Utah Admin. Code R614-6-4 - Industrial Railroads

A. Car handling and layout.

1. Purpose. These orders set up minimum standards for industrial railroads in above-ground operations. Where it has been determined by the Labor Commission that, due to the process or operation, compliance with these orders would increase the hazards, industrial railroads need not comply provided such substandard areas are properly posted with warning signs, clearance distances indicated, areas barricaded, proper instructions given to workmen or other safety devices installed to provide maximum protection to workmen. Nothing herein shall be construed as preventing the movement of material over tracks when such material is necessary in the construction or maintenance of such tracks, nor in the movement of special work equipment used in the construction, maintenance or operation of the railroad, provided such movement shall be carried on under such conditions as are necessary to provide for the safety of all concerned.

2. Definition. An industrial railroad is a railway track, or system of tracks, with necessary appurtenances thereto, owned or controlled by an industrial concern not a common carrier, which operations are conducted solely by one or more of such industrial concerns.

3. Layout. Plant layout as it applies to the installations of railroad tracks, trestles, high lines, loading docks, clearances, crossing, etc., shall comply with the Manual of the American Railway Engineering Association- Engineering Division, and General Order No. 66 of the Public Service Commission of Utah.

a. Where there is a driveway storage space or passageway under a trestle, the passageway should be protected with an overhead shield.

b. On trestles and other places where material is unloaded from side of cars, footwalk can be placed at a distance and part of the floor or walk can be arranged so that it can be lifted to allow metal or other material to fall through. Cable nets or gratings should be provided to prevent employees from falling through openings.

4. Clearance. Standard clearances may not give enough protection where tracks pass doorways or corners of buildings or other places where workers may walk directly onto tracks in front of moving railroad equipment. These locations must be safeguarded with fixed railings or other means that force employees to detour or to become otherwise alerted to the hazard.

5. Crossings. Track crossings shall be reduced to a reasonable minimum and as far as practical shall be away from buildings or their obstructions which may impair visibility. The crossings inside plants shall be equipped with stop signs, blinking light, wig-wags, gates, or other means of effective warning or be protected by a watchman, switchman, or other responsible person.

6. Trestles and Highlines.

a. Trestles shall be equipped with walks, the outer edge of which shall be at least six (6) feet from the rail. Where practical, the floor of this walk shall extend to within four (4) inches of the ends of the ties. In no case shall the walk be less than 20 inches wide. Each walk shall be equipped with a standard railing and toeboard.

b. All dead-end tracks are to be provided with adequate blocks. Draw bar height is preferable.

7. Speed limits. Speed limits both for train and vehicular travel inside industrial plants, shall be established and enforced.

8. Movement of railroad cars by car movers other than locomotives.

a. Car moving equipment, such as continuous cable pullers, winches, or other types of car movers shall have adequate guards to protect the operator, should the cable break.

b. The maximum number of cars loaded and empty, must be established and operators instructed in these safe load limits.

c. Hand-type car movers shall be provided with a guard to protect the operator's hand, should the tool slip.

d. Pushmobiles, trucks, and any other mobile-type car movers which are specifically intended for car moving shall have a coupler connection to railroad car being moved except when spotting only.

e. Persons assigned as car riders or so-called car droppers, must be adequately trained and shall use a safety harness and a short lanyard attached to the car they are riding while performing this work. (This is not applicable to railroad switching crews.)

9. Reporting bad order cars.

A definite procedure must be established for reporting bad order or damaged equipment, such as pin lifters, couplers, dumping mechanisms, etc.

10. Blocking of Cars.

a. When there is danger of cars rolling or drifting and employees are required to work on them, cars must be blocked with adequate wheel blocks to prevent them from rolling.

b. Where railroad cars are equipped with effective hand brakes, they may be set up to prevent cars from moving when employees are working on or inside of them in place of wheel blocks.

11. Blue Flag Procedure. When working on tracks, unloading or loading cars such as tank cars, gondolas, box cars, etc., the following blue flag track target procedure must be followed:

a. All blue flag track targets shall be of substantial material, not less than 12" x 15" in size, shall bear the word STOP in letters not less than 4" in height, and shall be at least 28" and not more than 10' above the top of the rail when placed. The supervisor or other person in charge will determine the distance that they are to be placed on each side of the work area.

b. Track target shall be placed on spur tracks 10' from the clearance of the lead or through tracks and the switch of the spur track locked in a closed position.

c. Track target shall be securely clamped upright to the rail or fastened securely to the side of the rail.

d. At night or when weather conditions result in poor visibility, a blue light is to be placed on the track target in the space provided.

