theconductor Wrote:
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> But does it matter if the UP enhances safety
> because of risk management? Does the reason
> matter?

Risk management doesn't enhance safety, it hinders it.

>snip<

> Of course it's not going to prevent all injuries,
> but if it stops just one isn't it worth it? Are
> you going to tell me that not one persons life of
> limb has been spared because of better visibility?
> I have seen a carmen run over a trainman in broad
> daylight. You can't tell me that not once a
> conductor or carman or other employee has avoided
> being hit by a car on a dark yard road because the
> shiny reflective strip caught a drivers eyes.
> Likewise an engineer. Again, if just one person is
> saved it's worth it to me. I could be that
> person.

Wearing a reflective vest may indeed prevent one from being hit by a vehicle on a dark road, but it won't deter a locomotive or car. BNSF had a fatality in its yard in Tulsa early Wednesday morning. I bet that person was wearing the required PPE equipment.

> I have also spoken with quite a few engineers that
> have said that they appreciate the vest because of
> how much more visible it makes their conductors.

Really? I've found that now that everyone's wearing the same color, it's hard to keep focused on which person is giving the hand signals. Used to be that if Bill was wearing a red shirt and Joe was wearing a blue shirt, I could tell them apart from 30 cars away and keep my eyes focused on whichever one gave me the last sign. But no more. Now eveyone's green. It's even worse now that there are so many students attached to the crews. Green vests everywhere.

>snip<

> I agree with you that a lot of the above mentioned
> things are redundant. I personally hate the job
> briefing books, but if the company wants me to
> spend my paid time filling one out and reading
> countless new bulletins then what do I care? They
> pay me, they can use my time however they want.
> I'm going home in 12 regardless!

I, too, don't care how long it takes. The main problem with the RVSU's new job breifing book is that it is a company document that you are required to sign after filling it out. There are various fields in it, such as the one that requires you to write in what your commitment to safety is for the day, that the company can use against you in a FELA case. Thus, it transfers responsibility (i.e., liablilty) from the company to the employee.

One of the things I've found the job brieding book useful for, however, is for documenting non-complying locomotive defects, unsafe conditions, which days and by whom we were "tested," and which managers have threatened me. It's also amusing to read the various typographical errors, including the one on the second blue page in the back the completely changes the rule requirement to use a lantern or light when walking in dark areas - according to the book, employees are prohibited from using a light under those conditions.

> I also agree that hiring people with common sense
> would go a long ways for all or our safety.
> Unfortunately the union helps squash any of that.
> If a competitive work place were promoted by the
> union and not one based on seniority (and often
> laziness) everyone would benefit. The railroad
> would get more output per man hour, the unions
> would spend less time defending people and the
> employees would have a safer work place. All that
> will never happen though.

The unions aren't involved in the hiring process. That's done entirely by the railroad.