Rail Yards & Railcar Movers
Railcars are quiet, heavy and hard to stop. A single car can weigh over 100 tons, and a string of cars can roll for a long way. Yards and industrial spurs have many hazards for workers who are not railroad employees, such as plant crews and truck drivers.
- Plant Workers
- Railroaders
- Contractors
Hazards
- Moving cars that can hit you without warning. Trains from either direction on any track.
- Crush points between cars, couplers and fixed objects.
- Slips, trips and falls on ballast, ties, rails and car steps.
- Runaway cars if brakes or chocks are not set.
- Hazardous cargo and leaks from tank cars. See Tanker & Railcar Loading.
- Railcar mover vehicles (rail-and-road movers) that can crush or overturn.
- Limited sight and hearing in noisy, dusty or dark areas.
Blue signal protection
- Before anyone works on, under or between railcars, the track must be protected with blue signal protection (a blue flag by day or blue light at night) and the cars secured. The signal is placed at the end of the car or track by the worker doing the job.
- Only the person who placed the blue signal may remove it. This rule from the Federal Railroad Administration (49 CFR Part 218) protects workers on railroad tracks.
- Industrial plants should have written rules, derails or switch locks and chocks to keep cars from moving.
Rules for working around cars
- Treat every track as live, and look both ways before crossing. Cross at crossings, not between cars.
- Never step on a rail, couple or climb over a coupler. Go around the end of a car, at least 20 feet from the end unless protected.
- Keep at least four feet from the outside rail of any track unless you are working there with protection.
- Set hand brakes and wheel chocks on cars being loaded, and use derails.
- Use spotters and hand signals for movements. See Backing & Spotters.
- Wear high-visibility clothing, steel-toe boots with traction and hearing protection when needed. See High-Visibility Clothing.
- Do not walk on the track in the dark without lighting and a lookout.
Railcar movers
- Only trained operators should run a railcar mover. Inspect it before use.
- Keep everyone clear of couplings and of the path of travel.
- Do not exceed the mover's rated pulling limits or move cars on grades unless allowed.
Standards & references
Last updated: