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BNSF Roadmaster Killed & Cell Phone Distraction
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<p>[quote user="edblysard"]</p> <p>Larry and Paul got what I was driving at..</p> <p>First, BNSF and most Class 1 roads require anyone working on or near live track to wear a bright safety orange vest, and all employees who work around any machinery are required to have hearing protection on their person, (note on their person, not absolutely in use, varies by carrier)...every terminal has a huge box of disposable ear plus near the exit towards the track/ yard and they are all over the diesel shop and rip track.</p> <p>...My point is, it is not the device that is dangerous, but what we use it for.</p> <p> </p> <div style="clear:both;"></div> <p>[/quote]</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ed,</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;"><span style="font-size: small;">I understand the points you are making. And I want to clarify that I do not believe that the sense of hearing is essential for a person to ascertain whether it is safe to cross a track.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You bring up a good point about hearing impairment caused by hearing protection.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;"><span style="font-size: small;">However, what I do believe is that the rule cited in the BNSF accident report is defectively written where it requires a person crossing a track to not be carrying a tool that impairs hearing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe the author of that language did not realize the entire scope of its meaning, and therefore did not intend it to mean everything it says.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This defect in that rule language greatly surprises me because I have found railroad rules to be some of the clearest language ever written.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;"><span style="font-size: small;">So, as I mentioned previously, I am curious as to the source of this rule that is quoted in the BNSF accident report.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;"><span style="font-size: small;">All the rule needs to say is that an employee must know that a track is clear of any movement that will interfere with him or her if he or she fouls that track.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;"><span style="font-size: small;">An employee must rely on the senses of hearing, sight, and touch in order to determine whether it is safe to cross a track.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, these three senses need not be functioning to 100%.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For instance, the sense of hearing and touch could be completely absent and the determination of whether it is safe to cross could still be made with vision alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All five senses are somewhat impaired all the time to various degrees.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;"><span style="font-size: small;">The rule must require an employee to not only make sure a track is clear to cross, but also to evaluate his or her senses before crossing to make sure that they not impaired to the point of making it impossible to determine whether the track is clear to cross.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In order to evaluate his or her senses, an employee must not be distracted from that task.</span></span></span></p>
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