To satisfy legal obligations and perhaps more importantly to protect members and visitors from harm, we're about to draft and post new club rules/guidelines/cautions for those working on the layout or in the work room - and of course others running trains or just watching the workers work).
We want clear, brief, readable, common sense material covering the broad range of club activities, without getting into detailed procedures e.g. how to handle a rotary saw, drill, coffee machine etc.
We'd be interested in reading how other clubs manage the safety issues, including publication, education, reinforcement and enforcing. Examples of posted bulletins or such would be appreciated.
Happy Rails to all! Keep safe!
Isambard
Grizzly Northern history, Tales from the Grizzly and news on line at isambard5935.blogspot.com
My first suggestion is to have emergency lights the come on in a power failure. Then keep exit routes clear of tripping hazards.
All tools gluged into power bars, which also turn a small light when energized.
Dave
Instead of a bunch of rules that no one would abide by, we purchase liability insurance in the amount of $1.5 million for an annual fee of $400. This covers not only club members and the clubhouse, but also meets requirements of outside venues that we may visit.
I think the Idea of having rules for club members when doing work with power / hand tools is a good one. The liability insurance covers the club in case someone does get injured but rules try to insure that there is no injury to begin with. Many people abuse tools and use them in ways that they are not supposed to be used for and I am guilty of that but I make sure there is nobody but me around the work area.
Cacole,
Your point regarding the hassle of posting "a bunch of rules that no one would abide by" is understandable. However, in this lawsuit-happy society the rules are very important. It's unfortunate that even among model railroaders today there are some that, if seriously injured in a club during a maintenance or run session, would not bat an eyelash in making an appointment with an attorney.
The "good ol" days of common sense and self-accountability are rapidly fading behind us in this entitlement minded age. Even with liability insurance in place, a club should have an established body of rules with clear language that should be looked over and approved by a legal professional. Not a bad idea to consult with a club within your own state (since liability laws vary from state to state) that has taken a similar route.
"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"
Believe that any rules selected be of a general nature. The more specific thay are the more complicated they are. Trying to think of every specific possibility is next to impossible. We have an insurance policy and few rules.
One thing my club has is Directors & Officers Insurance. It's an additional insurance policy that protects the club officers against a lawsuit if someone (member or visitor) gets injured on club grounds. Otherwise, officers may be personally liable if someone sues the club.
Paul A. Cutler III
I would suggest following what prototype does, and have warning labels, and reminders (example: keep walkway clear). Clearly mark exits, fire extingushers, and hazards such as steps. Have safety lights along walkways in case of fire like in airplanes. Require all club members to take a safety course, showing where all exits, fire extinguishers, and the main breaker are. Maybe have a bulletin board that list safety rules (follow all safety labels on tools, plug tools into surge guards, no smoking, etc). I would just put together some common sense rules.
Construction companies have safety slogans on their mobile offices. Maybe have the safety rule/slogan of the month in the middle of the bulletin board in large print. Also have a fire escape plan by the entrance for visitors.
I don't envy you the task of coming up with common sense rules designed to keep everybody safe, mainly from litigation.
My old Air Cadet Squadron (Canadian) had a loosely affiliated alumni association. We participated in a few social events each year including pub nights and golf tournaments as well as an annual meeting, which was as good an excuse for a pub night as any.
One of our members was in the insurance business and he raised the issue of liability insurance for the association. He explained that without proper insurance all of the members of the association could be held liable if there was any sort of incident, like when a person leaving one of our meetings was involved in a car accident resulting in personal injury. The cost of said insurance was deemed to be more than the benefits of the alumni association were worth, so we ended up disbanding. I was very disappointed.
I hope the OP and his fellow club members can come up with some reasonable rules to satisfy the insurance companies, but I believe there is a point where all the rules in the world won't save you from someone doing something stupid. That's why we need insurance.
I believe that the NMRA offers insurance to member clubs. If I were the OP that would be well worth investigating if they haven't already.
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
I was a member of a club several years ago that was bless with two carpenters,two maintenance electricians and a electrical contractor..Since these were skilled tradesmen they became the construction and electrical committee which handle the maintenance of the layout..
We had several safety rules including power tools(including Dremal tools) could not be used by junior members~members under the age of 18..
Another way to cut insurance cost is to privatized the club to members and their invited guest only which means no visitor nights or open houses..
The downside of this isn't pretty..Such privation can lead to the club's doom.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Rule 1) Children with fingers are tied in sacks and transported in baggage cars.
Sign on door reads
RAILROADS (regardless of size) are HIGH HAZARD AREAS
HaZARDS in this area include
Tripping Hazards - Watch your StepLIVE electrical circuitsThermal hazards including soldering ironsInhilation Hazards included glue and paint fumesSharp Tools especially knives drills and saws.Hungry LIONS who may appear and eat you.
People see the sign when they come in, it is humorous, gets their attention and turns on the thinking part of their mind.
These are also printed on the "tickets" and timetables that are passed out to visitors.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Four steps a club can take to protect itself against most liability hazards: 1) Configure your facility to fulfill all local requirements for public occupancy and secure a permit. ( could be costly ). 2) Carry a sound liability insurance policy. 3) Assign an escort to conduct visitors and children around the premesis when they visit. 4) Work in pairs or a group and monitor each other for safe practices.
JimValle4) Work in pairs or a group and monitor each other for safe practices.
LION rather work in Apples. More likely to find a worm that way. With worm him can catch a fish, With a fish him can catch a bird. With a bird him can catch a Wildebeest...
But the abbot wants us to work in pears. Pear pie, pear slices, pear cake, all kinds of pears. He thinks that is safer for us. What with all of the news of um er issues.... we either work in pears, or parents gotta accompany even teenagers if they would to visit the railroad, or any other place where the public is not present.
Same goes for railroad clubs, ewe do not want to be railroaded by improper improprities.
LION puts laywers in a boxcar and runs it into the Hudson River. (Except of course when you need a lawyer.)