blue flag protection is to protect anyone other than the train crew from movement. Blue flags mean that worker can be in around or under the equipment.
The rule seems to state that this only protects railroad workers. What about industry, they also use blue flag protection, or not? Also, If a train can be moved from its present location and someone other than the railroad needs to do work on it, i.e. fuel locomotives, do they have to use blue flag protection, Or can they go about there work if they notify the yardmaster.
The contract fuel trucks that I’ve seen have all put up a red flag between the rails in front of the lead locomotive. Even one time when a mechanic had his blue flag protection up while he was doing something, the fuel truck driver put out his red flag. The red flags are actually metal, not cloth as are all the blue flags placed between the rails that I recall seeing.
Industry uses blue flag protection as well at any point loading or unloading a car, usually in conjuction with a derail… The person that sets the blue flag also removes it - nobody else. (Very similar to lockout-tagout on the OSHA side of the R/W fence.)
I witnessed the tail end of an incident at Raton, NM where an ASDE blue flagged a locomotive to get at the old Sentry Series wheel slip ground radar window in the front truck bay on a fast set of pigs (ATSF 883 train) and the hogger moved the train 5 feet to get to a water hose connection. The ASDE came out from under that locomotive white as a sheet and hoarse from screaming. If looks could kill, that hogger was dead. (The trainmaster had to restrain one very agitated ASDE any time that hogger was at the depot before the rules investigation.- Somebody got an undesired unpaid vacation, a long one with residual Brownies…)
ASDE = Asst. Supervisor Diesel Engines (Santa Fe Riding Mechanic/Supervisor)
Boiled down to its most common element: If you are servicing the power, you are responsible for providing your protection and establishing a safety zone. Ask Randy Stahl how his railroad handles the protocols.
Industry uses blue flag protection as well at any point loading or unloading a car, usually in conjuction with a derail… The person that sets the blue flag also removes it - nobody else. (Very similar to lockout-tagout on the OSHA side of the R/W fence.)
I witnessed the tail end of an incident at Raton, NM where an ASDE blue flagged a locomotive to get at the old Sentry Series wheel slip ground radar window in the front truck bay on a fast set of pigs (ATSF 883 train) and the hogger moved the train 5 feet to get to a water hose connection. The ASDE came out from under that locomotive white as a sheet and hoarse from screaming. If looks could kill, that hogger was dead. (The trainmaster had to restrain one very agitated ASDE any time that hogger was at the depot before the rules investigation.- Somebody got an undesired unpaid vacation, a long one with residual Brownies…)
ASDE = Asst. Supervisor Diesel Engines (Santa Fe Riding Mechanic/Supervisor)
Boiled down to its most common element: If you are servicing the power, you are responsible for providing your protection and establishing a safety zone. Ask Randy Stahl how his railroad handles the protocols.
At Galesburg the fuel truck uses a blue flag on the rail and one on the leader ( two very big strobes with magnetic bases) Also him and the carmen and machinists call for a block on whatever track they are working. Until they give up the block nothing can move ( well we all know something can move it just better not)
Train crews provide their own form of protection, known as the “Three Step” or “Red Zone” protection, which involves the engineer setting the reverser to netural, the generator field to off, and applying the independent locomotive brake.
No movement is allowed until the person who requested protection releases it, period.
Blue flag protection is designed for men other than train crews who will be working on, under or around cars and locomotives.
5.13 Blue Signal Protection of Workmen
This rule outlines the requirements for protecting railroad workmen who are inspecting, testing, repairing, and servicing rolling equipment. In particular, because these tasks require the workmen to work on, under, or between rolling equipment, workmen are exposed to potential injury from moving equipment.
Blue Signal Protection of Workmen
As used in this rule, the following definitions apply:
Workmen. Railroad employees assigned to inspect, test, repair, or service railroad rolling equipment or components, including brake systems. Train and yard crews are excluded, except when they perform the above work on rolling equipment not part of the train or yard movement they are handling or will handle.
“Servicing” does not include supplying cabooses, engines, or passenger cars with items such as ice, drinking water, tools, sanitary supplies, stationery, or flagging equipment.
“Testing” does not include an employee making visual observations while on or alongside a caboose, engine, or passenger car. Also, testing does not include repositioning the activation switch or covering the photo-electric cell of the marker when the rear of the train is on the main track. The employee inspecting the marker must contact the employee controlling the engine to confirm that the train will remain secure against movement until the inspection is complete.
Industries definitely use blue flag protection. It’s the worst thing to pull up to a customer, on a tight scedule, and see blue flags up. I can’t touch them, even if I can see that there’s obviously no one there. The rule states that the only one that can take away a blue flag is the one that set it up, so I have to find that employee to fre up the cars for my use.
It’s possible to have several blue flags on equipment, like when several employees are working on an engine. I can’t move equipment until all of them take their flags down - And that’s definitely the safest way.
YUP!! This was the thread that I found earlier when searching for info on a blue strobe I saw on a worktrain.
The one I saw actually looked “built in” to the roof above the cab. But it was the engine that NS uses to pull around the crew dormitories for track gangs, etc.
