| | CLEVELAND, August 5 -- Due to overwhelming interest, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Traimen’s remote control hazard study has been made available on the BLET website.
The BLET’s National Division released the report on July 27, which, among other things, concluded that major U.S. railroad corporations should no longer be permitted to operate remote control locomotives free from regulatory oversight by the Federal Railroad Administration.
The study was conducted by renowned railroad work organization expert Dr. Frederick C. Gamst and former FRA Associate Administrator for Safety George A. Gavalla.
Among the study’s most significant findings are the following:
* Because remote control locomotives ultimately are controlled by on-board computers, RCO introduces a level of mechanical hazard into switching operations that does not exist in conventional switching operations.
* Certain design features of the “black box” actually may increase the likelihood that an unintended movement will occur.
* Blind shoves -- because of the lack of a requirement to provide human protection at the leading point of a movement -- undermines, if not defeats, the purpose of designated “remote control zones.”
* Training provided RCOs was routinely criticized as lacking in sufficient time and detail.
The authors recommended that FRA audit accident and injury reports submitted by the railroads, so that reliable baseline data can be amassed for remote control accident and casualty rates. Further, that FRA refine existing accident investigation procedures to include studying technological or systemic factors that may cause or contribute to accidents. Finally, that the industry should no longer be permitted to regulate itself concerning remote control operations.
A copy of the 245-page report is available here on the BLET website as a PDF. Friday, August 05, 2005
bentley@ble.org http://www.ble.org/pr/news/newsflash.asp?id=4163 © 2005 Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen
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