[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 115 (Wednesday, June 16, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 32300]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-15252]



[[Page 32300]]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration


Notice of Safety Advisory

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of safety advisory.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: FRA is issuing Safety Advisory 99-1 addressing safety 
practices related to the lifting or jacking of railroad equipment in 
order to remove trucks or repair other components on a piece of 
railroad equipment which require individuals to work beneath railroad 
equipment while it is raised.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ronald Newman, Motive Power & 
Equipment Staff Director, Office of Safety Assurance and Compliance, 
FRA, 400 Seventh Street, SW, RRS-14, Mail Stop 25, Washington, DC 20590 
(telephone 202-493-6241), or Thomas Herrmann, Trial Attorney, Office of 
Chief Counsel, FRA, 400 Seventh Street, SW, RCC-12, Mail Stop 10, 
Washington, DC 20590 (telephone 202-493-6036).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Two recent instances involving a car under 
repair falling off its jacks have resulted in a total of three 
fatalities. Although investigation of both incidents is still being 
conducted, preliminary findings have indicated that the stability of 
the ground supporting the jacking device contributed to the cars 
falling. These events have highlighted the dangers of working under and 
around cars which are supported off of their trucks.
    On February 26, 1999, a Union Pacific Railroad employee was fatally 
injured while performing a wheel set replacement on a loaded grain 
hopper. The incident occurred on a siding serving a grain elevator at 
Greensburg, Kansas, where the car had been set out after tripping a hot 
box detector. Two individuals were dispatched in a car repair truck 
with tools, equipment, and a spare wheel set to repair the car. 
Hydraulic jacks supported on wood blocks were used to lift the car. 
Preliminary investigation indicates that safety supports were not used 
and that during reassembly the individuals involved were attempting to 
get good alignment of the parts by using small jacks and pry bars and 
that the car became unstable and fell, pinning one of the individuals 
under one of the ladder grab irons and fatally injuring him. 
Preliminary investigation also suggests that one of the wood support 
pads may not have been sufficient to support the weight of the car due 
to soil conditions under it.
    On March 18, 1999, a double fatal accident occurred on Grand Trunk 
Western Railroad on a repair track at East Yard, Hamtramck, Michigan, 
when a car supported on electro-hydraulic car jacks and safety supports 
fell and fatally injured two of the three individuals working under it. 
Although wooden jacking pads were used under the jacks, preliminary 
findings indicates that the earth under the jack at the A-end, L-
position, may have collapsed and that the safety supports may have been 
ineffective.

Recommended Action

    Railroads and car repair shops need to ensure that personnel 
responsible for jacking railroad cars are provided proper equipment, 
training, and adequate safety supervision, as well as stable ground on 
which to work. FRA recommends that the following safety precautions be 
taken in addition to use of mandated personal safety equipment and blue 
signal protection:
     Site selection and weather awareness: A car which is to be 
lifted should be on level track in an area where the ground under the 
jacks is solid. If the ground is not solid or if soil conditions are 
significantly different from one side of the track to the other jacking 
should not be attempted and the car should be moved before lifting. 
Frozen ground may be temporarily solid but care should be taken in case 
one side should be defrosted by the sun, which could cause the car to 
tip to that side. If high winds or other dangerous weather conditions 
exist or are expected before the car can be set back on its truck, 
lifting should not be attempted.
     Equipment selection: Capacity of car jacks and safety 
supports should be clearly marked and personnel should be trained in 
selection of the proper equipment for the job.
     Equipment inspection: Prior to each use, car jacks and 
safety supports should be visually inspected for cracks, bends, 
hydraulic leaks, or other abnormal conditions that could indicate 
impending failure. Employees should be trained in how to properly 
inspect the equipment.
     Preparation for lifting: Before attempting to lift a car, 
the ground under the planned location of the jacks should be checked 
for stability and covered with blocking to spread the load of the 
jacks, as needed. Wooden blocking or jacking pads large enough to 
spread the load over the ground should be used. Wheels that are not to 
be lifted should be chocked to prevent rolling, and wood or other heavy 
duty cushioning material should be placed between the jack and the car 
to prevent slipping.
     Angularity: Jacks and safety supports should be set as 
close to vertical as possible. Deviation from vertical which is visible 
to the unaided eye should be corrected.
     Safety supports: While the car is being worked on or if it 
is to be left standing without a truck in place underneath it, safety 
supports which have been selected, inspected, and prepared as detailed 
above should be placed under the car, supporting weight.
     Periodic inspection: A periodic inspection program should 
supplement the visual inspection of the jacks and safety supports. 
Appropriate non-destructive testing should be a part of this periodic 
inspection.
     Safety supervision: Supervisory personnel at each facility 
should be tasked to ensure that the training and inspections 
recommended above are carried out in accordance with the intent of this 
safety advisory.
    FRA may modify Safety Advisory 99-1, issue additional safety 
advisories, or take other appropriate necessary action to ensure the 
highest level of safety on the Nation's railroads.

    Issued in Washington, DC on June 11, 1999.
George Gavalla,
Associate Administrator for Safety.
[FR Doc. 99-15252 Filed 6-15-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P