Safety
Congratulations to MET Railroad
Recipient of the American Short Line Railroad Association’s 2020 Jake Award With Distinction for achieving a perfect safety record with no reportable injuries.
OSHA Safety
The Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act of 1970 established the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) within the Department of Labor. OSHA’s mission is to reduce workplace hazards and implement safety and health programs.
Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Railroad Safety
FRA’s Office of Railroad Safety promotes and regulates safety throughout the nation’s railroad industry. The office carries out its regulatory and inspection duties through a diverse staff of railroad safety experts. This staff includes 400 federal safety inspectors operating from nine regional offices. Each regional administrator is supported by two deputy regional administrators, chief inspectors, supervisory specialists, grade crossing safety managers, and safety inspectors. These professionals focus on compliance and enforcement in five key safety disciplines:
- Hazardous Materials
- Motive Power and Equipment
- Operating Practices
- Track
- Signal and Train Control
Railroad Crossing Safety
FRA collaborates closely with law enforcement agencies across the United States to enhance railroad crossing safety and prevent trespassing. It’s important to remember that disregarding posted signs and placards at railroad crossings, or driving around, under, or through crossing gates, is illegal.
The only safe place to cross is at a designated public crossing equipped with a crossbuck, flashing red lights, and/or a gate. Crossing at any other location is considered trespassing and may result in tickets or fines. Alarmingly, 94% of all rail-related fatalities and injuries occur at railroad crossings or due to trespassing. The tragic reality is that almost all of these incidents are preventable. For more information about FRA’s law enforcement efforts, please visit FRA Railroad Crossing Safety & Trespass Prevention or Operation Lifesaver.
