The FRA has a working group that specifically addresses fatalities suffered during switching operations. Unfortunately, the group released an alert this week of a fatality for an employee who was crushed between two railcars during switching operations while shoving earlier this month.
We have previously discussed the dangers in switching – dangers that persist in causing serious injuries to railroad workers. The Switching Operations Fatalities Analysis Working Group is a partnership between union representatives, representatives from the Federal Railroad Administration, and the railroad’s industry trade groups. The Working Group looks at switching fatalities to make recommendations to move toward the goal of having zero switching fatalities.
The Working Group has determined that the vast majority of switching fatalities that they have investigated involve a shove move. From conductors getting injured by close clearance riding a shove to dismounting, 79% of switching fatalities involved a shove. The group also found that the incidents often involved:
- Inexperienced or trainee employees;
- Close clearance;
- Inadequate job briefing; and
- Slips, trips and falls.
If you have been injured during switching operations, we invite you to contact us to discuss your rights under the Federal Employers’ Liability Act.
