49 C.F.R. § 218.29

Current through September 30, 2024

Section 218.29 - Alternate methods of protection

Instead of providing blue signal protection for workers in accordance with § 218.27 , the following methods for blue signal protection may be used:

(a) When workers are on, under, or between rolling equipment in a locomotive servicing track area:

(1) A blue signal must be displayed at or near each switch providing entrance to or departure from the area;

(2) Each switch providing entrance to or departure from the area must be lined against movement to the area and locked with an effective locking device; and

(3) A blue signal must be attached to each controlling locomotive at a location where it is readily visible to the engineman or operator at the controls of that locomotive;

(4) If the speed within this area is resticted to not more than 5 miles per hour a derail, capable of restricting access to that portion of a track within the area on which the rolling equipment is located, will fulfill the requirements of a manually operated switch in compliance with paragraph (a)(2) of this section when positioned at least 50 feet from the end of the equipment to be protected by the blue signal, when locked in a derailing position with an effective locking device, and when a blue signal is displayed at the derail;

(5) A locomotive may be moved onto a locomotive servicing area track after the blue signal has been removed from the entrance switch to the area. However, the locomotive must be stopped short of coupling to another locomotive;

(6) A locomotive may be moved off of a locomotive servicing area track after the blue signal has been removed from the controlling locomotive to be moved and from the area departure switch;

(7) If operated by an authorized employee under the direction of the person in charge of the workers, a locomotive protected by blue signals may be repositioned within this area after the blue signal has been removed from the locomotive to be repositioned and the workers on the affected track have been notified of the movement; and

(8) Blue signal protection removed for the movement of locomotives as provided in paragraphs (a) (5) and (6) of this section must be restored immediately after the locomotive has cleared the switch.

(b) When workers are on, under, or between rolling equipment in a car shop repair track area:

(1) A blue signal must be displayed at or near each switch providing entrance to or departure from the area; and

(2) Each switch providing entrance to or departure from the area must be lined against movement to the area and locked with an effective locking device;

(3) If the speed within this area is restricted to not more than 5 miles per hour, a derail capable of restricting access to that portion of a track within the area on which the rolling equipment is located will fulfill the requirements of a manually operated switch in compliance with paragraph (a)(2) of this section when positioned at least 50 feet from the end of the equipment to be protected by the blue signal, when locked in a derailing position with an effective locking device and when a blue signal is displayed at the derail;

(4) If operated by an authorized employee under the direction of the person in charge of the workemen, a car mover may be used to reposition rolling equipment within this area after workers on the affected track have been notified of the movement.

(c) Except as provided in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section, when workers are on, under, or between rolling equipment on any track, other than a main track:

(1) A derail capable of restricting access to that portion of the track on which such equipment is located, will fulfill the requirements of a manually operated switch when positioned no less than 150 feet from the end so such equipment; and

(2) Each derail must be locked in a derailing position with an effective locking device and a blue signal must be displayed at each derail.

(d) When emergency repair work is to be done on, under, or between a locomotive or one or more cars coupled to a locomotive, and blue signals are not available, the engineman or operator at the controls of that locomotive must be notified and effective measures must be taken to protect the workers making the repairs.

49 C.F.R. §218.29

44 FR 2175, Jan. 10, 1979, as amended at 48 FR 6123, Feb. 10, 1983