Nevada AFL-CIO calls for remote control safety regulations
CLEVELAND, August 27 -- Delegates attending the 47th annual Nevada AFL-CIO Convention passed a resolution calling for improved safety in the operation of remote control locomotives on August 26.
The Nevada AFL-CIO joins Michigan, Arizona and Texas in calling for the Federal Railroad Administration to issue comprehensive guidelines for remote control operations. The Nevada AFL-CIO resolution passed unanimously.
Joe Carter, BLE Nevada State Legislative Board Chairman, thanked the delegates at the convention, especially Danny Thompson, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Nevada AFL-CIO, and Larry Wilson of the United Auto Workers, for their help in getting the resolution passed.
The text of the resolution follows:
A RESOLUTION OF THE NEVADA AFL-CIO ON THE MATTER OF RAILROADS OPERATING REMOTE CONTROL LOCOMOTIVES WITHIN THE STATE OF NEVADA
Submitted by Delegates of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, July 24, 2003
Whereas, a primary goal of The Nevada AFL-CIO is to help secure a safe workplace for all Nevada workers; and
Whereas, the Nevada AFL-CIO takes an active interest in the safety of all Nevada citizens, and the security of our homeland; and
Whereas, the State of Nevada has two main lines involved in the transportation of hazardous materials by rail; one in southern Nevada and on in northern Nevada and
Whereas, a significant amount of these hazardous chemicals, soon to include nuclear waste, that are transported on the Nevada railroads travel through our cities and neighborhoods and in close proximity to our homes, schools and hospitals; and
Whereas, hazardous materials are subject to uncontrolled release if their container is ruptured during a railroad derailment or collision; and
Whereas, railroads in Nevada will soon be using Remote Control Locomotive Technology (unmanned locomotives) in their rail operations; and
Whereas, railroads in Nevada will be conducting these remote control operations with employees who receive as little as two weeks training and
Whereas, heretofore all railroads have manned their locomotives with Locomotive Engineers, who are rigorously certified and fully qualified by standards established by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA); and
Whereas, The Federal Railroad Administration has allowed railroads to establish a new program of lessened training, testing, and qualification requirements for remote control operators, without regard to the wishes of the Citizens of the State of Nevada; and
Whereas, The FRA has issued only non-binding guidelines to govern the day-to-day operational practices involving Remote Control locomotives; and
Whereas, railroads have failed to adopt all the provisions of these minimal FRA guidelines for operational practices;
Now, Therefore Be it resolved, that The NEVADA AFL-CIO supports the position of The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, and hereby admonishes all railroads within the State of Nevada to continue to use fully qualified Train Service Engineers to operate all locomotives, including those remotely controlled; and
Be It Further Resolved, that The NEVADA AFL-CIO calls on the Nevada Public Utilities Commission to require railroads operating Remote Control Locomotive Technology to; (1) fully comply with the minimum railroad safety requirements to be adopted by the Nevada Public Utilities Commission; and (2) notify the Nevada Public Utilities Commission as to the nature and location of remote control railroad operations, so that the Commission may coordinate with local emergency planning agencies in the areas where such operations are being used; and
Be It Further Resolved, that, in the interest of public safety, The Nevada AFL-CIO admonishes the Federal Railroad Administration to develop comprehensive safety regulations for the use of remote control locomotives, and that those regulations ensure the highest level of skill and qualification of persons operating all locomotives; and
Be It Finally Resolved, that The President of the NEVADA AFL-CIO will send a letter to FRA Finance Docket No. 2000-8422, which was established at the request of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, and ask Alan Rutter, administrator of the FRA, to promulgate enforceable regulations governing Remote Control Locomotive Technology that will ensure the safety of the employees, citizens and communities of the State of Nevada.
Joe Carter
Chairman, BLE Nevada State Legislative Board
Wednesday, August 27, 2003
bentley@ble.org
