Tag Archives: FRA
The Interchange of Coronavirus, Federal Regulations, the FELA, and the FRSA – Part 1 of 3
Part I – Bad Order: the FRA is No Longer Looking Out for Your Safety, Period. There is a mechanical defect here – a big one. As many of you may already know, the SMART Transportation Union sent an Emergency Petition to the Federal Railroad Administration – the agency whose mission is supposed to… Read More »
Vision Certification Issues For Railroad Conductors And Engineers
I have received numerous calls recently from Railroad Engineers and Conductors from across the nation regarding certification issues, especially with regard to visual color deficiencies and visual acuity issues. It is important to understand that the Railroads are struggling with the appropriate methods with which to measure color vision deficiency and visual acuity deficiencies… Read More »
FRA Releases New Smartphone App
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) announced today that it has released a new smartphone application, the Rail Crossing Locator. The FRA’s press release indicates that the app “provides the public with easy access to safety informaton about the nation’s more than 200,000 highway-rail grade crossings.” The press releases goes on to state: “The Rail… Read More »
Connecticut Post Article Points Out Problems With FRA
Yesterday, the Connecticut Post published an article that indicated that a recent audit of the Federal Rail Administration (FRA) was critical of its implementation of the Rail Safety Improvement Act (RSIA). The article stated that “A recent audit by the Office of Inspector General of the FRA response to the the mandate found substantial… Read More »
Rail Inspected Two Days Prior To Metro-North Crash
The Connecticut Post reported yesterday that the stretch of rail involved in last Friday’s Metro-North train collision had been inspected two days prior. This information was obtained from Robert Kulat, a spokesman for the Federal Rail Administration (FRA). The article goes on to indicate that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation is focused… Read More »
FRA Issues Switching Operations Safety Advisory
On May 3, 2013, the Federal Rail Administration (FRA) issued a safety advisory concerning the safety hazards associated with flat switching operations. Flat switching is performed by one of two methods – kicking or shoving. A car is kicked when it is uncoupled from the switching locomotive while it is motion allowing the car… Read More »
Whole Body Vibration
Studies have linked injuries suffered by locomotive engineers and those who routinely ride within locomotive cabs to whole-body vibration exposure. A study in 2002 determined that long term vibration exposure posed a health and safety risk to engineers in the form of accelerated spinal degeneration, disk herniation and sciatica. Other studies have linked neck… Read More »
FRA Provides Grant To Study Return Of Amtrak Passenger Service Between Birmingham, Montgomery And Mobile, Alabama
On August 16, 2012, the Federal Rail Administration (FRA) issued a news release indicating that had obligated $100,000.00 to the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs to study the restoration of Amtrak passenger rail service that would connect the existing portion of Amtrak’s Crescent Route at Birmingham to a possible future route between… Read More »
OSHA And FRA Join Forces To Provide Whistleblower Protection
On July 16, 2012, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced that it has signed an agreement with the Federal Rail Administration (FRA) to “facilitate coordination and cooperation between agencies regarding enforcement of the Federal Railroad Safety Act’s whistleblower provision.” OSHA’s news release regarding the agreement went on to state that “The safety… Read More »