April 12, 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.
2015 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
8 Open SIRPs
How can I follow the status of my SIRP or any other SIRP?
 On the ARRC Home Page click the SIRP link
385 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
April 12, 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: Infections Materials
S70.0 Infectious Materials
S70.1 General
ARRC employees should not come in contact with infectious materials during the course of their
routine duties.
S70.2 Clean-up Operations

All clean-up operations involving infectious materials will be done by contract cleaning and
janitorial services. ARRC employees are not to clean or handle any types of infectious
materials.
o Anchorage, Service Master cleaning (907) 522-3020
o Anchorage, ServPro cleaning (907) 688-3001
o Fairbanks, Service Master cleaning (907) 479-2339
Alaska Railroad ● Rules of the Week
Page 2 of 7
April 12, 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
TS703)
RULE:
IMPROPER POSITIONS
Leaning against standing cars or locomotives is prohibited. Do not stand, sit, walk, or ride in the following positions:
A)
On the roof of cars or equipment unless it is absolutely unsafe to walk elsewhere.
B)
On any flat car if other equipment is available. Do not ride the side of a flat car unless it has a handhold above the
level of the deck that will allow normal body position while riding. When necessary to ride a flatcar, stand near the
center of a car in a braced position and facing the direction of movement.
C)
On the load in any car, unless authorized by Special Instruction.
D)
On the top of the side, end, or inside any open top car.
E)
On handrails, uncoupling levers, or brake wheels.
F)
On couplers. NEVER put your foot on knuckles, in the draft gear space between the coupler head and the end of the
car, or any potential pinch point.
G)
On side walkways of a locomotive moving at more than 25 MPH.
H)
On a locomotive leading-end platform or step whenever you are crossing a street or highway unless it has been
visually determined there is no vehicle traffic approaching or present and it is safe to do so. Always step back to
protect yourself from impact.
I)
On any equipment in a close clearance area.
J)
With hands and feet on any more than one piece of equipment.
K)
On a passenger car trap door or step unless it is secured.
L)
On any part of containers or trailers on intermodal equipment. Do not use end transfer plates, stanchions, or other
movable devices for hand holds or footrests. These devices must be secured when not in use.
M)
On two-axle test weight cars.
N)
On any other portion of equipment that does not permit firm footing or secure hand hold on safety appliances.
O)
On the leading-end brake platform of equipment being shoved by a locomotive.
EXCEPTION:
A rider may ride a car or caboose end platform when being shoved by a locomotive when
positioned BEHIND a handrail or other similar device that will prevent them from being thrown from the equipment.
A rider may ride the leading-end brake platform of free-rolling equipment when necessary to use the handbrake to
control or stop the equipment.
Alaska Railroad ● Rules of the Week
Page 3 of 7
April 12, 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 do before Physical Exertion, Lifting and Carrying?
ANSWER: S-77.0 Physical Exertion, Lifting and Carrying
RULE: S-77.0 Physical Exertion, Lifting and Carrying
S-77.1 General
Before conducting operations which require physical exertion all ARRC employees should warm
up and stretch out their major muscle groups.
Safe lifting practices are the key to preventing strains and sprains. All ARRC employees are
required to follow ARRC written ergonomics program. Some key points to remember when
lifting and carrying an object are:
 When possible use mechanical lifting devices to lift and move the load.
Only use mechanical lifting devices that you are trained and authorized to use.
 If the load you are going to attempt to lift is awkward or too heavy to safely move yourself,
always seek the assistance of a fellow employee or break the load in manageable pieces.
 Before lifting, make sure you have good footing.
 Do not lift or carry beyond your physical capacities.
 Avoid jerking and twisting.
 Do not lift while bending over at the waist.
 Make sure your hands or gloves are free of grease and moisture.
 Watch for slipping or tripping hazards. Removed them when possible.
 Plan your route and maintain clear vision to minimize hazards.
Alaska Railroad ● Rules of the Week
Page 4 of 7
April 12, 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 was reviewing information in the Timetable and I noticed that the information
in there doesn’t match what we have on track. Where do I get this information when
changes are made?
ANSWER: Information concerning changes within the Timetable or rule books to reflect
changes on track or operating practices is communicated through General Orders.
Information concerning the latest General Order in effect can be found on the Daily TGBO.
In addition to the locations mentioned in the following rule, General Orders are available on
the ARRC Intranet on the MOW or T&E Homepages.
RULE: 22.9. Reviewing General Orders
The designated manager issues and cancels general orders that affect the safety and
movement of track cars, trains and locomotives. These bulletins are posted at locations
designated in the timetable and at locations where Engineering Department employees are
headquartered or tied up.
Track car operators must review general orders as follows:
1.
Review general orders and familiarize yourself with their contents.
2.
Understand and comply with General Order information that affects your duties.
DISCUSSION: Each time a new Timetable is published it contains the most current
information available specific to the Alaska Railroad. We are constantly making changes to
improve safety, efficiency and infrastructure. Before any change goes into effect a General
Order will be published to communicate those changes with employees that are affected.
Each employee in the Engineering Department has been issued a rule book containing
information for safe operations. As changes occur every employee is required, by rule, to
review and be familiar with information relevant to their operations. When new information
is made available through General Order take the time to update the document being
referenced within the General Order. Making reference notes, changes to drawings or in
some cases attaching the information to the document, will reduce the risk of having over
looked vital information for safe operations.
Alaska Railroad ● Rules of the Week
Page 5 of 7
April 12, 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
Distributed Power Train Handling
106.35
Distributed Power Train Handling
Whenever possible, initially start the train with power from a remote consist. This will help ensure
that the SAME/OPPOSITE direction command is in the proper position.
106.36
Operating Remote Units in Front Group (Mirrored)
After a distributed power train has been conditioned and the system has been placed in the RUN
mode, the system is configured with all remote units in the front group (“synchronous mode”) and is
controlled from the lead unit.
If possible, operate all remote units in the front group when the train is operating on the following
types of terrain:

