RAILCAR SWITCHING SAFETY PROGRAM OFFERED

In-plant railcar switching is the subject of a new safety program that has been developed by Union Tank Car Company in conjunction with NATLSCO, a Division of Kemper Insurance Company, and the Illinois Safety Council. The program is designed to teach plant switching safety fundamentals to a crew in about four hours.

The program's Switching Safety Rule Book establishes basic guidelines that can be adopted by any plant that operates an in-plant railway and that wants to ensure consistent performance from its switching crews.  Verbal communications, acceptable hand signals and the purpose and use of various flags, horns and warning devices are covered in detail. A speed limit and minimum standards to govern coupling and uncoupling cars, use of a transfer table and moving cars are established. The concept of keeping a "watchful eye" for persons, clearances and things that are a result of the unsafe actions of other people is introduced to cover situations not expressly covered by the rules. The Rule Book includes a 20-question proficiency test.

An 18-minute long videotape shows the safety rules in action and reinforces the principle that all accidents and injuries can be prevented if everyone knows and follows the rules. A Self-Instructional Lesson Workbook is available to further bolster this message or for use alone when video equipment is not available. Finally, the program provides a Supervisor's Operating Instructions Checklist to facilitate training and qualification of crewmembers on various types of switching equipment that may be used in the plant.

Union Tank Car has given all rights to this training program to the Illinois Safety Council. All proceeds from the sale of the program will be used to further safety training in Illinois. To preview the video or to purchase the program, contact the Illinois Safety Council at (3l2)372-9756 (e-mail at isc@ilsafetycouncil.org).

 

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