derails
GCOR Rule 5.13 - Blue Signal Protection of Workmen
GCOR Rule 7.2 - Communication Between Crews Switching
GCOR Rule 7.13 - Protection of Employees in Bowl Tracks
S-1.1 Job Safety Briefing
Employees must participate in a job safety briefing before beginning work and when work or job conditions change. The briefing
includes a discussion of the general work plan, existing or potential hazards, and ways to eliminate or protect against hazards. Outside
parties or contractors involved in the work or who are in the work area must also be included in the job safety briefing.
Employees Fouling the Track
Employees must always be alert and expect the movement of trains, engines, cars or other moveable equipment at any time, on
any track and in either direction. Before fouling any track, employees have an individual responsibility to determine it is safe to do
so. If the track is occupied by rail equipment, employees must insure appropriate protection has been provided for the task to be
performed as indicated in the following rules:
Safety Rule S-13.1.1 - Going Between Cars or Locomotives
Safety Rule S-13.1.3 - Tracks (Crossing tracks, stepping on rails and fouling tracks)
Safety Rule S-13.1.11 - Installing or Removing Marker
Safety Rule S-13.2 - Coupling/Uncoupling Rail Equipment
Safety Rule S-13.3 - Air Hoses and Angle Cocks
Safety Rule S-13.4 - Crossing Over Rail Equipment
Safety Rule S-13.6 - Operating Hand Brakes
Safety Rule S-13.7 - Operating Switches and Derails
GCOR Rule 5.13 - Blue Signal Protection of Workmen
GCOR Rule 7.2 - Communication Between Crews Switching
GCOR Rule 7.13 - Protection of Employees in Bowl Tracks
S-1.4.6 Three-Point Contact
Maintain three-point contact when getting on or off vehicles, equipment, and machinery, and when ascending or descending
ladders or platforms. Three-point contact consists of both feet and one hand or both hands and one foot.
S-1.4.6 Three-Point Contact
Maintain three-point contact when getting on or off vehicles, equipment, and machinery, and when ascending or descending
ladders or platforms. Three-point contact consists of both feet and one hand or both hands and one foot.
S-1.5.3 Footing
Be alert to all walkway conditions, and adjust your actions to accommodate weather, time of day, and grade. Guard
against slipping and stumbling hazards by using handholds and railings when available. Except in emergency, running
is not permitted in the performance of duty
S-1.5.3 Footing
Be alert to all walkway conditions, and adjust your actions to accommodate weather, time of day, and grade. Guard
against slipping and stumbling hazards by using handholds and railings when available. Except in emergency, running
is not permitted in the performance of duty
S-1.6.1 Movement of Equipment
Expect the movement of trains, engines, cars, or other equipment at any time, on any track, and in either direction.
S-1.6.1 Movement of Equipment
Expect the movement of trains, engines, cars, or other equipment at any time, on any track, and in either direction.
S-13.1 General Requirements (3 Questions)
S-13.1.1 Going Between Cars or Locomotives
Going between or working on the end of rail equipment means an employee has placed all or part of their body where it
could be struck by rail equipment if the equipment were to move.
Note: Operating the uncoupling lever is not considered going between rail equipment.
Before crew members go between or work on the end of rail equipment on any track, they must:
• Wait for movement to stop and slack to adjust.
• Ensure that all crew members have a clear understanding of the work to be performed.
Where engines may be working at both ends of a track or tracks, crews switching must have a clear understanding of
movements to be made.
If a locomotive is not coupled to the rail equipment:
• A crew member must notify all members of the crew by radio, that the crew member will be going between or working
on the end of rail equipment on any track.
• Members of the notified crew must acknowledge by radio that they understand a crew member will be going between
or working on the end of rail equipment.
If a locomotive is coupled to the rail equipment:
• After ensuring movement has stopped and slack has adjusted, the crew member must either announce by radio,
“Going between,” or give the prescribed hand signal.
• The crew member at the controls of the locomotive must fully apply the independent brakes, center the reverser, and
then acknowledge the radio transmission or the hand signal:
- If using a radio response, acknowledge, “Set and centered”
- If using hand signals, sound one long whistle signal.
• The brakes must remain applied with the reverser centered or removed, and the locomotive must not be left unattended
until the crew member requesting protection gives a radio or hand signal to move or announces by radio,
“In the clear.”
Prescribed hand signals to indicate Going Between Cars or Locomotives:
• By day:
- Give a stop signal.
- Raise arm farthest from the rail equipment straight above the head.
- Point the arm nearest the rail equipment at a 90-degree angle toward the rail equipment.
• By night:
- Give a stop signal.
- With the arm extended forward parallel to the ground, move the light from left to right.
When crew members are going between or working on the end of equipment:
• Controls or devices (automatic brake valve, hand brake, brake cylinder release valve, etc.) that could affect
movement of that equipment must not be operated without permission from the crew member(s) going between or
working on the end of the equipment.
• Other rolling equipment must not strike, couple into or affect movement of the equipment the crew member(s) is
working on the end of or going between.
When stepping from between rail equipment, be alert for movement on adjacent tracks or vehicles moving on the
walkway or roadway.
Do not go between uncoupled locomotives or cars when clearance between them is less than 50 feet except when a
train on main track or siding is unable to move safely and you have exhausted all practical means of complying with the
50 feet requirement. In addition to complying with the other applicable portions of this rule, employees going between
with less than 50 feet of separation must:
• Ensure equipment is secure against undesired movement.
• Keep at least one foot outside the rail, when practical.
• Refrain from placing all or part of their body directly between coupling devices unless necessary to complete the
work.
• Obtain 50 feet of separation between the uncoupled locomotives or cars as soon as the equipment can be positioned
practically and safely
S-13.1 General Requirements (3 Questions)
S-13.1.1 Going Between Cars or Locomotives
Going between or working on the end of rail equipment means an employee has placed all or part of their body where it
could be struck by rail equipment if the equipment were to move.
Note: Operating the uncoupling lever is not considered going between rail equipment.
Before crew members go between or work on the end of rail equipment on any track, they must:
• Wait for movement to stop and slack to adjust.
• Ensure that all crew members have a clear understanding of the work to be performed.
Where engines may be working at both ends of a track or tracks, crews switching must have a clear understanding of
movements to be made.
If a locomotive is not coupled to the rail equipment:
• A crew member must notify all members of the crew by radio, that the crew member will be going between or working
on the end of rail equipment on any track.
• Members of the notified crew must acknowledge by radio that they understand a crew member will be going between
or working on the end of rail equipment.
If a locomotive is coupled to the rail equipment:
• After ensuring movement has stopped and slack has adjusted, the crew member must either announce by radio,
“Going between,” or give the prescribed hand signal.
• The crew member at the controls of the locomotive must fully apply the independent brakes, center the reverser, and
then acknowledge the radio transmission or the hand signal:
- If using a radio response, acknowledge, “Set and centered”
- If using hand signals, sound one long whistle signal.
• The brakes must remain applied with the reverser centered or removed, and the locomotive must not be left unattended
until the crew member requesting protection gives a radio or hand signal to move or announces by radio,
“In the clear.”
Prescribed hand signals to indicate Going Between Cars or Locomotives:
• By day:
- Give a stop signal.
- Raise arm farthest from the rail equipment straight above the head.
- Point the arm nearest the rail equipment at a 90-degree angle toward the rail equipment.
• By night:
- Give a stop signal.
- With the arm extended forward parallel to the ground, move the light from left to right.
When crew members are going between or working on the end of equipment:
• Controls or devices (automatic brake valve, hand brake, brake cylinder release valve, etc.) that could affect
movement of that equipment must not be operated without permission from the crew member(s) going between or
working on the end of the equipment.
• Other rolling equipment must not strike, couple into or affect movement of the equipment the crew member(s) is
working on the end of or going between.
When stepping from between rail equipment, be alert for movement on adjacent tracks or vehicles moving on the
walkway or roadway.
Do not go between uncoupled locomotives or cars when clearance between them is less than 50 feet except when a
train on main track or siding is unable to move safely and you have exhausted all practical means of complying with the
50 feet requirement. In addition to complying with the other applicable portions of this rule, employees going between
with less than 50 feet of separation must:
• Ensure equipment is secure against undesired movement.
• Keep at least one foot outside the rail, when practical.
