Tri-State Oversight finds safety lapses on track right-of-way

The Tri-State Oversight Committee, Metro’s independent safety inspectors, has released a report on safety in work zones on rail tracks. Unfortunately, problems remain.

Metro had two worker fatalities in 2009. Upon resuming track inspections, Tri-State found several violations of Metro’s safety procedures. Trains did not always slow down around work zones, and one train almost hit safety inspectors as its operator drove along tracks near Braddock Road at full speed.

According to the report, safety procedures call for trains to slow to 35 mph two stations before a work zone, then 10 mph through the work zone, but inspectors observed trains violating these rules. They also observed track workers not following the safety procedures around “flagging” trains, facing passing trains, and communicating with dispatchers from a safe place.

TOC also found some “antagonism between employees working in the ROW and Train Operators” and a few specific holes in rules which could pose safety problems, like vague definitions and situations where employees in Brentwood Yard are close enough to live tracks to potentially put themselves in danger.

Metro is investigating the incident. The Post and Examiner have more detailed articles about the report.