WASHINGTON — The union representing railroad conductors is calling for the Federal Railroad Administration to set standards for those involved in training of conductor trainees, while also issuing an advisory to its members regarding their duties and responsibilities regarding such training and trainees.
The actions from the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers-Transportation Division (SMART-TD) are in response to the deaths of two CSX Transportation conductor trainees this summer, as well as an FRA safety bulletin issued Aug. 16 in response to the second of those deaths, the Aug. 6 fatality of trainee Travis Bradley in Cumberland, Md. [see “CSX conductor trainee killed …,” Trains News Wire, Aug. 7, 2023].
The Aug. 16 safety bulletin is the third this year from the FRA regarding shoving moves [see “FRA issues safety bulleton on shoving moves across grade crossings,” News Wire, March 17, 2023] and “FRA issues safety bulletin on shove movements after conductor trainee death,” News Wire, July 7, 2023]. As with the others, it is “informal in nature,” meaning it carries no regulatory force. It calls for railroads to ensure training programs adequately prepare employees to identify close-clearance situations and those were equipment are fouling tracks, and to ensure that employees overseeing training have “sufficient experience and understanding of their duties” to properly instruct trainees; to identify areas with close clearance where employees should not ride equipment; and that employees should ride equipment only after discussion in a job briefing and determining it is safe to do so.
In its news release, SMART-TD says, “With no exaggeration, there are many cases when on a conductor’s first call to work as a marked-up and qualified conductor on their own, they have a trainee assigned to them. This is neither productive nor safe for either conductor involved.” As a result, the union is calling for the FRA to establish a threshold for the amount of experience and instruction conductors or trainmen must have before being asked to train a new hire.
Meanwhile, in its advisory to members, the union stresses to both conductors and trainees that they can stop any movement if they feel their safety or that of any crew member is in jeopardy. It also offers tips for conductors on working with trainees, and for trainees on communicating with their conductor and how to proceed with their training.
CSX and Norfolk Southern announced agreements with SMART-TD to bolster their conductor training last month, with NS introducing moves including a “train-the-trainer” program [see “Norfolk Southern, SMART-TD announce plan …,” News Wire, July 27, 2023], and CSX adding a week to its training [see “CSX, SMART-TD agree to extend conductor training period,” News Wire, July 31, 2023].
While acknowledging those moves, SMART-TD said that “more needs to be done.
“We all need to work together to overcome the shortfalls of the carrier’s training programs,” the advisory reads. “… We will continue to work diligently to see that appropriate action is taken and adequate change is made to demand and require a training program that is robust andsufficient enough to ensure the safest course. Until then, safety is on us.”
Was a new trainee at union pacific. Did not feel safe from the the start of training. Couldn’t continue. Would not want anyone hurt by me because of improper training. Had to seek other employment.
Tons of moving metal and a dark night make for a dangerous environment for a trained and experienced railroader. throw in a new person and do not be surprised there are fatalities.
“””it is “informal in nature,” meaning it carries no regulatory force.”””
…gee, if only there was some government agency charged with ensuring railroad SAFETY to actually regulate the railroads & have minimum training standards –instead of rubber stamping whatever the railroads come up with on their own.
The standard already exists: 49CFR243.