New Jersey State
Legislative Board
  Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers
 

REMOTE CONTROL PROBLEMS
 

The FRA has issued a Safety Advisory, number 2001-01, concerning remote controlled locomotives and the UTU and the carriers have signed a letter of intent to implement..

It is imperative that the BLE stay on top of this issue. The carriers would love nothing better than to slash jobs by the use of remote controlled locomotives and throw safety out the window in the process.

We must take a pro-active position on this issue and head off any job loss before it is too late. We must identify the problems with remote controlled technology and push for laws or regulations that insure that this technology is operated by the most qualified employee's and in the safest manner available.

In this regard I am asking you to report any use of remote controlled engines or rail car moving devices that you know of or even suspect are in operation both in the private sector and on any railroad. Please don't assume that the BLE already knows any of this information, fill in the form, it only takes a couple of minutes. Also, if there have been any accidents, with or without injuries, please complete the second half of the form. You must fill in the contact information at the bottom of the form for it to be accepted.

Please fill out the below form and either print it and return to the International Division at:
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers
Attn: Remote Control Incident Report
1370 Ontario Street
Cleveland, OH 44113-9802

 or click the 'submit' button at the bottom of the form and it will be sent to the NJ State Legislative Board Chairman for handling.

If you have any pictures, send them to the NJ State Legislative Board Chairman for handling.

 

 

You MUST provide the following contact information that will be kept confidential: Please indicate BLE # , UTU #, BMWE #, etc. in the 'Division / Local field.

First Name
Middle Initial
Last Name
Division / Local
Home Phone

Enter the date of the incident :

-- mm/dd/yy

Enter the time of the incident :

-- 24 hour clock

Enter the city location of the incident.


Enter the County location of the incident.


Enter the State location of the incident.


Enter the locomotive number(s) in the space provided below.


Enter the job ID number in the space provided below.


Number of cars involved ?


HAZMAT release Y/N ?

Yes No

Select the type of track involved :

Yard Track
Industry Track
Main Track

Choose what type of incident this was?


Was there an injury involved ?

Yes No

If you answered YES, what type of injury(s) (include fatalities) ?


Was there a problem with the RC equipment ?

Yes No

If YES, what was the problem ?


Was the incident reported ?

Yes No

How did the incident happen ?


In your opinion, had the engineer been operating from the usual position, would this incident have occurred? Please explain..


Copyright © 2003 BLE NJLB Legislative Board. All rights reserved.
Revised: 04/30/07