Legally reviewed by Colleen M. Blinkoff - Doran & Murphy, PLLC
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has issued a new safety bulletin warning railroads and railroad employees about the dangers of close clearances during shoving movements.
FRA Safety Bulletin 2026-05 was issued on September 17, 2026, following a serious injury to a Norfolk Southern Railway conductor in Munhall, Pennsylvania. According to the FRA, the conductor was injured while participating in a nighttime shoving movement and riding the side of an open gondola car through an area designated as a close-clearance zone.
The incident is another reminder that railroad switching operations can expose conductors, brakemen, switchmen, and other railroad workers to serious and sometimes life-threatening hazards.
For railroad employees injured during switching or shoving operations, the circumstances surrounding the accident may also be important when determining whether the worker has a claim under the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA).
What Does FRA Safety Bulletin 2026-05 Say?
The FRA’s Safety Bulletin 2026-05, titled “Employee Injury – Close Clearance During Shoving Movement,” concerns an injury that occurred on September 8, 2026, in Munhall, Pennsylvania.
The injured employee was a Norfolk Southern conductor with three years of service. The FRA reports that the incident occurred at approximately 9:30 p.m. during a northbound shoving movement into a yard track. The weather was dark and overcast.
According to the FRA’s initial findings, the conductor was riding the side of an open gondola car through a location designated as a close-clearance zone where side-riding was prohibited.
The conductor suffered:
- Facial lacerations
- Fractured ribs
- A broken finger
The FRA stated that the exact cause of the injuries had not yet been determined when the bulletin was issued.
The FRA issued the bulletin to reinforce safety practices intended to prevent similar injuries.
What Is a Close Clearance on a Railroad?
A close clearance is an area where there is insufficient space for a railroad employee to safely pass between moving equipment and another object, structure, or piece of equipment.
Close-clearance hazards can occur around:
- Railroad structures
- Platforms
- Bridges
- Poles and signs
- Other railcars
- Stationary locomotives
- Trackside equipment
- Other obstructions near the track
These hazards can become particularly dangerous when a railroad employee is riding moving equipment.
A worker may have only seconds—or even less—to recognize a hazard and attempt to protect himself.
Why Close Clearances Are Especially Dangerous During Switching
Switching operations frequently require railroad employees to work in close proximity to moving railcars and locomotives.
During a shoving movement, a conductor or other employee may be responsible for directing the movement while communicating with the locomotive engineer. Depending on the operation, employees may also be riding equipment or working alongside moving railcars.
That combination of moving equipment, limited visibility, communication requirements, and physical obstructions can create an extremely dangerous working environment.
Doran & Murphy previously examined the connection between close clearances and railroad fatalities in Close Clearances and Railroad Worker Fatalities.
That article discusses the work of the Switching Operations Fatality Analysis (SOFA) Working Group, which has studied fatalities associated with switching operations and close-clearance hazards. The FRA’s new bulletin specifically encourages railroads and other stakeholders to review SOFA’s November 2020 close-clearance safety alert.
What Does the FRA Recommend After the Recent Railroad Injury?
The FRA’s new bulletin identifies several specific safety practices that railroads should review.
1. Review Close-Clearance Operating Rules
The FRA is asking railroads to review their rules concerning riding equipment through close-clearance areas.
The agency specifically recommends that railroads determine whether their rules adequately address the risks associated with these locations.
The FRA also calls for a review of operational testing records to determine whether employees are being appropriately tested on the applicable rules.
This is significant because having a rule on paper is not necessarily enough to protect workers.
An investigation into a railroad accident may need to examine whether employees were properly trained on the rule, whether they were tested on the rule, whether supervisors enforced the rule, and whether the railroad’s actual practices were consistent with its written procedures.
2. Conduct Proper Job Briefings Before Shoving Movements
The FRA also emphasizes the importance of job briefings.
Before rolling equipment is shoved or pushed, the locomotive engineer participating in the movement should be briefed by the employee who will direct the movement.
According to the FRA, the briefing should include:
- The method of communication between the locomotive engineer and the employee directing the movement; and
- How point protection will be provided.
A proper job briefing can be critical because switching movements require multiple members of a crew to understand what is happening and what hazards they may encounter.