e. Where permanent derails are installed, they must be identified with the standard derail post located 8'6" from the nearest rail. Weeds and debris must be kept free of sign posts.

f. Red flags and red lights may be used in emergency cases where standard blue flag targets and blue lanterns are not immediately available, but must be replaced as soon as possible with the standard blue target and blue light.

g. Train crews shall not couple into or move railroad equipment which is protected by blue flags.

h. Railroad equipment shall not be placed in front of blue flags so as to obscure them without notification to and approval of the supervisor or other person in charge of the work on the tracks. The supervisor in charge of the work will then replace the flag for proper protection.

i. The blue flags or derails are to be removed only under the direction of the supervisor or other person in charge of the work on the tracks.

j. When two or more supervisors have groups of employees working on the same tracks, each supervisor will place his own protective lock on the blue flag derail or switch.

k. The blue flag or derail lock must be removed promptly when the work is completed and the tracks are ready for their normal use.

l. The Yardmaster or other designated person will be notified at the start and finish of all work being performed on lead or through tracks.

m. When men are required to repair cars or make mechanical adjustments in the field, the blue flag procedure must be followed.

n. At any time the blue flag procedure cannot be used, a flagman or safety watchman must be provided to give protection for employees working on equipment.

o. Derails shall never be placed on molten metal or slag tracks unless there is no other means of giving adequate protection for employees or equipment.

12. Unloading cars.

a. Training of employees is required before they are assigned to unload gondolas, bottom dumpers, side dumps, or air dump-type cars.

b. Employees are not permitted to work inside railroad cars when they are being unloaded with a magnet.

c. Bottom dump and side dump car mechanisms are to be operated with tools designed for dumping and they must be in good working condition. At no time shall tools in poor repair be used. Their condition must be reported to the supervisor immediately.

d. At no time shall a railroad car be dumped if the dumping mechanisms are defective which makes them unsafe to operate. Such defective cars will be referred to the proper authority.

e. When employees are required to enter covered hopper cars or tank cars through the hatch cover opening, the hatch cover must be fastened securely open so there is no chance of its closing while the employee is in the car.

f. When it is necessary for employees to enter covered hopper cars or tank cars, safety checks must be made to determine that there is no toxic or explosive gas or lack of oxygen.

13. Closed car thawing houses and heating equipment must be so designated and constructed as to prevent accumulations of toxic or explosive gases.

14. Before employees or locomotives are permitted to enter closed car thawing houses when in operation, ventilation must be provided to insure no toxic or explosive gas or lack of oxygen is present.

15. Lighting-Classification Yards. Classification yards and other similar areas where trains are made up to or broken down shall conform to the specification issued by the American Railway Engieering Association.

B. Operations and maintenance.

1. Trackage and controls. Trackage, roadbed signal systems, traffic control system, power lines should be maintained in good condition and shall be regularly inspected.

2. Switch throws shall be so installed as to provide adequate clearance for switchmen.

3. The rod extending from the bridle bar to the throw shall be covered or the stumbling hazard shall be otherwise minimized.

4. Derail devices shall be installed where necessary on all side tracks on or near junction with connection to through traffic lines.

5. Dead-end tracks shall have bumping blocks or the equivalent to prevent cars from running off the end of the tracks.

6. Where foot travel is required adjacent to switches, a walkway shall be provided.

7. Employees shall be prohibited from sitting on tracks or under cars.

8. Employees shall be prohibited from climbing over or crawling under cars to cross tracks, unless it is in the performance of his assigned duties.

9. Signs and Flags.

a. A sign reading STOP (white lettering on blue background) must be placed on the track, or between the rails of the track, in approach to cars which are being loaded, or unloaded, and when the sign is displayed cars must be not coupled to nor moved nor other cars placed so as to obstruct the view of the sign. Warning lights must be attached to the sign by night.

b. The sign will be placed and removed only by an authorized employee. The sign must be displayed to protect employees loading, unloading, or working in or about cars, and must not be removed until it is known that employees and others are clear.

c. When a sign reading STOP (white lettering on blue background) is displayed, the engine must not be coupled to a tugger, nor shall the car be moved by other means.

d. A car placarded Explosives, Flammable Liquids, Dangerous shall not be cut off while in motion. No car moving under its own momentum shall be allowed to strike any car placarded Explosives, Flammable Liquids, or Dangerous nor shall any such car be coupled with more force than is necessary to complete the coupling.

e. Loaded tank cars with any of the above placards must not be cut off until the hand brake has been tried and found in proper working condition.

