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Re: Newest UP rule change...reverse moves in a vehicle
Author: Mark
Date: 04-23-2013 - 19:07
The writers of this rule fail to comprehend many things. A nearly identical version of this rule has been in effect for at least a couple years but not until today did they specifically single out engineering and contract employees by creating 74.11.1.
1. Many railroad access roads offer no place to turn around without fouling the mainline or getting stuck in snow, mud, sand, or ballast which means very long "reverse moves" to get out, i.e. a couple thousand feet sometimes.
2. Stopping the vehicle every 150 feet in snow, mud, sand, or ballast is asking for serious trouble. There is significant risk the vehicle will get stuck.
They don't explicitly say the driver must get out every 150 feet to inspect, but I think that is the implication. Getting out on snow, mud, sand, ballast, or ice is asking for a slip, trip, and fall injury which on the UP, is always the employee's fault.
3. There's no way to measure 150 feet from a moving vehicle to comply with this rule.
4. It's impossible to back up safely and track your distance every 150 feet while watching the speedometer to stay below 5 MPH.
1. Many railroad access roads offer no place to turn around without fouling the mainline or getting stuck in snow, mud, sand, or ballast which means very long "reverse moves" to get out, i.e. a couple thousand feet sometimes.
2. Stopping the vehicle every 150 feet in snow, mud, sand, or ballast is asking for serious trouble. There is significant risk the vehicle will get stuck.
They don't explicitly say the driver must get out every 150 feet to inspect, but I think that is the implication. Getting out on snow, mud, sand, ballast, or ice is asking for a slip, trip, and fall injury which on the UP, is always the employee's fault.
3. There's no way to measure 150 feet from a moving vehicle to comply with this rule.
4. It's impossible to back up safely and track your distance every 150 feet while watching the speedometer to stay below 5 MPH.
