Safety Advisory 2010-03

Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 200 / Monday, October 18, 2010 / Notices 63893 hinder the effective use and expansion Guidelines for the development of a SUMMARY: FRA is issuing Safety of America’s Marine Highways; national freight policy from a marine Advisory 2010–03 to remind railroads waterways and ports, and their transportation Perspective, and; such and their employees of the importance intermodal, road, rail, and marine high other matters, related to those above, of situational awareness and the need to connections; and guidelines for the that the Secretary or sponsor may charge stay alert whenever the job that is being development of a national freight policy the Committee with addressing. The full performed changes, particularly in main from a marine transportation Committee normally meets at least two track territory. This safety advisory perspective to the Secretary of to three times per fiscal year. contains various recommendations to Transportation via the Maritime Subcommittee meetings and railroads to ensure that these issues are Administrator. teleconferences are held more addressed by appropriate policies and DATES: Completed application forms frequently, as needed. It may also meet procedures. should reach us on or before November for extraordinary purposes. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 17, 2010. Twenty-eight (28) positions will be Ronald Hynes, Director, Office of Safety ADDRESSES: Interested candidates may filled. Organizations and companies Compliance and Assurance, Office of request an application form and submit with experience inone or more of the Railroad Safety, FRA, 1200 New Jersey a completed application by one of the following sectors of the marine Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, following methods: E-mail: transportation industry are encouraged telephone (202) 493–6404; or Joseph St. [email protected], subject line: to apply: Ports and Terminal Operators, Peter, Trial Attorney, Office of Chief MTSNAC Application Fax: 202–366– Shippers, Vessel Operators, Non-Marine Counsel, FRA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, 6988, ATTN: MTSNAC DFO, please Transportation Providers, Metropolitan SE., Washington, DC 20590, telephone provide name, mailing address and Planning Organizations and State DOTs, (202) 493–6052. Shipbuilders, Labor and Workforce telephone and fax numbers to send SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The application forms to. Mail: MARAD– Development, and Academia. Registered lobbyists are not eligible to overall safety of railroad operations has MTSNAC Designated Federal Officer, improved in recent years. However, a Room W21–310, U.S. Department of serve on Federal Advisory Committees. Registered lobbyists are lobbyists series of events over the past 24 months Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Ave., highlight the need to review current SE., Washington, DC 20590, please required to comply with provisions contained in the Lobbying Disclosure railroad procedures and practices. This provide name, mailing address and safety advisory emphasizes the need for telephone and fax numbers to send Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 110–81, as amended). railroads to review and update their application forms to: Internet: To current procedures relating to download a PDF or MS-Word Each member serves for a term of two years. Members may serve consecutive situational awareness, alertness when application form, visit MTSNAC Web working on or near main tracks, and job site at http://www.mtsnac.org. terms. All members serve at their own expense and receive no salary. While briefings whenever there is a change in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. situation. Richard Lolich, MTSNAC Designated attending meetings or when otherwise Federal Officer, Maritime engaged in committee business, Recent Incidents members will be reimbursed for travel Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave., The following is a discussion of the and per diem expenses as permitted SE., Room W21–310, Washington, DC circumstances surrounding a recent fatal under applicable Federal travel 20590, [email protected], Phone: incident, and is based only on FRA’s regulations. 202–366–0704, Fax: 202–366–6988. preliminary investigation. The accident If you are interested in applying to SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: is still under investigation by FRA and The become a member of the Committee, local authorities. The causes and MTSNAC is an advisory committee send a completed application to Mr. established in accordance with the contributing factors, if any, have not yet Richard Lolich, Designated Federal provisions of the Federal Advisory been established. Therefore, nothing in Officer (DFO) of the Marine Committee Act (FACA) 5 U.S.C. App. 1 this safety advisory is intended to Transportation System National (Pub. L. 92–463) and the Energy attribute a cause to the incident or place Advisory Council. Send the application Independence and Security Act of 2007 responsibility for the incident on the in time for it to be received by the DFO (Pub. L. 110–140). The MTSNAC acts or omissions of any person or on or before November 17, 2010. advises, consults