Whistle Blower

http://whistleblower-rights-protection.weebly.com/federal-rail-safety-act-frsa.html

https://www.osha.gov/oshdir/fl.html

Protecting Workers

How do you help yourself?   (Be Proactive)  The Counter measure to Behavior Based Tactics

1. Your union has worked hard to pass legislation to eliminate fatigue.

2. The Federal Railroad Safety Act-was amended to include Whistleblower protection-OSHA

3. The Rail Safety Improvement Act-was amended to prohibit the railroad from retaliating against you, if you report; an injury, request medical treatment, and more.  

It's time to get involved in your union-attend meetings-run for union office.

1.  Report unsafe conditions and document each situation.  Keep it on file! 

2. Get to know workers of different crafts and collaborate on unsafe conditions.  

3. Join the BLET PAC-Contact Government Officials-tell them of working conditions and the need for 2 crew members (C&E) in the cab of a locomotive.      

As you are aware, railroading is getting more complicated with regard to your personal space and monitoring.  Rail carriers, for which we are employed, are using any and all methods of electronic device equipment, monitoring everything we do at work. Our personal devices are restricted by the carrier and the FRA.  The carriers and the FRA made sure we could not use our cameras to take snap shots of unsafe conditions.  The Pen and Pad method still works. 

Tools-How to Document

For reporting unsafe conditions the first thing you must do is abide by all railroad General Requirements.  The second thing you should do is write it down for your own reference and documentation.  Try your best to fill in as much of the following details.  If you notice that the unsafe condition has not been addressed, BLET Division Officers attending to safety matters should be notified and provided the proper documentation to proceed.          

Date:                                        Name:                           Phone:                        Occupation:           Email:

Address:

Additional crew members:                                         Phone:                         Occupation:

Job Number:                           Mile Post:             Train destination and direction:                   Subdivision:

Time of occurrence:

Provide a copy of the time ticket or any additional documentation:  copies of; Brake slips, tonnage graphs etc..

Other witnesses notified or present and contact information:

*(Must Have) Supervisor Notified and Time:                                              Dispatcher Notified and Time:

*(Must Have) Explanation: (provide as many details as possible).                              Gather further documents!    

Safety and Government-OSHA/FRA Investigators must be provided evidence to proceed.  

Sometimes the matter has to be escalated to the proper government authorities in order to protect life and property.  You don't want to leave anything out of your documentation list.  Proper use of this very valuable tool can literally move mountains if applied the right way.   Following this very simple technique and practice will aide you for the rest of your railroad career.  You see, when things are documented, you now have created a reference that can be called upon at a later date.  The carrier does this exact same measure with your information so, why don't you help yourself and your fellow coworkers by creating a paper trail.  Many OSHA/FRA cases are dropped due to poor documentation.  

Helpful Phone Numbers:   Federal Railroad Administration Region 3 Office: (Rail Safety) 1800-724-5993

Occupational Safety and Health Administration: (Only for Retaliation) 404-562-2300    

Employee Assistance

This great program is set up to help employees with more than substance and train accident issues.  If you recognize that you or your family members are under unusual stress from personal relationship problems, substance, depression, anxiety, or emotional challenges of any kind, CSX and Amtrak EAP Counselors can help guide you to trained professionals outside of the workplace.  It is all confidential. We have had a tough couple of years in Florida on (Amtrak & CSX) where four of our good friends met with tragic outcomes.  Every family goes through problems of some kind or another.  Please don't hesitate to get the help you need, either through EAP or directly through our own network health plan.  If EAP is involved, they may be able to help with getting time off for treatment.  CSX EAP Hotline 1800-657-3366    Amtrak EAP Carol Grande 904-766-5133  

Coping with a Critical Incident

Operation Redblock

Operation Lifesaver

This educational program involved Locomotive Engineers and Conductors visiting area schools and trucking companies and teaching about the hazards of the railroad industry.  Lately, railroads have backed away from using Locomotive Engineers and Conductors, the very ones who know how to run a train and what it takes to stop one.  Instead, Railroads have started to use claim agents and marketing managers for this purpose.  We feel our T&E people are best suited for this task and we certainly have plenty of members willing to step up and help.  Hopefully, the railroads will take notice and involve their rank and file employees as contributing partners in Operation Lifesaver safety.

 http://oli.org/