February 8, 2015
Rules of the Week
Understanding Safety Rules and achieving Safety Goals go hand in hand.
By Working Together Safely, we can reach our safety goals.
15 Corporate Safety Goals

ARRC Overall Injury Reduction Goals
o 13% overall reduction in injuries (includes “major” and top 3)

Operational Safety Goals
o No Authority Violations
o No On Track Protection Violations
o No On Track Equipment Collisions
o No Run Away Cars
o No FRA Reportable Derailments
YTD Incident Comparison by Department
2014 - 2015
YTD Incident Comparison by Type
2014 – 2015
Safety Issue Resolution Process: S.I.R.P.
Overview: Employees recognizing a workplace hazard must take immediate steps to correct the problem. If
immediate correction is not possible then protect the hazard so no one will get hurt. Report the situation so
the problem gets addressed. SIRP assists in correcting safety issues through to resolution.
How do I generate a SIRP?
 Get a SIRP form from the intranet or your supervisor
SIRPs to date:
 Complete the SIRP reporting form
 Give the form to your supervisor or the Safety Department
11 Open SIRPs
How can I follow the status of my SIRP or any other SIRP?
 On the ARRC Home Page click the SIRP link
382 Closed SIRPs
 Click on “Access SIRP”
 Username = SIRP and Password = SIRP (must be ALL CAPS)
 Enter the SIRP # or search by area to locate the SIRP
Alaska Railroad ● Rules of the Week
Page 1 of 7
February 8, 2015
Rules of the Week
Understanding Safety Rules and achieving Safety Goals go hand in hand.
By Working Together Safely, we can reach our safety goals.
SAFETY DEPARTMENT MESSAGE: Electrical Safety, Lock Out Tag Out
S59.0 Electrical Safety, Lock Out Tag Out
S59.1 General
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Only authorized and trained individuals may work on electrical circuits and associated
systems.
Follow lock out/tag out procedures under the following conditions:
o Any energized equipment or power lines must be locked or tagged out prior to
inspection or repair.
o Installing, constructing, or dismantling equipment.
o Repairing, troubleshooting, or maintaining machinery or equipment.
Treat all wires, conductors, and other electrical equipment as if they are energized.
Only OSHA approved tags may be used.
Remove all jewelry before working on any electrical equipment.
Use ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) on electrical circuits, when working in damp
areas or outdoors.
Inspect all extension and power cords prior to use for frays, wear and defects.
At no time shall the ground plug be removed from a power cord.
Use non-conductive ladder when working near electrical hazards.
Report and stay clear of broken or sagging power or communication lines.
All aspects of the ARRC written Lock Out Tag Out program shall be followed.
Alaska Railroad ● Rules of the Week
Page 2 of 7
February 8, 2015
Rules of the Week
Understanding Safety Rules and achieving Safety Goals go hand in hand.
By Working Together Safely, we can reach our safety goals.
Rule of the Week
Department: Transportation
QUESTION:
How fast can my train move with flat spots?
RULE:
GCOR 1.34
Flat Spots
If a wheel on a piece of equipment has a flat spot more than 2 1/2 inches long, or if the wheel has adjoining
flat spots that are each at least 2 inches long, the equipment must not be moved faster than 10 MPH.
Such equipment must be set out at the first available point.
DISCUSSION:
None.
John D. Brahaney
Manager of Operating Rules & Training
Alaska Railroad ● Rules of the Week
Page 3 of 7
February 8, 2015
Rules of the Week
Understanding Safety Rules and achieving Safety Goals go hand in hand.
By Working Together Safely, we can reach our safety goals.
Rule of Week
Department: Mechanical
QUESTION: What should I know about operating a drill press?
ANSWER: See S-78.2 Power Tools and Machinery Operation – Drill Press.
RULE: S-78.2 Power Tools and Machinery Operation
Drill Press
 Mechanically secure material to prevent movement.
 Do not clamp material while machine is in operation.
 Never leave the key in the chuck.
 For keyless chucks ensure unit is secured and locked in place.
Alaska Railroad ● Rules of the Week
Page 4 of 7
February 8, 2015
Rules of the Week
Understanding Safety Rules and achieving Safety Goals go hand in hand.
By Working Together Safely, we can reach our safety goals.
Rule of the Week
Department: Maintenance of Way
QUESTION: I am traveling a piece of on track equipment from a repair location to a storage
location in Anchorage yard. I have encountered a switch locked with an XX3X, (Roadway Worker),
lock. I can see that the work group using the lock for protection is working past the location where I
will be parking the equipment and my movement will not interfere with their work. I am an employee
of the same craft, is it permissible for me to remove the lock and restore it after I have moved
through the switch?