3. Improve Situational Awareness
The FRA also calls on railroads to emphasize situational awareness when reviewing the bulletin with managers and employees.
In a railroad yard, conditions can change quickly.
A worker may encounter:
- A close-clearance location
- A railcar or locomotive that was not expected
- Poor lighting
- Obstructed visibility
- Changing track conditions
- Other employees working nearby
- Moving equipment on adjacent tracks
Railroad employees need to be able to recognize these hazards before they become an emergency.
How Can Close-Clearance Hazards Cause Railroad Worker Injuries?
A close-clearance accident can cause devastating injuries.
When a railroad worker is struck by an object while riding a railcar, for example, the worker can be thrown from the equipment or suffer crushing injuries.
Potential injuries include:
- Broken bones
- Rib fractures
- Head and facial injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal injuries
- Shoulder injuries
- Amputations
- Crush injuries
- Internal injuries
- Permanent disabilities
- Fatal injuries
Even an injury that initially appears relatively minor can develop into a serious long-term condition.
For that reason, railroad workers should seek appropriate medical attention following an on-the-job accident and make sure the circumstances of the accident are properly documented.
Switching Operations Can Create Multiple Railroad Safety Hazards
Close clearances are only one of the hazards associated with switching operations.
Railroad workers can also be injured while:
- Coupling or uncoupling railcars
- Riding moving equipment
- Operating switches
- Handling hand brakes
- Working between railcars
- Directing shoving movements
- Walking on railroad ballast
- Working around defective equipment
- Working in poorly illuminated yards
- Communicating with other crew members during movements
Doran & Murphy has previously discussed the dangers associated with switching operations in Railroad Fatalities from Switching Operations.
The FRA maintains a dedicated Switching Operations Fatality Analysis (SOFA) program that examines common factors associated with fatalities during switching operations. The agency’s SOFA resources include specific materials addressing close clearances and shove moves.
Could a Railroad Worker Injured in a Switching Accident Have a FELA Claim?
Potentially, yes.
The Federal Employers’ Liability Act, commonly called FELA, provides a federal legal remedy for railroad employees injured as a result of their employer’s negligence.
FELA is different from state workers’ compensation laws. As Doran & Murphy explains in its What Is the FELA? resource, an injured railroad worker generally must establish that the railroad’s negligence played a role in causing the injury.
In a close-clearance or switching accident, an investigation may therefore examine whether the railroad:
- Failed to identify a dangerous close-clearance condition;
- Failed to provide adequate warnings;
- Failed to establish or enforce appropriate operating rules;
- Failed to properly train an employee;
- Failed to conduct appropriate operational testing;
- Failed to provide adequate job briefings;
- Failed to provide adequate communication procedures;
- Failed to provide a reasonably safe workplace; or
- Otherwise contributed to the accident.
The precise facts matter in every FELA case.
What Evidence Can Be Important After a Railroad Switching Accident?
A railroad accident investigation should go beyond simply determining where and when the accident occurred.
Important evidence can include:
Railroad operating rules
The railroad’s operating rules and special instructions may establish restrictions governing close-clearance locations and riding equipment.
Training and operational testing records
The FRA specifically highlighted operational testing in Safety Bulletin 2026-05. Records concerning an employee’s training and testing may therefore be important evidence in an investigation.
Job briefings
The crew’s pre-movement briefing may help establish what the employees were told before the movement began.
Radio and other communications
Communications between the conductor, engineer, and other crew members can help establish how the movement was directed and whether everyone understood the instructions.
Photographs and video
Photographs and video of the accident location can help document the physical conditions, including clearances, lighting, signage, equipment placement, and other hazards.
Prior complaints and notice
It can also be important to determine whether railroad employees had previously reported the hazardous condition.
Doran & Murphy has written about this issue in Railroad Injury Claim Basics: Notice of Hazards. Evidence that a railroad knew—or should have known—about a dangerous condition may be relevant to a FELA negligence claim.
What Should a Railroad Worker Do After a Switching Accident?
If you are injured in a railroad switching accident, consider taking the following steps:
- Get medical attention. Do not ignore pain or other symptoms after an accident.
- Report the injury accurately. Make sure the accident and your injuries are properly documented.
- Document the location. If possible, preserve photographs or other information concerning the accident scene.
