Railroad safety agency again sounding the alarm on roadway maintenance machines

Washington — Spurred by two separate fatal incidents this year, the Federal Railroad Administration is re-emphasizing the importance of rules and procedures to protect workers who operate or work near roadway maintenance machines.

The incidents – which occurred in Arkansas and North Carolina – mark the third and fourth involving a roadway worker being fatally struck by a roadway maintenance machine since December 2021. In response, FRA has issued its second safety advisory in 13 months.

The new advisory recommends railroads and contractors review and update their rules regarding communication between roadway workers and those who operate roadway maintenance machines. For example, roadway workers should be prohibited from entering a work/red zone unless communication is established and maintained with operators of roadway maintenance machines.

Other FRA recommendations:

• Review and update rules regarding work/red zones.
• Evaluate work/red zone distances for each roadway maintenance machine type.
• Conduct additional safety briefings to raise worker awareness of roadway maintenance machines.
• Increase monitoring – including operational testing under 49 CFR part 217 – of roadway workers, railroad employees and contractors for compliance with existing and applicable rules and procedures.
• Review the agency’s previous safety advisory during additional safety briefings.