Hazard Notification System

d. Training. Installation Commanders shall ensure that all railroad operating personnel

are thoroughly trained and familiar with the contents of the local railroad operating directive.

This training shall be documented to show the subject, material covered, type of training

(classroom, correspondence, manual review, video, etc.), the instructor, date of training, results of

tests and trainee's signature.

e. Annual Reviews of Local Railroad Operating Directive. Installation Commanders

shall ensure that the local railroad operating directive is reviewed annually. Installation

Commanders shall prepare a letter stating who reviewed the directive, when the review was

conducted, and whether changes were made. This letter shall be maintained until the next review.

The focus of the review is to ensure that the document properly addresses changes in railroad

operating policy that must be made to safely accommodate changes in the installation's way of

doing business. All new Installation Commanders shall review this document within 90 days of

assuming command.

Hazard Notification System.

a. General. Track conditions can change over a period of time. Examples include but

are not limited to out-of-service track, defective track, hazards, completion of track repairs, and

changes in speed limits. These conditions require train crews to modify their actions and the way

they handle their trains. Relying solely on passing this kind of information informally by word of

mouth does not ensure that all train crews will be notified and can lead to controversy and

confusion over what was actually said.

b. Requirements. Installation Commanders shall establish a system to ensure the daily

dissemination of key information. The system also needs to require written acknowledgment by all

rail personnel that they have read the key information. The system needs to cover personnel who

have been on leave for a period of time. Records resulting from this hazard notification system

shall be maintained for at least 12 months. An effective and efficient way to record rail crew

acknowledgment of items on the hazard notification list is to use an electronic print board to list

hazards such as changing track conditions, out of service track, slow orders, and other safety

related information. Personnel are required to sign the board, thereby acknowledging they

understand the hazards. Printing the board after the crews have signed provides a convenient way

to maintain a permanent record of the key information and the personnel who read it. The printed

record also provides a record to be read and acknowledged by those returning from an absence.

REFRESHER TRAINING.

a. General. Refresher training is important for continued success in any discipline or

skill. In railroad operations, training is vital to ensure that safety is achieved. Small points can

easily be forgotten, and small points are frequently the difference between safe railroading and

disaster. Maintaining a catalogue of refresher training courses is a convenient way to ensure that

refresher training is accomplished.

b. Requirements. Installation Commanders shall:

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