Inadequate Vehicle Maintenance Blamed for Railroad Worker Death

Case Overview

This case involves a railroad worker who was killed while conducting an inspection of a number of railroad cars. The worker was operating a railcar inspection vehicle when he fell onto the tracks. The impact of the fall cracked his skull and he later died from his injuries. It was alleged that poor vehicle maintenance was to blame for the fall. An expert in railroad occupational safety was sought to inspect the site of the accident and determine the cause.

Questions to the Railroad expert and their responses

Please describe your background in the railroad industry.

I have worked for several railroads over my 41-year career with the railroad industry. I have worked as a freight car repairman and as a mechanical department laborer. I have also worked as a mechanical department instructor teaching other freight car repairman how to perform their jobs safely and properly, according to company rules and the federal regulations. I have also worked as a passenger conductor for a railroad passenger corporation. In this role, I was in charge of the safe operation of the train and the safety of all the passengers as well as the public in general. I am the founder, owner, and senior instructor of a railroad training services consulting company. The company serves the railroad industry at large as well as private companies requiring training for their employees in switching, operations, and railcar handling.

Have you ever worked with railcar inspection vehicles?

I have worked with the type of equipment involved in your case during my career with the railroad. I know and understand the safety features and the safety requirements for the workers using this type of equipment.

About the expert

This railroad expert spent decades in various roles at Union Pacific Railroad. As a Freight Car Repairman, he inspected and trains for compliance with federal safety regulations and made necessary repairs. For a number of years, he served as an instructor to Union Pacific staff. In recent years, he served as a Senior Instructor at a family owned railroad operations training firm in Northern California, serving clients throughout North America. He earned an Associate's degree in Industrial Safety from San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton, CA.