A final rule was released July 25 amending the Federal Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) to harmonize U.S. laws with international standards to improve safety and streamline transport of hazardous materials. The U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) introduced the rule to “streamline international shipping, untangle supply chains and reduce costs for Americans.” The […]
With roadway fatalities at a 16-year high, 46,000 roadway deaths in 2021 and pedestrians dying in vehicle-related incidents at faster rates, safety professionals with drivers on their rosters have cause for concern. The National Safety Council (NSC) estimates 462 more people may die in preventable crashes over the 2022 Independence Day weekend alone. In an […]
A report on a railroad worker killed by moving railcars illustrates why pedestrians should maintain a safe distance from dangerous equipment. The conductor was monitoring an operation called a shoving movement when the trackside ground he was walking on narrowed down significantly, causing him to get too close to the slowly moving railcars. Conductor’s radio […]
A fatal eight-vehicle crash was caused by a truck driver’s fatigued state, which may have been the result of untreated obstructive sleep apnea, according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Dashcam video of the June 12, 2020, incident reveals that although there were warning signs indicating the driver should have slowed for stopped traffic, […]
Safety professionals pose many of the same questions to the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. The DOT added a Frequently Asked Questions section about its hazmat regulations (HMR) on its website. Here’s a sample of common questions and answers posted in the Federal Register: Check with the hazmat experts first […]
By themselves, excessive speed, bad weather, inadequate vehicle maintenance and a driver’s failure to control a vehicle can be a safety nightmare but when combined they’re certain to lead to tragedy. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigators found that combination is what led to a fatal bus crash in Southern California on Feb. 22, 2020. […]
In the workplace, the term “impairment” is often associated with drugs and alcohol, although there’s a well-known yet often overlooked other aspect: fatigue. Long hours and shift work can lead to fatigue, which workers often try to push through to get the job done – an honorable notion, but one that can come with dire consequences. […]
A recent fatal incident investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board illustrates the need to help workers focus on situational awareness. On October 14, 2020, a Housatonic Railroad Company employee working as the roadway worker-in-charge (RWIC) of a group of track workers was struck and killed by a rail-mounted track excavator traveling on an out-of-service […]
Safety pros in the transportation industry or who have drivers on the payroll take note – the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced a National Roadway Safety Strategy (NRSS) to combat the rise in traffic fatalities. The NRSS will use a Safe System Approach – a method that builds and reinforces multiple layers of protection – to […]
