Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 003 Hazard: STRUCK BY

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to: The remote controlled locomotive operators working in the transportation department to push or pull railcars without continuous point protection or equivalent (i.e. the remote controlled locomotive operators did not have a clear 180o view of the train, track, and area ahead of the lead vehichle in the direction of travel) thus exposing the employees to the hazards of being struck by moving railroad cars and/or engines: 1) On 7/11/91 in the mold yard an operator was moving the narrow gauge train containing 8 pricker cars. The operator was riding on the front riding car behind the 8 pricker cars and did not have a clear unobstructed view of travel. After placing the load in the mold yard the operator rode on the riding car following the locomotive and again his view was blocked by the locomotivve. 2) On 7/11/91 an operator was observed operating a narrow gauge locomotive from the riding car in back of the locomotive instead of the lead riding car. The employee was operating with view obstructed by the locomotive. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to provide continuous point protection or the equivalent when railcars or engines are being moved.