WAC 296-54-59730   Railroad maintenance -- Loading or unloading.  (1) Whenever track gangs, bridge crews, etc., work on railroads that are in use, the following signal systems must be implemented:

     (a) A yellow caution flag by day and a yellow lantern by night is placed far enough in each direction from the crew to protect them against approaching equipment. The operator of approaching equipment must acknowledge the signal by two short blasts of the whistle or horn and proceed with caution.

     (b) When crews are removing or replacing a rail or performing any other work that would make it necessary for approaching equipment to come to a stop, a red flag during daytime work and a red lantern during nighttime work is placed in the center of the track far enough in each direction from employees to protect them against approaching equipment. The operator of approaching equipment must:

     (i) Acknowledge the signal by one short blast of the whistle or horn;

     (ii) Come to a dead stop; and

     (iii) Remain standing until the signal is removed by the person who placed it, or until investigation proves that the track is safe for passage.

     (c) The employer may choose to use a flagger in place of meeting the above requirements.

     (2) Where clearance is scant, warning signs or signals must be posted.

     (3) Switch throws should be kept well oiled and targets and signs in good legible condition.

     (4) Standard clearances must be maintained at all points on the right of way. However, if clearance is necessarily restricted in loading or unloading areas or at water tanks, fuel tanks, etc., then warning signs must be posted at these locations.

     (5) The employer must provide adequate safeguards to protect employees performing the following tasks:

     • Repairing railroad equipment;

     • Working on or in railroad equipment;

     • Loading or unloading cars; or

     • Performing other duties where there is danger of the railroad equipment being struck by other moving railroad equipment.

     (a) A derail must be used to prevent other rail equipment from contacting such cars or equipment or endangering employees. After cars are spotted, blue flags must be placed in the center of the tracks at least fifty feet from the end car during the day and blue lights must be installed at such locations at night.

     (b) Flags, lanterns, or derails must be removed only by the person placing them unless they are to remain posted for a longer period of time. In which case one person on each oncoming shift must determine that they are in place and they must not remove the safeguards until certain that all employees are in the clear.

     (c) Operators of approaching equipment must not pass or remove a flag or lantern that is properly posted. Cars or other equipment must not be placed where they will obscure the signal from an operator controlling approaching equipment.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040 and[49.17].050 . 99-17-117, § 296-54-59730, filed 8/18/99, effective 12/1/99.]