RCX002 working file - RailCrew Xpress

1 RCX PRESS Winter 2007. Table of Contents BNSF Railway Crew More Changes Advance Business 8. Transportation Safety Message 1. Don't Take Traffic Safety for Granted 9. Message from the President 3. RCX Improvements Go the RailCrew Xpress Awards 4 Extra Mile 10. RCX Announces New Vacation Simple Can Be Risky! 11. Policy 6. Views from the Field . Streamlining Dispatch Operations 7 Opportunities Abloom 12. BNSF Railway Crew Transportation Safety Message Fouling the Track By Kelly Henry Luedtke Manager, Strategic Sourcing & Supplyy, Crew Transportation Services, BNSF Railway y Co. Fouling the Track Past injuries to crew hauling drivers and railroad employees fouling the track have ranged from minor to catastrophic over the past decade at BNSF Railway.

2 Most of these injuries occurred due to inattentive- ness because drivers unknowingly put themselves and their passen- gers in a location that was foul of track. In fact, BNSF Safety has determined that a lack of situational awareness is the leading cause of catastrophic injuries to railroad employees while foul of track. What is the Definition of Foul of Track? Railroad policy and rules define foul of track as the area within four feet of the nearest rail of a railroad track, and a location on or near a railroad track where a person or equipment is close enough to be struck by passing railway equipment or items protruding from the railway equipment. Cont'd on page 2. BNSF Safety Vision: At BNS F, we believe that every accident or injury is preventable.

3 Our vision is that BNSF will operate free of accidents and injuries.. Fouling the Track Cont'd from page 1. If a crew-hauling driver follows the pre- use all of their senses to watch, listen, and feel the approach scribed procedures and rules, this area is of moving equipment as safe as any other location where the driver hauls crews. However, if a driver Boarding/Getting In and Out of Vehicles entering this fouling track zone is not aware of the potential danger of railroad Another concern related to foul of tracks is getting in and out equipment at any time, an unsafe situa- of vehicles near adjacent tracks. Remember, when doors are Kelly Henry Luedtke tion can result. opened, they may become foul of track.

4 As in crossing tracks, a driver should always look in both directions before allowing Fouling Tracks passengers to enter or leave crew-hauling vans. If railway equip- ment is approaching, a driver should wait until it passes before Railroad employees and crew hauling drivers should never foul allowing passengers into or out of the vehicle. When carrying a track needlessly, and only when required to do so in the per- tools or personal belongings, a driver must not allow these formance of their duties. When required to foul a track, items to become foul of the track. Doing so could cause these employees and contractors should remain alert and expect the items to be struck by passing equipment and may result in an movement of trains, engines, cars and maintenance of way employee or driver injury.

5 (MOW) equipment at any time, on any track, and in any direc- tion. Upon approach of any equipment, employees and drivers At BNSF, we expect train movement at any time, in any direc- must retreat to a place of safety more than four feet from the tion and on any track. There is too often a false and potentially nearest rail. fatal expectation that I am the only one out here on these tracks. Unfortunately, this false sense of security has con- Crossing Over Tracks or Backing Up Near Tracks tributed to injuries and the loss of life . Before crossing the tracks or backing up near tracks, crew-haul- Examples of activities that have great risk include: ing drivers must look in both directions to determine if rail occupying or fouling the track equipment is approaching.

6 If so, drivers must yield until the fouling an adjacent track after crossing a track train, locomotive, cars or MOW equipment have passed a safe exiting a crew-hauling van before checking for movement distance, and then they may perform the back up move or pro- on adjacent tracks ceed directly across the tracks. Never cross in front of, or per- failing to recognize that a free rolling car can strike objects form a back-up move near approaching equipment. After the in their path equipment has cleared the tracks, the driver must always look being so involved in conversation that one fails to observe for equipment on adjacent tracks before initiating the back tracks for movement before fouling the track up move or crossing the track.

7 Standing between tracks with your back to the standing equipment, while reading or talking Walking Beside Tracks When these high-risk activities have been observed, and If a driver is required to traverse along the tracks, they must drivers have been counseled about these risky behaviors, never walk foul of the tracks. If the driver has no option but they often respond that they did not realize that they were to walk foul of the track, they must not walk directly down positioned at-risk. the middle of the track. Walk as far to the side as practical, maintaining a vigilant lookout for approaching equipment. It is up to every crew-hauling driver to care enough to point Before beginning to walk, a driver should review the sight out such high-risk behavior when it is observed.

8 Do not wait distance and other variables including noise that could muffle for an incident. Let's remind each other of the risks associated the sound of approaching equipment. Roller bearing equipment with working on and around tracks, and speak up whenever on welded rail moves virtually silent and can be within the dri- we observe unsafe behaviors, including the potentially danger- ver's sight before railway equipment is detected. Drivers must ous act of fouling track. 2 RCX PRESS Winter 2007. Message from the President By the time this edition goes to press, we will be well into a new year. Although it's probably a bit belated, I want to wish all of you the best for 2007. For those of you that endured the many changes that took place in 2006, a very sincere thank you for a job well done.

9 Together, we have come a very long way since RCX's birth in August 2005. I received an interesting letter in December from Ricky Cardwell, one of our drivers in Chaffee, Missouri. Ricky wrote: Re: Pay Increases Sick Days of interest, will there be any information a quarter of a million dollars in such Vacation Days Pay Stub Information in the near future? bonuses in Q3. This is a type of pay increase that provides benefit both for I have been employed as a driver for Well Ricky, these are all good questions. the company and employees. We desper- over a year now. In reading all your liter- At the present time, the past policies ately hope we can pay out much more ature on the company and benefits, I did of the three old companies, Raudin of this type of compensation in 2007.

10 Not see where any of the areas above McCormick, AAA Limo and Armadillo were covered. Does this company have Express, continue to be applied to the We believe that work breaks are impor- any intentions on giving pay increases on applicable areas and employees. RCX tant, particularly for those employees a yearly basis? Is there any opportunity is in the process of developing company- who are employed on a full-time basis to earn sick days and vacation days? The wide policies and they will be published with RCX. Rest time and quality family pay stubs that are currently provided do over the next few weeks. Several factors time help us reach down and find the not indicate the number of hours worked need to be considered, including past energy to put in the long hours and as the previous ones did.