N.J. Admin. Code § 12:185-27.2

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 23, December 2, 2024

Section 12:185-27.2 - Railroad haulage

(a) All rail haulage on private property, and not operated or maintained by a common carrier, shall conform to the requirements of this section.

(b) Tracks shall be well-laid and properly ballasted. All switches shall be equipped and laid in conformity with A.S.A. Standards (M-7-1-1933) and (M-7-2-1935).

(c) Rails shall be suitable for the weight of equipment, properly aligned and secured to the ties by tie plates and track spikes.

(d) Bumping blocks or the equivalent shall be provided on all dead-end tracks.

(e) Grade crossings shall be eliminated as far as practicable and shall be planked or filled between the rails.

(f) All guardrails, lead rails and frogs shall be provided with protective blocks of wood or metal to prevent employees from getting their feet caught in these places.

(g) Railroad cars shall be left standing within limits designated by clearance signs or posts.

(h) Cars left on a grade or not coupled to a locomotive shall be securely blocked and hand brakes set.

(i) Railroad car hand brakes shall be tested before an attempt is made to move the car. If defective brakes are discovered, the car shall be marked appropriately for repair and only moved with a locomotive or attached to another car having good brakes.

(j) Starting a car on a grade by "pinching" shall be prohibited, except when a man is stationed at the brake wheel.

(k) Railroad car brakes should not be manipulated by the hands alone. A heavy brake stick, preferably a hooked bar, should be used.

(l) The minimum clearance for standard gauge tracks shall be:

1. From the gauge line of the nearest rail to loading or unloading docks, walls of depressed tracks, and wheel-barrow platforms, three feet four inches.

2. From the gauge line of the nearest rail to all stockyards, five feet on tangent track and five feet six inches on curved track.

3. From the gauge line on nearest rail to all other structures not noted above, six feet.

4. The minimum distance between the nearest gauge lines of adjacent tracks shall be eight feet six inches.

(m) The minimum overhead clearance shall be as follows:

1. From the top of rail to any structure other than overhead loading pockets: 22 feet.

2. From the top of rail to any overhead power transmission line when men are permitted to ride on top of standard freight cars: 28 feet.

(n) Where it is impracticable to have an overhead clearance of 22 feet or more above the top of the rail, suitable "head tappers" shall be erected at proper distance on each side of the structure.

(o) Tracks having less clearance from buildings, poles or other structures for a worker on the side of a car than is specified in (m) above shall have suitable warning signs erected to indicate the danger of inadequate clearance.

(p) When the minimum clearance required in (m) and (n) above are not existing at the effective date of this chapter, it shall not be mandatory to remove or relocate existing structures to provide the necessary clearances. However, any extensive repairs or rebuilding of that portion of the structure affecting the above mentioned clearances shall be so made as to meet the clearance requirements.

N.J. Admin. Code § 12:185-27.2

Amended by R.2006 d.428, effective 12/4/2006.
See: 38 N.J.R. 3130(a), 38 N.J.R. 5165(b).
Recodified 27.2.1 through 27.2.16 as (a) through (p), 27.2.12a through 27.2.12d as ( l)1 through ( l)4, 27.2.13a and 27.2.13b as (m)1 and (m)2; in (a), substituted "section" for "Section"; in (o), substituted "worker" for "man" and "(m) above" for "subsection 27.2.13 a. and b. of this Section"; and in (p), substituted "(m) and (n) above" for "subsections 27.2.13 and 27.2.14 of this Section" and "chapter" for "Chapter".