acids, and spray painting. Personnel watching or working near enough
to such operations to be exposed to their hazards must also wear the
prescribed goggles.
g. Scuffling, wrestling, or any kind of horseplay, while on duty
is prohibited.
h. Ear coverings which interfere with hearing will not be worn
while working on or about tracks.
i. Stepping in front of moving cars or locomotive to adjust
drawbar, knuckle, or lock pin, or attempting to do so when engine or
cars are about to come together, is prohibited.
j. When making a coupling, or uncoupling cars, yard or train
service personnel will face the direction of movement, stand clear of
track with feet well braced, one hand operating the lift lever, and
the other hand on a lower grab iron as a brace, prepared to give
proper signal when necessary.
k. When uncoupling airhose, both angle cocks must be closed. A
live airhose can kick like a mule. Take a firm grip on the hose at
coupling end and pull upward until air starts to escape.
Hold in
this position until most of the air in hose between the angle cocks
has escaped to the atmosphere; then hose will part readily.
4.7. SAFETY DEPARTMENT
Virtually every major railroad today has a safety department,
headed by a manager or superintendent. He is assisted by a number of
agents who go over the railroad's divisions, following a set
schedule, teaching the doctrine of safety. Safety agents travel from
one point on a division to another, talking to shop crews, road
gangs, and maintenance of way and maintenance of equipment groups,
and closely observing the working habits of all the employees.
Should these agents come across anyone using unsafe methods, they
show the offender as diplomatically as possible the correct way to do
the job and tell him why it should be done that way.
Whenever an accident occurs, a member of the safety department
is sent to the scene.
He interviews the principals involved and,
with the appropriate supervisor, determines if there has been an
infraction of rules. If the working practice is a common one, and no
adequate safety rule exists, the superintendent of safety consults
the proper authorities to formulate a rule.
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