Railroad work is dangerous. While there have been steps taken to improve the safety for these workers, there are still considerable risks throughout the occupation. Because of these risks, there are specific laws in place under the Federal Railroad Safety Act that...
It was a long time coming, but Positive Train Control (PTC) systems finally became mandatory at the end of 2020. The requirement of these systems on the main lines of Class I railroads was included in the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (RSIA). After years of...
It’s been just days since President Joe Biden moved in to the White House. However, ever since his win in November, those in the railway industry have speculated about what changes the long-time Amtrak enthusiast will bring for the nation’s railroads and those who...
If you drive commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) for the railroads for a living, your job may have become more dangerous. Last year the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) relaxed limits on drivers' hours of service (HOS) regulations for those truckers...
If you know that your employer is not following the law and has hazards in your workplace that haven’t been addressed, that’s something you can report. Similarly, if you feel your career is in danger because you refuse to work in those condition, it’s time to speak up...
Individuals who work in trainyards are at risk of several types of injuries. Some of these are the result of working near moving trains. It’s possible that workers will become pinned between the moving trains, which can lead to traumatic amputations. A traumatic...
Winter weather drastically increases the risks involved in travel. Snow and ice can make airports shut down and turn highways into deadlocked lines of vehicles. Railroads also feel the impact of winter weather. Ice and snow on tracks can impact everything from how...
You’ve heard it before: “When you see something, say something.” Railroad employees and workers in certain other professions are constantly encouraged to speak up about abuses, dangerous practices, negligence and fraud -- but blowing the whistle isn’t always easy....
When something unpredictable happens on a train track, railroad workers need a way to stop the train as quickly as possible. Examples include cars getting stuck on the tracks, people walking on the tracks or two trains accidentally ending up heading toward one another...
Broken rails are responsible for more train derailments than any other reason, and there is a huge potential for injury and loss of life when a train derails. While railroad companies have taken advantage of technological advances to create safer rail tracks, they...
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