Railroad Safety For the Fire Investigator and Firefighter

Objectives List the required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Objectives Describe the “Red Zone”. Explain Blue Flag (Signal) Protection.

Objectives Describe how to ascend and descend a locomotive SAFELY. Explain when conditions are SAFE to walk on top of a locomotive. Describe how to walk on top of a locomotive SAFELY.

Objectives List the practices involved in Rail Safety. List the practices involved in Track Safety.

Objectives Explain two ways to safely stop a train. Explain how to safely stop a train in an emergency. List considerations in protecting the fire crew or investigator when a train is passing through the fire scene.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Agency approved hard hat Agency approved eye protection Agency approved hearing protection Agency approved footwear Leather gloves Agency approved fire gear when at fire scene High visibility reflective vest

The “RED ZONE” “The area within arms length of a track” Any physical position that places YOU in a life-threatening situation is considered a “RED ZONE”. “The area within arms length of a track” Any physical position that places YOU in a life-threatening situation is considered a “RED ZONE”.

“Blue Flag (Signal)” signifies that workmen are on, under, or between rolling equipment that is being repaired, serviced or inspected. An approved Blue Light must accompany a Blue Flag (Signal) at night. Blue Flag (Signal) Protection This is your only protection!

Ascending Railroad Equipment SAFELY 1.ALWAYS face the equipment! 2.Ensure proper foot placement. 3.Ensure proper hand placement. 4.Use proper body mechanics. 5.Use a three point stance at all times. 6.Ascend SAFELY!

Descending Railroad Equipment SAFELY 1.ALWAYS face the equipment! 2.Ensure proper foot placement. 3.Ensure proper hand placement. 4.Use proper body mechanics. 5.Use a three point stance at all times. 6.Descend SAFELY!

When it is SAFE to walk on top of a locomotive? NEVER. But if you have to…

1. How to walk SAFELY on top of a locomotive Stay FOCUSED! Eyes on walking path. Walk carefully and avoid stepping on obstacles. Be aware of your surroundings: oil, water, etc Be prepared to use 3 point stance.

Rail Safety Always step over the rail! NEVER step on the rail! NEVER stand inside the rails! Always step over the rail! NEVER step on the rail! NEVER stand inside the rails!

Track safety in the rail yard Notify railroad personal as to your presence in the rail yard. Ensure that you are wearing all appropriate agency required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Never step on a rail. Follow the Blue Signal rules. Be aware of the “Red Zone”.

Switch Safety Be careful around rail switches, switches today are quite often operated remotely. A railroad switch in California may be operated by someone in another state. Switches are quick, silent, and can ruin your foot and your day. Be aware of their location and stay away from them.

Track Safety in the wildlands Ensure that you are wearing all agency required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Notify the Train Crew of your presence. Follow the Blue Flag (Signal) rules. Be aware of the “Red Zone”.

Safely stopping a train The key to this is communications, both with agency and railroad dispatch Contact Railroad Dispatch to stop the train Coordinate where the train will stop Notify your agency dispatch of your location

How to emergency stop a train Try to station someone in a safe location a mile or more away from the fire scene, in the direction any train on that track would come from. If it is a single track, station someone at least that far away in either direction. The person trying to stop the train should face the direction the train will be coming from and stand on the right hand side of the track outside of the red zone. During daylight, use a red flag and begin waving it slowly, back and forth in front of your body as soon as you see the approaching train. Keep waving it until the locomotive stops, or goes past you. DO NOT STAND BETWEEN THE RAILS!

At night use a fusee or red lantern in place of the flag. If you don’t have a red lantern use whatever is available to get the crews attention. Wait until the train comes to a complete stop before approaching the locomotive and telling the conductor and engineer why you have stopped them. Ask them to notify the railroad of the situation and stop any trains that may be coming behind them, or from the other direction, until the incident site is safe. Maintain contact with the incident and keep them informed of your success, or failure. REMEMBER - A TRAIN IS BIG AND HEAVY AND CANNOT “STOP ON A DIME AND GIVE YOU CHANGE”!

DO NOT –Park a vehicle across the track. –Place a ladder or other material across the tracks in an effort to set off signals. –Assume the train will stop because of any steps you have taken! Torpedoes and fusees are devices used by section crews to warn a train crew to be prepared to stop. IF YOU FIND AN UNEXPLODED TORPEDO NOTIFY THE SECTION CREW, BUT DON’T MESS WITH IT YOURSELF! THEY ARE DANGEROUS.

Review PPE as required by your agency. A minimum of a hard hat, eye and hearing protection and good footwear are required by most railroads. The “Red Zone” is anywhere you could be hit or injured by passing equipment. Stay at least a full arms length away. Blue Flag, sometimes referred to as blue signal, is the name of the railroad industry’s safety warning. It is never safe to walk on top of a locomotive, but you can walk safely by looking where you are going and use the three-point stance.

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