10. Electrical.

a. When central traffic control exists and its operation is interrupted or suspended or any irregular function of the system occurs, rail movement shall not be allowed to continue until stoppage or malfunction has been determined, and only then if such movement can be made safely and with direct communication with traffic control operation.

b. All principal electrical switches shall be marked.

c. If the track is used for the return circuit, both rails shall be well bonded at every joint, excepting those tracks governed by automatic block signals.

11. Riding Equipment and Coupling.

a. Employees are cautioned not to get on or off an engine or car which is in rapid motion.

b. Employees must face the equipment in descending ladders on engines and cars, whether standing or moving.

c. Employees are forbidden to ride on draw bars. When movement is being made, employees must not go between engine or ride on leading footboards of the engine in direction of movement, except for the purpose of uncoupling car from engine. Standing, walking on top of, and jumping from car to car is prohibited.

d. If uncoupling lever fails to work, a stop shall be made before uncoupling car. When necessary to change the alignment of couplers cars must be stopped, and under no circumstances should an attempt be made to adjust couplers with foot or hand or raise lock pin by hand, while cars are moving.

e. If necessary to make change or repairs to couplers, the circumstances must be understood by all employees who may, through misunderstanding, move or cause the car to be moved; the cars should be separated not less than one car length to reduce possibility of injury, should they be moved by mistake. Employees should, when possible, avoid standing directly in line with couplers.

f. Trainmen and enginemen must forbid employees whose duties do not connect them with the movement, to get on and off engines or cars, while in motion.

g. No one except the train, engineer crew and person authorized by management should be permitted to ride on or in a locomotive or on a train.

h. "Poling" or moving a car on another track with a pole should be done only in extreme emergency and under direct supervision. DO NOT PUSH CAR UNTIL ALL PERSONS ARE IN A SAFE PLACE.

i. Rocker or "Cradle" type dumping cars shall be equipped with an efficient positive locking device.

j. Brakemen are not permitted to ride on or between slag pots, or between slag pot and locomotive.

k. Before spotting a slag pot for filling, it shall be inspected carefully to insure that no water or wet debris is in the bottom of the pot.

l. Pots and ladles must not be filled so full as to cause spillage.

m. Before dumping slag in a new place, a member of the crew must investigate to insure that no one will be endangered by the hot slag.

n. In handling railroad cars, employees must:

(1) Use standard brake clubs.

(2) Wear a safety hat.

(3) Wear snug-fitting clothes.

(4) Be required to ride the front end of all trains that are being pushed.

(5) Get off a moving locomotive from the side, well in the clear of the footboard.

(6) Not stand on or between the rails when mounting a moving location.

12. Locomotives.

a. Locomotive shall be equipped with a bell and a whistle, both capable of giving a loud and clear warning signal.

b. Each locomotive used, between sunset and sunrise, shall have two lights, one located on the front of the locomotive and one on the rear, each of which shall enable a person in the cab of the locomotive under the condition, including visual capacity, to see a dark object for a distance of at least 300 feet ahead, and in front of such headlight in yard service and 800 feet in road service.

c. All locomotives equipped with footboards shall be equipped with toeboards. The grab irons and handrails shall be well maintained at all times.

d. Safety latches shall be provided on electric locomotives to hold trolley poles, current collector, or pantagraphs away from the trolley wires.

e. The engineer or motorman shall be made responsible for the safe operation of the locomotive.

f. Locomotives shall not be run over tracks where dirt or other materials strike the footboards.

13. Car Storage.

a. When practical, cars must be kept clear of any street or public crossing, and at least one hundred feet from the crossing.

b. A sufficient number of hand brakes must be set to hold cars; if brakes are inoperative, cars must be secured otherwise. When cars are set out on a grade, they must be coupled, if practical, and in addition to brakes being set, wheels must be blocked.

c. Cars shall not be stored on tracks unless protected with derails, when facing point switches or ascending grades toward main track, except in emergency or on instructions of proper authority, and in such cases cars must be properly secured. Wheels must be blocked where necessary.

d. When empty cars are stored on tracks adjacent to buildings an opening of at least forty feet must be made every five car lengths.

14. Air Brake Systems.

a. Where air brake systems are used, the following is applicable:

(1) Train line pressure for passenger trains is 110 pounds, for freight and mixed trains, 90 pounds. Should the proper control of a freight train or mixed train make it necessary, the use of 90 pounds brake pipe pressure is permissible. Brake pipe pressure for yard engines is governed by class of equipment handled or minimum of 80 pounds.

