Safety issues begin even before your employees get to work. Whether your workers arrive by car or commuter train, today’s Advisor gives you valuable information to help protect them. Consider adding this brief safety content to your new employee orientation program.
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As businesses encourage employees to take mass transit, the horrific crash in New York recently, where a car that had stopped on railroad tracks was struck by a train, killing the car’s driver and five passengers, brings to light safety issues for commuters riding in railcars, as well as motorists driving across railroad tracks.
Media interviews with the accident’s survivors indicate that although most were regular rail commuters, many did not know what to do in an emergency or even how to open the emergency exits and windows.
The ongoing investigation of the accident is also looking into the actions of the car’s driver when confronted with being stuck between crossing barriers.
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What DRIVERS Should Know About Rail Crossings
The mission of Operation Lifesaver, the nonprofit rail safety organization, is to end collisions, deaths, and injuries at highway-rail grade crossings and on rail property by educating motorists. The organization reports that every 3 hours, a vehicle or a person is hit by a train in the United States.
Operation Lifesaver has a number of useful resources on its website, including videos and posters, addressing safe vehicle procedures at rail crossings. It also offers free safety presentations across the country to educate motorists on the potential dangers they face at all highway-rail intersections.
What RAIL COMMUTERS Should Do in an Emergency
Rail commuters should be proactive in learning what to do during an emergency. Anyone riding on a train should look for the emergency information posted in each car to determine the location and means of operation of emergency exits, just as one would do when on an airplane or ship.
According to the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA), in most instances, passengers are safest staying in their car or moving to another car and then waiting for train personnel or first responders to give directions for evacuation.
Of course, in situations where there is danger from fire or possible explosions, passengers must get out of cars quickly. It is best to evacuate cars through emergency exits if possible. The MTA explains that emergency exit doors can be opened by following the instructions on the emergency exit panels, most often located in the vestibule area of the car.
If riders cannot exit through the doors, they may have to open the emergency exit windows. An excellent rail safety brochure from New Jersey Transit cautions that exiting through windows should be done only when in extreme danger, since the drop to the ground from a window could be as much as 10 feet! Emergency exit windows are marked with red handles and/or luminescent stickers and bear instructions as well. Note that windows in vestibules can often be kicked out.
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In tomorrow’s Advisor, we’ll provide 6 more things employees need to know about light-rail and commuter train safety.