August 7, 2023

FAMES ALERT 

PLEASE POST IMMEDIATELY

August 4, 2023: At approximately 11:00AM EST, a Roadway 

Maintenance Machine (RMM) was traveling in a north 

direction when it struck and seriously injured a roadway 

worker. The injured employee was transported to a hospital 

by medevac and succumbed to his injuries later that day. 

The work group was installing rail fasteners to complete the 

installation of Continuous Welded Rail (CWR) in the area. The 

operated machine was traveling to the site in a reverse 

direction with two people occupying the operating area. There 

were two roadway workers on the ground fouling the 

track. One of the two roadway workers on the ground at the 

accident site cleared from the track. The second worker was 

operating a leaf blower and remained in the foul of the track. 

The worker that remained clear shouted to the fouling 

employee to clear but ultimately, he didn’t clear and was 

fatally injured.
Take Away

While this accident is still under investigation and we do not know the cause or 

circumstances leading up to the accident, FAMES would like to remind all roadway 

workers:

 

1. Each roadway worker must participate in and understand an On-Track Safety 

Briefing before fouling any track. The on-track protection must be 

appropriate for the job being performed.

2. Roadway workers are empowered to initiate a good faith challenge if they 

believe the on-track protection is insufficient or does not comply with 

operating and safety rules.

3. Anyone joining a work group or utilizing that work group’s protection must 

participate in an On-Track Safety Briefing prior to fouling any track.

4. All members of the workgroup share responsibility to be observant of 

changing conditions or situations that affect their on-track safety and are 

empowered to request a re-briefing. Take the time to do it right!

5. Watchmen/Lookouts must focus their sole attention to the detection of 

approaching trains and equipment.

6. During the on-track safety briefing, the RWIC must identify the method that 

the Watchman/Lookout will use to indicate when it is safe for Roadway 

Workers to re-enter the foul of the track.

7. Maintain a safe distance between RMMs when traveling or working.

8. Establish clear communication and maintain proper clearance between RMM 

operators and workers on the ground.

9. During the on-track safety briefing, identify if RMMs will be present and take 

actions to manage any additional risks associated with their presence.

10.The On-Track Safety Briefing should be an interactive discussion between 

members of a roadway work group concerning their specific on-track 

protection. Active participation is essential to an effective On-Track Safety 

Briefing. Ask questions! Voice concerns!

 

The FAMES Committee consists of safety representatives from a cross section of rail labor, railroad management, and 

federal regulators. FAMES is a continuous improvement process that relies on the candid sharing of available data 

and the views of its participants. To enable the process, FAMES explicitly refrains from making any findings regarding 

whether any past or present practice or protocol satisfies any legal duty or standard of care. 

The views, opinions, and recommendations contained in this report are those of the FAMES Committee and do not 

necessarily represent the views, opinions, or recommendations of any specific railroad, labor organization, or 

governmental agency.