Ed wanted me to post this photo of 844 and the blue flag on the front.
Hope it helps!
Willy
Industries definitely use blue flag protection. It's the worst thing to pull up to a customer, on a tight scedule, and see blue flags up. I can't touch them, even if I can see that there's obviously no one there. The rule states that the only one that can take away a blue flag is the one that set it up, so I have to find that employee to fre up the cars for my use.
It's possible to have several blue flags on equipment, like when several employees are working on an engine. I can't move equipment until all of them take their flags down - And that's definitely the safest way.
See above , Yes industrys use blue flags also , especially when hoses are connected to railcars.
Randy Stahl
Train crews provide their own form of protection, known as the "Three Step" or "Red Zone" protection, which involves the engineer setting the reverser to netural, the generator field to off, and applying the independent locomotive brake.
No movement is allowed until the person who requested protection releases it, period.
Blue flag protection is designed for men other than train crews who will be working on, under or around cars and locomotives.
This rule outlines the requirements for protecting railroad workmen who are inspecting, testing, repairing, and servicing rolling equipment. In particular, because these tasks require the workmen to work on, under, or between rolling equipment, workmen are exposed to potential injury from moving equipment.
As used in this rule, the following definitions apply:
Workmen. Railroad employees assigned to inspect, test, repair, or service railroad rolling equipment or components, including brake systems. Train and yard crews are excluded, except when they perform the above work on rolling equipment not part of the train or yard movement they are handling or will handle.
Group of Workmen. Two or more workmen of the same or different crafts who work as a unit under a common authority and communicate with each other while working.
Rolling Equipment. Engines, cars, and one or more engines coupled to one or more cars.
Blue Signal. During the day, a clearly distinguishable blue flag or light, and at night, a blue light. The blue light may be steady or flashing.
The blue signal does not need to be lighted when it is attached to the operating controls of an engine and the inside of the engine cab area is lighted enough to make the blue signal clearly distinguishable.
Effective Locking Device. When used in relation to a manually operated switch or a derail, a lock that can be locked or unlocked only by the craft or group of workmen applying the lock.
Car Shop Repair Area. One or more tracks within an area where rolling equipment testing, servicing, repairing, inspecting, or rebuilding is controlled exclusively by mechanical department personnel.
Engine Servicing Area. One or more tracks within an area where engine testing, servicing, repairing, inspecting, or rebuilding is controlled exclusively by mechanical department personnel.
Switch Providing Direct Access. A switch that if used by rolling equipment could permit the rolling equipment to couple to the equipment being protected.
A. What a Blue Signal Signifies
A blue signal signifies that workmen are on, under, or between rolling equipment and requires that:
Blue signals or remote control blue signals must be displayed for each craft or group of workmen who will work on, under, or between rolling equipment.
Protection Removed. Blue signals may be removed only by the craft or group who placed them. Remote control display may be discontinued when directed by the craft or group that requested the protection. When blue signal protection has been removed from one entrance of a double-ended track or from either end of rolling equipment on a main track, that track is no longer under blue signal protection.
B. How to Provide Protection
When workmen are on, under, or between rolling equipment and exposed to potential injury, protection must be provided as follows:
On a Main Track. A blue signal must be displayed at each end of the rolling equipment.
On Other than a Main Track. One of these three methods of protection or a combination of these methods must be provided:
Each manually operated switch that provides direct access must be lined against movement onto the track and secured by an effective locking device. A blue signal must be placed at or near each such switch. In addition, any facing point crossover switch must be lined against movement and secured by an effective locking device.
2. A derail capable of restricting access to the track where work will occur must be locked in derailing position with an effective locking device and:
A blue signal must be displayed at each derail.
