TSA rail security proposal to include freight engineers and conductors

[Paul of Covington]

jeffhergert

Management, of all kinds and not just railroads, these days think their blue collar employess, no matter their level of education and/or years of doing their jobs, are complete morons who couldn't function without direction from above.

   Amen.  This was a long-time sore point with me.   By the time I retired we were not supposed to know how to do the things we had been doing for 30 years.   Decision-making was gradually being taken away from us.   I always figured it was because management figured that people who got their hands dirty only did that kind of work because they were too dumb to do anything else.

[jeffhergert]

Dakguy201

 

 

  

Does anyone believe railroad employees are so clueless that they can only make a contribution only if they receive such "TSA approved" guidance?  

 

Management, of all kinds and not just railroads, these days think their blue collar employess, no matter their level of education and/or years of doing their jobs, are complete morons who couldn't function without direction from above.  

Many in government now believe that the common person is so helpless that they can't live without government edict and instruction. 

So, yes.  I can believe that there are some who think railroaders are clueless and need the proper guidance.  Sadly, there are always a few who prove the Government and management right.  The vast majority just pay the price for those few.

Jeff

[jeffhergert]

BaltACD

The past several years 'Rules Classes' have included a video and test pertaining to security threats on and about our property and our Urban Threat Areas.

Being East Coast, most of the division is a Urban Threat Area.

The only thing new will be TSA involvement which can only mean such training will be even more worthless than it is now.

For the past decade or more, the company has been preaching the 3 R's.

Recognize that 'something' isn't right.
Record your observations
Report your observations to company security personnel.

 

Yeah, we've been getting the same thing at our rules class sessions. 

Since I was under the impression that the training (video and test) was in conjunction with the Government, maybe it's been voluntary and they want to make it mandatory.  I would expect most of the larger railroads already do this but some of the smaller short line and contract switching outfits might not.

Jeff

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

Generalissimo Kelly will find those responsible for these regs and place them in positions of greater responsibility and pay.

[BaltACD]

Dakguy201

samfp1943

So here is a cut and paste from the Newswire article of this date:

The rule will require companies to establish formal TSA-approved training programs. Training should begin within a year.

Another attempted power grab before the administration changes.  I hope General Kelly in his new position at Homeland Security seeks out those responsible and reassigns them to the Nome office in charge of our polar bear defenses!  

Does anyone believe railroad employees are so clueless that they can only make a contribution only if they receive such "TSA approved" guidance?

Nome won't exist when the new admistration takes office.

[Deggesty]

Dakguy201

 

 

samfp1943

So here is a cut and paste from the Newswire article of this date:

The rule will require companies to establish formal TSA-approved training programs. Training should begin within a year.

 

 

 

Another attempted power grab before the administration changes.  I hope General Kelly in his new position at Homeland Security seeks out those responsible and reassigns them to the Nome office in charge of our polar bear defenses!  

Does anyone believe railroad employees are so clueless that they can only make a contribution only if they receive such "TSA approved" guidance?  

 

I thought that the rule in the old rule books covered any situation. I do not remember the exact wording, but the sense of it was that employees would unite in protecting company property. Of course, if you are the only employee in evidence, you would do everything you possibly could to protect the property. 

[Dakguy201]

samfp1943

So here is a cut and paste from the Newswire article of this date:

The rule will require companies to establish formal TSA-approved training programs. Training should begin within a year.

Another attempted power grab before the administration changes.  I hope General Kelly in his new position at Homeland Security seeks out those responsible and reassigns them to the Nome office in charge of our polar bear defenses!  

Does anyone believe railroad employees are so clueless that they can only make a contribution only if they receive such "TSA approved" guidance?  

[edblysard]

Randy Stahl

I hope we get cool new uniforms.

 

And machine guns....and Glocks....and cool "call signs"!

[samfp1943]

BaltACD

The past several years 'Rules Classes' have included a video and test pertaining to security threats on and about our property and our Urban Threat Areas.

Being East Coast, most of the division is a Urban Threat Area.

The only thing new will be TSA involvement which can only mean such training will be even more worthless than it is now.

For the past decade or more, the company has been preaching the 3 R's.

Recognize that 'something' isn't right.
Record your observations
Report your observations to company security personnel.

 

  Souds like "THEY" have a plan, and are 'working' it!   It seems that like many regulations written by the 'Regulators'; They seem to think that in ordcer to gain the compliance of 'The Regulated'.  That is the scary part, of new regulations. There is usually a 'carrot and stick' (maybe, a CLUB ?) approach to gain compliance from the 'Regulated'.  Problem is, that the Regulators assess compliance and the accompanying fines.  Then at that stage, it becomes a lawyer employment issue. 

[BaltACD]

The past several years 'Rules Classes' have included a video and test pertaining to security threats on and about our property and our Urban Threat Areas.

Being East Coast, most of the division is a Urban Threat Area.

The only thing new will be TSA involvement which can only mean such training will be even more worthless than it is now.

For the past decade or more, the company has been preaching the 3 R's.

Recognize that 'something' isn't right.
Record your observations
Report your observations to company security personnel.

[zugmann]

Randy Stahl

I hope we get cool new uniforms.

 

I'll be happy if we get a day off with pay for this training. 

[Randy Stahl]

I hope we get cool new uniforms.

[Euclid]

Obama’s so called “Midnight Regulations” is one final shot of venom into our national economy.  Midnight regulations are ones imposed by an outgoing president between the election and his final day in office.  It is indeed a power grab by adding new regulations.  The cost of these new regulations is nothing to sneeze at. 

http://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/gop-mostly-powerless-stopping-obama-midnight-regulations 

[Norm48327]

One more "power grab" by your [not so]friendly federal government.

[samfp1943]

The above is the title of a News Release on Today's TRAINS NEWSWire:

" I read elsewhere, that the Cost$ of Federal Regulations on the Regulated was something like $100 Million Dollars per Regulaton.  This one may have some fairly onerous results for not only the Railroads, but for the Railfan Community, as well?

So here is a cut and paste from the Newswire article of this date:

FTA:"...WASHINGTON — The Transportation Security Administration will require all “security sensitive employees” of Class I freight railroads, commuter lines, and Amtrak to have formal security training under a new regulation published Dec. 16. The rules also will apply to over-the-road bus companies.

“Security Training for Surface Transportation Employees” is intended to improve employees' ability “to observe, assess, and respond to security risks and potential security breaches.”

The rule will require companies to establish formal TSA-approved training programs. Training should begin within a year. The Transportation Security Administration is the same agency responsible for a majority of U.S. airport security screenings.

According to the agency, the term security sensitive employees is a description that includes nearly every front-line position on a railroad: locomotive engineers, conductors, dispatchers, and maintenance-of-way employees. Each company will also be required to appoint security coordinators.
TSA takes particular note of the need to train freight railroad personnel engaged in the transport of explosive, toxic, or radioactive cargoes through “high threat urban areas.”

Unless there is a further regulation for the Trucking Industry, and its handling of various Haz-Mat shipments; The application of this Regulation may get very heavy and very expensive for our Nation (IMHO)

The TSA estimates the cost of implementing the rule to be $90.7 million for freight railroads, and $53.4 million for commuter railroads. The proposal lists no cost estimate for Amtrak..."