Near-level or gentle undulating grades.

Continuous descending or ascending grades without undulation.
106.37
Operating Remote Units in Independent Control
(Operating with the Fence up)
Control the independent operation for remote consist(s) using function keys displayed on the
summary screen.
Note the following:

Only the consist(s) displayed in the back group can respond to throttle and dynamic brake
commands initiated from the Summary screen.

Only the consist(s) operating in the front group can respond to throttle and dynamic brake
commands made from the lead unit controller.
Independent control can also be used when a train is operating on undulating terrain. Improve the
train handling or slack action with independent control—operating the remote consist(s) at a power
setting different from the front part of the train.
Alaska Railroad ● Rules of the Week
Page 6 of 7
April 12, 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.
To operate in independent control, move the remote consist(s) into the back group then provide
independent control of the throttle or dynamic braking by following these steps:
STEP
DESCRIPTION
1
Press the BACK soft key on the summary screen.
NOTE: A fence (bar) separates the front and back consists. All consists
to the right of the fence are in the back group and those on the left are in
the front group.
2
To control the remote consist(s) in the back group, use the summary
screen key functions and choose more or less TRACTION/BRAKING.
3
To control the throttle or braking of the units in the front group, use the
lead unit throttle controller.
4
To reassign a remote unit from the front group to the back group, press
the BACK soft key.
5
To reassign a remote unit from the back group to the front group, press
the FRONT soft key.
Figure 106-29.
Operating Remote Units in Independent Control.
NOTE: The summary screen continues to display both the front and back throttle positions. A
remote unit moved to a new group will immediately begin changing throttle or dynamic brake
positions to match its new group assignment.
CAUTION: A remote unit always has the generator field circuit energized regardless of the position
of the generator field switch of the lead unit. The reverser on the lead unit must be centered while the
train is standing, until the train is ready to move.
Be a Student of your Craft!
Brett Brown, RFE
Alaska Railroad ● Rules of the Week
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