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 […]
Will truck drivers have to comply with OSHA’s COVID-19 vaccination emergency temporary standard (ETS) if the U.S. Supreme Court lets it stand? According to new guidance from the agency, yes except under very specific circumstances. There is no specific exemption for truck drivers in OSHA’s COVID-19 vaccination ETS, so employers with 100 or more employees […]
Unsecured or inadequately secured loads in the transportation industry are more than just a nuisance that causes damaged freight – unsecured loads can kill. That’s why there are state and federal regulations on securing freight. A recent fatal incident in Washington State is a perfect illustration of this point. A 47-year-old truck driver was struck by […]
Two employees noted an unsafe condition at work. OSHA says their employer fired them for it and has ordered the company to pay a big financial price. OSHA has ordered CSX Transportation Inc. to pay more than $667,000 to two employees the agency claims were fired after reporting a blue flag that signaled their train […]
A temporary hours of service exemption for commercial truck drivers hauling petroleum products to certain states was announced by the federal government May 9 following the unanticipated shutdown of a pipeline. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is issuing a temporary hours of service exemption to deal with the aftermath of the unanticipated shutdown of the […]
