CLEVELAND, October 6 — The AFL-CIO in Harris County, Texas, adopted a remote control safety resolution at its monthly meeting on September 24.
It is the first AFL-CIO county organization to enact such a resolution, which calls for improved safety in the operation of remote control locomotives.
Herb and Kathy Yambra, along with BLE members in Harris County, Texas, drafted the language of the resolution. Brother Yambra is President & Legislative Representative of BLE Division 194 (Houston) and serves as Second Vice-Chairman of the Texas State Legislative Board.
Seven state-level AFL-CIO bodies have enacted remote control safety resolutions this summer, as have 36 different local communities (26 cities and 10 counties).
A copy of the resolution follows:
Resolution of Harris County on the matter of operation of remote control locomotives by railroads within the corporate limits of Harris County, Texas
Whereas: Harris County, Texas has a duty to provide for the public safety of its Citizens; and
Whereas: Railroads operate within the geographic boundaries of Harris County, Texas over public and private highway rail crossings and on property accessible to persons of all ages and abilities; and
Whereas: Railroad equipment is known to present significant danger to persons and property from collision, derailment, and possible release of hazardous materials; and
Whereas: A significant amount of rail cargo traveling through and moving within Harris County, Texas consists of petrochemicals and other hazardous materials; and
Whereas: The United States government has issued a safety alert against vandalism and terrorist threats against railroads; and
Whereas: Operation of a railroad is traditionally conducted with the use of locomotives manned by individuals who are rigorously certified and qualified by the standards established by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA); and
Whereas: Railroads have requested from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), and been granted authority to operate unmanned (remote controlled) locomotives by persons who are significantly less trained; and
Whereas: These remote controlled locomotives will be operated by railroads in Harris County, Texas without limitations, by fewer employees who possess diminished qualifications; and
Whereas: The FRA has issued “guidelines” and not regulations to provide for the implementation of these operations; and
Whereas: The various rail carriers, at the direction of the Federal Railroad Administration, have specific rules regarding operating at “restricted speed” and there can be shown no manner in which to comply with these rules without a person located on the leading end of a remotely controlled locomotive.
Therefore: Be it resolved that no railroad shall operate remote controlled locomotives within the boundaries of Harris County, Texas until all of the following safety considerations are met.
1. Remote Controlled locomotives must be operated in strict accordance with the FRA’s rules and regulations and the individual carriers own operating rules with regard to operating at “restricted speed” (commonly referred to as Rule 6.27 of the GCOR).
2. Any railroad operating a remote control locomotive must notify the Harris County Commissioners Court before implementing such operations.
3. Remote control locomotives cannot be used to transport hazardous materials, switch cars containing hazardous materials, or switch other cars on or near tracks occupied by hazardous materials.
4. Remote control locomotives cannot by operated over a public or private highway rail crossing without a person occupying the cab of the locomotive who has the required skills to stop the locomotive and its attached equipment and cannot be operated in excess of FRA and the individual carriers rules and/or regulations regarding operating at “restricted speed”.
5. A railroad must provide effective and reliable protection at the point of movement in any location accessible to the general public for any remote control operation. Warning signs must be displayed in languages other than English where appropriate.
6. Locomotives within a consist of one or more remote controlled locomotives be provided with devices to secure the operating cab and its controls against terrorists, vandals and other unauthorized persons.
7. Remote control locomotives be equipped with a clearly marked external device outside of the operating compartment which is capable of stopping the locomotive in the event of a runaway.
8. An effective track related mechanical device to stop a remote control locomotive in the event of a runaway.
Be It Further Resolved: That Harris County, Texas requests that in the interest of the safety of the Citizens of Harris County, that the FRA develop comprehensive regulations for the use of remote control locomotives, and that those regulations ensure the highest level of skill and qualification of persons operating remote controlled locomotives; and
Be It Further Resolved: That all remote control rail operations in Harris County, Texas cease and desist until such time as Harris County’s agency responsible for Emergency Preparedness implements a plan to provide for evacuation and emergency response before such remote control rail operations are implemented.
Be It Further Resolved: that this Resolution is to take effect from and after its passage, as provided by the Charter of Harris County, Texas, the public welfare requiring it.
(Drafted by Herb and Hathy Yambra and the members of the BLE in Harris County.)