3. Where remote control switches provide direct access, the employee in charge of the workmen must tell the switch operator what work will be done. The switch operator must then:
C. Blue Signal Readily Visible to Engineer
In addition to providing protection as required in 'On a Main Track" and "On Other than a Main Track," when workmen are on, under, or between an engine or rolling equipment coupled to an engine:
D. Protection for Workmen Inspecting Markers
Blue signal protection must be provided for workmen when they are:
E. Protection for Emergency Repair Work
If a blue signal is not available for employees performing emergency repairs on, under, or between an engine or rolling equipment coupled to an engine, the employee controlling the engine must be notified and appropriate measures taken to provide protection for the employees.
F. Movement in Engine Servicing Area An engine must not enter a designated engine servicing area until the blue signal protection is removed from the entrance. The engine must stop short of coupling to another engine.
An engine must not leave a designated engine servicing area unless the blue signal is removed from the engine and the track in the direction of movement.
Blue signal protection removed to let engines enter or leave the engine servicing area must be restored immediately after the engine enters or clears the area.
An engine protected by blue signals may be moved on a designated engine servicing area track when:
G. Movement in Car Shop Repair Area When rolling equipment on car shop repair tracks is protected by blue signals, a car mover may reposition the equipment if:
When a sign reading:
STOP - TANK CAR CONNECTED
STOP - MEN WORKING
EMPLOYEES WORKING
SERVICE CONNECTIONS
or a similar warning is displayed on a track or car, the car must not be coupled to or moved. Other equipment must not be placed on the same track in a manner that would block or reduce the view of the sign.
Note 5.13 provides protection for railroad employees and contractors alike, as does rule 5.14.
Many of the refineries where I work employee contractors to load/unload, or have their own private contractor railroad, (Econorail and such) all of whom use blue flag protection, and employee rule 5.14 as well.
Blue flag protection is so ingrained into our work habits that if I come upon a blue flag inside a plant, I avoid it and the track it protects like the plague, even when I know a non railroader placed it.
It is still a blue flag, and the rule is quite clear about it and the protection it supplies, and who may remove it.
Ed
23 17 46 11
Yes we are on time but this is yesterdays train
youngengineer wrote: blue flag protection is to protect anyone other than the train crew from movement. Blue flags mean that worker can be in around or under the equipment. The rule seems to state that this only protects railroad workers. What about industry, they also use blue flag protection, or not? Also, If a train can be moved from its present location and someone other than the railroad needs to do work on it, i.e. fuel locomotives, do they have to use blue flag protection, Or can they go about there work if they notify the yardmaster.
blue flag protection is to protect anyone other than the train crew from movement. Blue flags mean that worker can be in around or under the equipment.
The rule seems to state that this only protects railroad workers. What about industry, they also use blue flag protection, or not? Also, If a train can be moved from its present location and someone other than the railroad needs to do work on it, i.e. fuel locomotives, do they have to use blue flag protection, Or can they go about there work if they notify the yardmaster.
Industry uses blue flag protection as well at any point loading or unloading a car, usually in conjuction with a derail.. The person that sets the blue flag also removes it - nobody else. (Very similar to lockout-tagout on the OSHA side of the R/W fence.)
I witnessed the tail end of an incident at Raton, NM where an ASDE blue flagged a locomotive to get at the old Sentry Series wheel slip ground radar window in the front truck bay on a fast set of pigs (ATSF 883 train) and the hogger moved the train 5 feet to get to a water hose connection. The ASDE came out from under that locomotive white as a sheet and hoarse from screaming. If looks could kill, that hogger was dead. (The trainmaster had to restrain one very agitated ASDE any time that hogger was at the depot before the rules investigation.- Somebody got an undesired unpaid vacation, a long one with residual Brownies...)
ASDE = Asst. Supervisor Diesel Engines (Santa Fe Riding Mechanic/Supervisor)
Boiled down to its most common element: If you are servicing the power, you are responsible for providing your protection and establishing a safety zone. Ask Randy Stahl how his railroad handles the protocols.
The contract fuel trucks that I've seen have all put up a red flag between the rails in front of the lead locomotive. Even one time when a mechanic had his blue flag protection up while he was doing something, the fuel truck driver put out his red flag. The red flags are actually metal, not cloth as are all the blue flags placed between the rails that I recall seeing.
Jeff
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