• Refrain from placing all or part of their body directly between coupling devices unless necessary to complete the
work.
• Obtain 50 feet of separation between the uncoupled locomotives or cars as soon as the equipment can be positioned
practically and safely
S-13.1.5 Riding In or On Moving Equipment
Ride cars or equipment only if necessary and if you have determined that you can do so safely.
A. Determining Whether to Ride
When determining whether cars or equipment should be ridden, consider:
• Alternatives such as repositioning locomotive to pull instead of shove freight cars, vehicle transportation,
repositioning of crew members or utilizing other employees to complete the task without having to ride moving
equipment.
• Designs and configurations of freight cars and equipment that may make them unsuitable to ride.
• Selecting or repositioning other freight cars to ride.
• Your physical capabilities and limitations.
• The amount of slack in the train or switch cut.
• Applicable operating and safety rules.
When equipment will be ridden:
• Notify the engineer.
• Proceed only after the engineer has acknowledged that you are going to ride.
• Complete any couplings from the ground after the movement is stopped.
If track condition cannot clearly be observed because of debris (e.g. snow, ice, water, grain, mud, etc.) do not ride
or knowingly allow others to ride on either side of equipment or engine exterior.
When snow and ice are observed building up on portion of tracks to be used, particularly at road crossings,
locomotive(s) must precede movement on that portion of track before cars can be ridden into those tracks.
Close/No Clearance and Close Track Center Restrictions:
Employees must not ride or knowingly allow others to ride the close/no clearance side of equipment at the location where close/no clearance exists, under any of the following conditions:
• Between a structure and a moving car or engine.
• Through gates or doorways (Gates or doors must be secured in the open position).
• Into, out-of or within enclosed buildings. (Employees must precede the movement, if safe to do so, before
entering enclosed buildings. Movements must only be made on that employee’s signal within a building).
• When it cannot be visually determined that equipment on an adjacent track is in the clear or behind the
clearance point.
• On industry tracks at locations where signs may be placed, advising of close/no clearance.
• At locations that have been identified by timetable or special instructions as having a close/no clearance
condition.
• At locations that have been identified by timetable or special instructions as having close track centers unless
that portion of adjacent track is known to be clear.
S-13.1.5 Riding In or On Moving Equipment
Ride cars or equipment only if necessary and if you have determined that you can do so safely.
A. Determining Whether to Ride
When determining whether cars or equipment should be ridden, consider:
• Alternatives such as repositioning locomotive to pull instead of shove freight cars, vehicle transportation,
repositioning of crew members or utilizing other employees to complete the task without having to ride moving equipment.
• Designs and configurations of freight cars and equipment that may make them unsuitable to ride.
• Selecting or repositioning other freight cars to ride.
• Your physical capabilities and limitations.
• The amount of slack in the train or switch cut.
• Applicable operating and safety rules.
When equipment will be ridden:
• Notify the engineer.
• Proceed only after the engineer has acknowledged that you are going to ride.
• Complete any couplings from the ground after the movement is stopped.
If track condition cannot clearly be observed because of debris (e.g. snow, ice, water, grain, mud, etc.) do not ride
or knowingly allow others to ride on either side of equipment or engine exterior.
When snow and ice are observed building up on portion of tracks to be used, particularly at road crossings,
locomotive(s) must precede movement on that portion of track before cars can be ridden into those tracks.
Close/No Clearance and Close Track Center Restrictions:
Employees must not ride or knowingly allow others to ride the close/no clearance side of equipment at the location where close/no clearance exists, under any of the following conditions:
• Between a structure and a moving car or engine.
• Through gates or doorways (Gates or doors must be secured in the open position).
• Into, out-of or within enclosed buildings. (Employees must precede the movement, if safe to do so, before
entering enclosed buildings. Movements must only be made on that employee’s signal within a building).
• When it cannot be visually determined that equipment on an adjacent track is in the clear or behind the
clearance point.
• On industry tracks at locations where signs may be placed, advising of close/no clearance.
• At locations that have been identified by timetable or special instructions as having a close/no clearance
condition.
• At locations that have been identified by timetable or special instructions as having close track centers unless
that portion of adjacent track is known to be clear.