(2) Main reservoir pressure must be maintained at least 15 pounds minimum above adjustment of the feed valve, or brake pipe pressure.

(3) The proportion of air brakes in operation must at no time be less than 85 percent of all the cars in a train. On ascending grades rear car must have operative air brakes.

(4) Train air brake system must be charged to require air pressure, angle cocks and cut out cocks must be properly positioned, air hose must be properly coupled and must be in condition for service. An examination must be made for leaks and necessary repairs made to reduce leakage to a minimum. Retaining valves and retaining valve pipes must be inspected and known to be in condition for service.

(5) It must be known that the air brake equipment on engines is in a safe and suitable condition for service.

15. Air Brake Application.

a. Leakage from main air reservoir and related piping shall not exceed an average of three pounds per minute in a test of three minutes duration, made after the pressure was reduced forty percent below maximum pressure.

b. Brake pipe leakage must not exceed five pounds per minute after a reduction of ten pounds has been made from brake pipe air pressure of not less than seventy pounds.

c. With a full service application of brakes, and with communication to the brake cylinders closed, brakes must remain applied not less than five minutes.

d. Compressor governor shall be adjusted so that the high pressure side causes the compressor to unload at 140 pounds and the low pressure side causes the compressor to load at 130 pounds.

e. Leakage from control air reservoir, related piping and pneumatically operated controls shall not exceed an average of three pounds per minute in a test of three minutes duration.

f. Compressor or compressors must be tested for a capacity by orifice test as often as conditions require but not less frequently than once every six months.

g. Every main reservoir before being put into service, and at least once every eighteen months thereafter, shall be subjected to hydrostatic pressure not less than 25% above the maximum working pressure.

h. Where a stop is made on a grade for an indefinite period, brakes on all engines must be fully applied and sufficient hand brakes set when necessary to hold the train and air brakes on cars released. When on an ascending grade, hand brakes must be set on rear and on a descending grade, set on head end of train.

i. When stop is for a short period and retaining valves are in ue, the air brakes, when necessary, may be applied and released once every two minutes, to assist engine brakes to hold the train.

j. When setting cars out at intermediate points, a normal brake application from the automatic brake valve must be made, hand brake applied, close angle cock from locomotive, bleed air brake system on car, block wheels of car; the air brakes on the car will not be applied under an emergency application (big hole).

16. Air Brake Maintenance.

a. Before adjusting piston travel or working on the brake rigging, brakes must be cut out by closing cut-out cock in the branch line, all reservoirs drained and necessary precautions taken.

b. Air gauges must be tested at least once every six months and whenever any irregularity is reported. They shall be compared with an accurate deadweight tester, or test gauge. Gauges found inaccurate or defective must be repaired or replaced.

c. Distributing or control valves, brake application valves, equalizing piston portion, feed and reducing valves, safety valves, brake pipe vent valves, relay valves, magnet valves, dirt collectors and filters must be cleaned, repaired and tested as often as conditions require to properly maintain them in a safe and suitable condition for service.

d. On engines so equipped, hand brakes, parts and connections must be inspected and necessary repairs made as often as the service requires.

e. Minimum brake cylinder piston travel must be sufficient to provide proper brake shoe clearance when brakes are released.

f. Maximum brake cylinder piston travel when engine is standing must not exceed the following:

Table
	Inches
Driving wheel brake	6
Swivel type brake with brakes on more than one truck operated by one brake cylinder	7
Swivel type truck brake equipped with one brake cylinder	8
Swivel type truck brake equipped with two or more brake cylinders	6

g. Foundation brake rigging, and safety supports, where used, must be maintained in safe and suitable condition for service. Levers, rods, brake beams, hangers and pins must be of ample strength and must not bind or foul in any way that will affect proper operation of brakes. All pins must be properly applied and secured in place with suitable locking devices. Brake shoes must be properly applied and kept approximately in line with treads of wheels or other braking surfaces.

h. No part of the foundation brake rigging and safety supports shall be less than 2 1/2 inches above the top of the rail.

i. Before a car is released from a shop or repair track, it must be known that the brake pipe is securely clamped, angle cocks in proper position with suitable clearance; valves, reservoirs and cylinders tight on supports and supports securely attached to car.

j. When cars are on shop or repair tracks, hand brakes and connections must be inspected, tested and necessary repairs made to insure they are in a suitable condition for safe and effective operation.

k. Brake equipment on cars must be cleaned, repaired, lubricated and tested as often as required to maintain it in a safe and suitable condition for service.

Notes

Utah Admin. Code R614-6-4