Safety is the top priority for RailWorks and each and every one of our employees. With that unwavering commitment in mind, the RailWorks Safety Department is launching a series of campaigns designed to bring new focus to some of the most pressing safety topics of the day. The “Safety Focus Series” will provide tools, insights and skills that will enable all of us to do our jobs in an even safer way.
The following links will provide additional information and tools for our crews as they bring renewed focus on particular topics.
Ryan Pogue, working on PNR RailWorks’ GO Transit project in Toronto, presented an outstanding example of employee observation. In November, an assistant foreman was tasked with helping a bore hold drill rig travel beside the track to drill a hole directly in a nearby fence line. The assistant foreman and the drill rig operator cut the fence and began to cut the barbed wire of the fence. However, this is where the work stopped, due to the employee’s quick reaction. The foreman has his left hand 6 inches from the cut point where he had his right hand with the cutters on the wire, but he failed to check his helper who had his hand 24 inches from the cut point. The wire was under slight tension and would have sprung back towards the man’s face and could have caused an injury. The man was instructed to move his hand within 6 inches of the cut point to control its release.
Recognizing the incorrect hand placement and the potential of injury was critical in ensuring no injury occurred. Additionally, this incident also illustrates the need to have the correct fit and the proper type of glove to prevent injury. “This incident serves as a good opportunity for education for the employee to double-check and correct hand positioning to avoid future injury,” said Greg Coleman, RailWorks, HSE Director.