with, reports to, and entity. makes recommendations to the Dated: October 12, 2010. The fatal incident occurred on Secretary on matters relating to the By Order of the Maritime Administrator. September 1, 2010, at approximately Marine Transportation System. Such Christine Gurland, 6:50 a.m., in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, matters may include, but are not limited Secretary, Maritime Administration. on the BNSF Railway’s (BNSF) Twin to: [FR Doc. 2010–26092 Filed 10–15–10; 8:45 am] Cities Division, Staples Subdivision, in Impediments that hinder the effective BILLING CODE 4910–81–P double-main track territory. The use and expansion of America’s Marine incident occurred when a westbound Highways, and the expanded use of the BNSF track geometry train stopped on marine transportation system for freight DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Main Track #1 just west of Egrett and passengers; Waterways and ports, Boulevard, a public highway-rail grade and their intermodal road, rail, and Federal Railroad Administration crossing equipped with flashers and marine highway connections and gates, to allow a BNSF roadmaster (track actions required to meet current and Safety Advisory 2010–03 supervisor) to disembark from the future national transportation system AGENCY: Federal Railroad geometry car. The roadmaster stepped integration needs; Strategy, policy, and Administration (FRA), Department of off the rear (east) end of the geometry goals to ensure an environmentally Transportation (DOT). car on the field side of Main Track #1 responsible and safe system that and onto the highway-rail grade ACTION: Notice of Safety Advisory; improves the global competitiveness crossing. As the geometry train resumed staying alert and situational awareness. and national security of the U.S.; movement west, the roadmaster walked VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:45 Oct 15, 2010 Jkt 223001 PO 00000 Frm 00096 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\18OCN1.SGM 18OCN1 mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES 63894 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 200 / Monday, October 18, 2010 / Notices perpendicularly across the crossing, with regard to his or her own personal changes. Railroad operating rules and toward a BNSF vehicle parked on the safety, is individual awareness and certain Federal railroad safety opposite side of the crossing that was accountability. regulations require that these job waiting to pick him up. As he did so, FRA notes that there have been other briefings take place. The job briefing can he stepped into the path of an oncoming recent incidents in which railroad act, particularly when there is more passenger train traveling east on employees have been killed and injured than one person involved with the task, adjacent Main Track #2 at 79 mph, and after potentially becoming distracted or as a ‘‘time out,’’ so to speak, for the was struck and killed. The roadmaster unaware of changing job situations. For affected employees to reinforce the need was a 53-year-old employee with 31 instance: to exercise vigilance and awareness in years of railroad service. (1) In 2008, an incident occurred the performance of their tasks. FRA is investigating a number of when a two-person train crew, after FRA also wishes to reiterate concerns potential factors that may have been reaching their destination, was previously expressed to the railroad involved in this fatal event. FRA is instructed to secure their freight train at industry in a letter dated January 26, determining whether any of these a location beyond their normal crew 2010. In the present era of ‘‘instant factors, or any other factors it may change point. The location was on communications and technology and discover, worked to drastically change double-main track on a bridge near a information ‘overload,’ ’’ railroad the roadmaster’s job situation when he parking lot where a relief crew could employees need to maintain complete alighted from the geometry car, or reach the train. The conductor left the situational awareness and avoid provided a false sense of security cab of the locomotive to tie hand brakes distractions. Railroad employees should regarding the conditions at the crossing. in order to secure the train, but appears keep cell phones and other distracting Some of these factors include: to have done so without performing a devices turned off and focus their full (1) The potential distraction caused job briefing with the engineer and attention on the task at hand. As the by the paperwork the roadmaster was without taking his hand-held radio. He above examples indicate, even slight holding. crossed in front of the locomotive and lapses in situational awareness can lead (2) The location of the involved walked across the bridge between the to tragedy. crossing in a ‘‘quiet zone.’’ two tracks. An eastward train, Recommended Action: In light of the Consequently, the striking passenger approaching at 26 mph, observed the above discussion, and in an effort to train was not required to sound its horn conductor in the foul, sounded its maintain the safety of railroad at the grade crossing where the incident whistle, turned the locomotive’s employees on the Nation’s rail system, occurred.

Load more