- Identify witnesses. Coworkers and other witnesses may have important information about what happened.
- Preserve communications. Radio communications, job briefings, texts, emails, and other communications may become important evidence.
- Keep medical records. Medical documentation can be important in establishing the nature and extent of your injuries.
- Consider speaking with a FELA attorney. Railroad injury claims can involve complicated questions concerning negligence, causation, comparative fault, and applicable federal safety laws.
Doran & Murphy has also discussed why medical documentation matters in How Your Medical Records Can Affect a FELA Railroad Injury Claim.
The FRA Bulletin Is a Reminder That Close-Clearance Hazards Remain a Serious Concern
FRA Safety Bulletin 2026-05 is focused on one recent conductor injury, but the safety issues it identifies extend beyond that individual accident.
The bulletin calls attention to the importance of:
- Close-clearance operating rules
- Employee training
- Operational testing
- Job briefings
- Communication
- Point protection
- Situational awareness
The FRA also specifically directed stakeholders toward SOFA’s earlier work concerning close-clearance hazards.
For railroad workers, these are not merely abstract safety concepts. A mistake or unsafe condition during a switching movement can result in permanent disability or death.
Frequently Asked Questions About FRA Safety Bulletin 2026-05
What is FRA Safety Bulletin 2026-05?
FRA Safety Bulletin 2026-05 is a Federal Railroad Administration bulletin concerning a serious employee injury involving a close clearance during a shoving movement. The bulletin was issued September 17, 2026, after a Norfolk Southern conductor was injured in Munhall, Pennsylvania.
What happened in the railroad accident discussed in FRA Safety Bulletin 2026-05?
According to the FRA, a Norfolk Southern conductor was injured on September 8, 2026, while participating in a northbound shoving movement into a yard track. The conductor was riding the side of an open gondola car through a designated close-clearance area where side-riding was prohibited. He suffered facial lacerations, fractured ribs, and a broken finger.
What is a close-clearance hazard on a railroad?
A close-clearance hazard is an area where there is insufficient space for a railroad employee to safely pass between moving equipment and another object, structure, or piece of equipment. Close clearances can create serious risks when employees ride or work around moving railroad equipment.
Why are shoving movements dangerous for railroad workers?
Shoving movements involve moving railcars and locomotives through railroad yards and other areas while crew members communicate with one another and direct the movement. Workers can be exposed to moving equipment, close clearances, poor visibility, communication problems, and other hazards.
What does the FRA recommend regarding close-clearance locations?
The FRA recommends that railroads review rules governing equipment riding in close-clearance areas and review operational testing records to ensure employees are appropriately tested on those rules.
What should a railroad job briefing include before a shoving movement?
According to FRA Safety Bulletin 2026-05, the locomotive engineer participating in a shoving movement should be briefed by the employee directing the movement. The briefing should include the means of communication between the engineer and the employee directing the movement and how point protection will be provided.
Can a railroad worker injured during switching have a FELA claim?
A railroad worker injured during switching operations may have a claim under FELA if the railroad’s negligence played a role in causing the injury. Whether a particular worker has a viable claim depends on the specific facts and evidence surrounding the accident.
What evidence should be investigated after a railroad switching accident?
Evidence may include railroad operating rules, training and operational testing records, job briefings, radio communications, photographs, video, inspection records, prior complaints, witness statements, medical records, and other evidence concerning the accident.
Should I speak with a FELA attorney after a railroad switching injury?
If you have suffered a significant injury in a switching or shoving accident, speaking with an attorney who handles FELA cases can help you understand your rights and preserve important evidence concerning the accident.
Injured in a Railroad Switching or Shoving Accident?
If you are a railroad conductor, brakeman, switchman, engineer, or other railroad employee who suffered an injury during a switching or shoving operation, you may have rights under FELA.
A FELA attorney can investigate the accident, examine the railroad’s rules and safety practices, identify potentially relevant evidence, and determine whether the railroad’s negligence contributed to the injury.
Doran & Murphy represents injured railroad workers throughout the United States. If we are not admitted to practice in your jurisdiction, we will associate with local counsel at no additional cost to you.
If you or a family member has been injured in a railroad switching accident, contact Doran & Murphy for a free consultation to discuss your rights.
