Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Report in Massachusetts: Trackman Dies after Being Caught Between a People Mover and a Clip Applicator While Replacing Railroad Ties

摘要

On June 22, 2006, a 36-year-old male trackman was fatally injured while working with a tie gang to replace railroad ties. The victim's main task as a trackman during this project was to retrieve clips from a clip bag located at the rear of the clip applicator (clipper), and insert the clips into the railroad track's bracket and tie. The victim was standing in the track behind the clipper by the clip bag when a people mover (bus) that was being operated by a co-worker struck the victim crushing him against the clipper. Co-workers radioed the dispatcher who then placed a call for Emergency Medical Services (EMS). EMS responded to the incident site within minutes along with the transit, municipal, and state police. The victim was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. The Massachusetts FACE Program concluded that to prevent similar occurrences in the future, railroad transportation companies/agencies should: (1) Ensure that routinely accessed items, such as clip bags, are not located where roadway workers have to repeatedly foul tracks (position themselves in between or near) to access them; (2) Strictly enforce the required ten foot clearance between equipment as well as other regulations established to protect workers; (3) Inspect and evaluate all purchased or acquired equipment, especially equipment altered by another entity, to ensure it is safe to operate prior to placing it in operation; and (4) Conduct a routine job safety analysis (JSA) for each piece of equipment and the tasks the equipment will be involved in to ensure worker safety.