ANSWER: No, you must contact the EIC for that work group and obtain permission to enter his
protected limits.
RULE: M.O.M. 21.4.2 Non-Controlled Track
When working limits are established on non-controlled track by making the track
physically inaccessible to trains and other on-track equipment it is called
inaccessible track. When establishing protection, the Employee In Charge must
ensure that equipment and employees do not occupy or foul the track until
protection is established.
Inaccessible track may be used to establish working limits on adjacent non-controlled
tracks when it is necessary to foul adjacent tracks.
The roadway worker establishes working limits on non-controlled track by any of the
following methods:
•
When work involves a red flag or light, place that red flag or light as outlined in
M.O.M. Rule 5.4.7 (Display of Red Flag or Light). A derail capable of restricting
access to the track where work will occur must be locked in derailing position near
the red flag or light with an effective locking device. The red flag or light must be
placed at least 150 feet from the work location when the track speed is greater
than 5 mph and at least 50 feet from the work location when that track speed is 5
mph or less.
•
When the work is to be performed on a non-controlled track adjacent to a track in
CTC territory, request that the dispatcher line the switch against movement onto
the non-controlled track and place a device block on the switch in that position.
•
When work or protection involves a dual control DTMF yard switch, employees
must establish protection by placing the switch in maintenance mode and secure
that selector, as well as the hand operation cover, with a secure locking device.
•
Line a switch or derail to prevent access to the working limits. The switch or derail
must be tagged or marked and secured by an effective securing device.
•
Place a flagman to hold all trains and roadway machinery clear of the working
limits.
Alaska Railroad ● Rules of the Week
Page 5 of 7
February 8, 2015
Rules of the Week
Understanding Safety Rules and achieving Safety Goals go hand in hand.
By Working Together Safely, we can reach our safety goals.
•
Establish working limits on controlled track that connects directly with the
inaccessible track.
or
• Remove a rail to prevent movement into the working limits.
NOTE: XX3X locks may be used as a locking device under the provisions of RWP. If a XX3X lock is
used, it is not necessary to tag the switch or derail. XX3X lock must not be used for other than RWP
purposes.
DISCUSSION: When roadway workers have established working limits on non-controlled track
those limits must not be entered, or the locks removed, without permission and instruction from the
EIC in charge of those limits. Being an employee of the same craft does not automatically authorize
you to remove the lock.
Alaska Railroad ● Rules of the Week
Page 6 of 7
February 8, 2015
Rules of the Week
Understanding Safety Rules and achieving Safety Goals go hand in hand.
By Working Together Safely, we can reach our safety goals.
Rule of the Week
Department: Operating Practices - Air Brake and Train Handling
HPT vs EPA
One of the biggest expenses in the Transportation Department is fuel. As we move forward
to make our company more efficient, we are looking at ways that we can make a dent in
our fuel costs. Last year, we spent almost $12 million on fuel. One of the methods that we
are looking at is recognizing the difference between HPT and EPA. Another way is
educating YOU, our most valuable resource.
HPT- Horsepower Per Ton.
Simply put, dividing the horsepower of a train’s engine
consist by the tonnage.
EPA- Equivalent Powered Axles. This is an effective way to recognize the difference
between the tractive effort on AC and DC locomotives.
EDBA- Equivalent Dynamic Brake Axles. An effective way to measure a given
locomotive’s braking effort.
We’ve been told that AC locomotive have no amp threshold and have more tractive effort
and dynamic breaking power than DC locomotives (GP’s). This is true. We now have a
way of expressing the difference between the two by using EPA and EDBA.
Here’s how it works:
Each Type of locomotive is given a number based on the horsepower, number of axles and
whether it’s an AC or DC locomotive. Utilizing this number, in some cases, we can run
fewer locomotives and still have the same tractive effort and dynamic braking power which
would result in lower fuel costs. Here’s the chart:
Model
Horsepower
EPA
EDBA
GP 38-2 (2000’s)
2000
4.5
4
GP 40 (3000’s)
3000
4.5
4
SD70MAC
4000/4300
10.4
8.1
Let’s use a 5000 ton train using a 12,000 horsepower consist for an example.
Consist
HPT
EPA
EDBA
3 MAC’s (4000’s)
2.4
31.2
24.3
2 MAC’s (4000’s)
1.6
20.8
16.2
4 GP40’s
2.4
18
16
Using the current method of HPT, a 3 MAC consist is the same as a 4 GP40 consist.
However, the 2 MAC consist gives more tractive effort and dynamic braking with less
(actual) horsepower than the GP consist and results in using less fuel. This formula is also
useful in determining how many locomotives an Engineer should have on-line.
Be a Student of your Craft!
Brett Brown, RFE
Alaska Railroad ● Rules of the Week
Page 7 of 7