West Virginia Code of State Rules › Agency 36 - Coal Mine Health And Safety › Title 36 - LEGISLATIVE EXEMPT RULE BOARD OF COAL MINE HEALTH AND SAFETY › Series 36-39 - Rules and regulations governing car dropping › Section 36-39-3 - Car Dropping Requirements

Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 28, July 12, 2024
3.1.
				Within ninety (90) days after the effective date of these regulations, the
				operator of any coal mine which engages in the practice of manually dropping
				railroad cars shall develop a site-specific plan governing such activity. In
				formulating such plan, the length, complexity and general condition of the rail
				system, including the severity of incline, shall be considered. The plan shall
				include the number of loaded and empty coal cars that can be safely dropped,
				along with a method for storing cars. Equipment operating speeds shall be
				consistent with conditions of the roadways, grades, clearance, visibility,
				traffic, and the type of equipment used.
3.2. The plan shall be submitted to the
				Director and must meet the following minimum requirements for approval.
(a) No person shall ride the drawhead or
				coupler of a railroad car. No person other than the car dropper or experienced
				person(s), and only those necessary to operate the trip, shall ride cars. No
				person shall ride the head end of a front car at any time.
(b) Employees handling railroad cars shall
				have access to, and use an approved distinct audible signaling device to give
				warning when cars are in motion. A car dropper shall, only in case of
				emergency, get on or off a moving car.
(c) Railroad cars shall be trimmed properly
				when they have been loaded higher than the confines of their cargo
				space.
(d) A minimum of thirty (30)
				inches continuous clearance from the farthest projection of moving railroad
				equipment shall be provided on at least one side of the tracks; all places
				where it is not possible to provide thirty (30) inches clearance shall be
				marked conspicuously.
(e) Roadbeds,
				rails, joints, switches, frogs, and other elements on railroads shall be
				designed, installed and maintained in a safe manner consistent with the speed
				and type of haulage.
(f)
				Positive-acting stopblocks, derail devices, track skates, or other adequate
				means shall be installed wherever necessary to protect persons from runaway
				railroad equipment.
(g) Switch
				throws shall be installed so as to provide adequate clearance for
				switchmen.
(h) Where necessary,
				bumper blocks or the equivalent shall be provided at all track dead
				ends.
(i) Cars shall be inspected
				for broken steps, platforms and brake wheels, and for defective brakes before
				dropping. Persons finding cars with defective brakes shall notify their
				supervisor immediately after precautions have been made to secure the car. The
				supervisor in charge shall place a red tag on the brake wheel of the defective
				car. A description of the defective brake condition shall be written on the red
				tag. The operator shall also include the defective car's serial number and a
				description of the defective condition on the Bill of Lading to be sent to the
				railroad company.
(j) Safety belts
				shall be worn and properly attached by all car droppers handling railroad cars.
				All such belts shall be of a design to allow maximum safety to provide for
				immediate uncoupling.
(k) The
				procedures outlined in this section shall be explained thoroughly to all car
				droppers and new employees.