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BLUE SIGNAL PROTECTION
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5.13 Blue Signal Protection of Workmen
This rule outlines the requirements for protecting railroadworkmen who are inspecting, testing, repairing andservicing rolling equipment. In particular, because thesetasks require the workmen to work on, under or betweenrolling equipment, workmen are exposed to potential injuryfrom moving equipment. As used in this rule, the followingdefinitions apply:
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5.13 Blue Signal Protection of Workmen (Cont.)
Definitions
Workmen: Railroad employees assigned to inspect, test,repair, or service railroad rolling equipment orcomponents, including brake systems. Train and yardcrews are excluded, except when they perform theabove work on rolling equipment not part of the train oryard movement they are handling or will handle.
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5.13 Blue Flag Protection of Workmen (Definitions Cont.)
•Testing: Does not include an employee making visualobservations while on or along side a caboose, engine orpassenger car. Also testing does not includerepositioning the activation switch or covering thephotoelectric cell of the marker when the rear of thetrain is on the main track. The employee inspecting themarker must contact the employee controlling theengine to confirm movement will remain secure untilinspection is complete.
•“Servicing” does not include supplying caboose, enginesor passenger cars with items such as ice, drinking water,tools, sanitary supplies, stationery or flaggingequipment.
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5.13 Blue Flag Protection of Workmen (Definitions Cont.)
Group of Workmen: Two or more workmen of the same or differentcrafts who work as a unit under a common authority andcommunicate with each other while working.
Rolling Equipment: Engines, cars and one or more engines coupledto one or more cars.
Blue Signal: During the day, a clearly distinguishable blue flag orlight, and at night, a blue light. The blue light may be steadyor flashing. The blue signal does not need to be lighted when it isattached to the operating controls of an engine and the insideof engine cab area is lighted enough to make the blue signalclearly distinguishable.
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5.13 Blue Flag Protection of Workmen (Definitions Cont.)
Effective Locking Device: When used in relation to a manuallyoperated switch or a derail, a lock that can be locked or unlockedonly by the craft or group of workman applying the lock.
Mechanicaldepartment lock!
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5.13 Blue Flag Protection of Workmen (Definitions Cont.)
Car Shop Repair Area: One or more tracks within an area whererolling equipment testing, servicing, repairing, inspecting orrebuilding is controlled exclusively by mechanical departmentpersonnel.
Engine Servicing Area: One or more tracks within an area whereengine testing, servicing, repairing, inspecting or rebuilding iscontrolled exclusively by mechanical department personnel.
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Car Shop Repair Area
Engine Servicing Area
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5.13 Blue Flag Protection of Workmen (Definitions Cont.)
Switch Providing Direct Access: A switch that if used by rollingequipment could permit the rolling equipment to couple to theequipment being protected.
Blue flag applied.
Switch locked withMechanical lock.
Switch lined away from track.
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5.13 - A. What A Blue Flag Signifies
A blue signal signifies that workmen are on, under or betweenrolling equipment and requires that:
2.Rolling equipment must not pass blue signal on a track protected bythe signal.
3.Other rolling equipment must not be placed on the same track whereclear view of blue signal is blocked or reduced except when:
a.Rolling equipment is placed in designated engine servicing tracksor car shop repair area tracks, or
b.When a derail divides a track into separate working areas.
4.Rolling equipment must not enter a track when a blue signal isdisplayed at the entrance of the track.
1.Rolling equipment must not be coupled to or moved, except asprovided in “Movement in Engine Servicing Area” and“Movement in Car Shop Repair Area” of this rule.
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5.13 - A. What A Blue Flag Signifies
Protection Removed
Blue Signals may be removed only by the craft or groupwho placed them. Remote control display may bediscontinued when directed by the craft or group thatrequested the protection. When blue signal protectionhas been removed from one entrance of a double-endedtrack or from either end of rolling equipment on a maintrack, that track is no longer under blue signalprotection.
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5.13 - B. How To Provide Protection
When workmen are on, under, or between rolling equipmentWhen workmen are on, under, or between rolling equipment
and exposed to potential injury, protection must beprovided as follows:and exposed to potential injury, protection must beprovided as follows:
On a Main Track:
•A blue signal must be displayed at each end of the rollingequipment.
On Other Than A Main Track:
•One of these two methods of protection or a combinationof these methods must be provided.
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1.Each manually operated switch, including each facing pointcrossover switch that provides direct access, must be linedagainst movement onto track and secured by an effective lockingdevice. A blue signal must be placed at or near each such switch.
5.13 - B. How To Provide Protection
On Other Than A Main Track:
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5.13 - B. How To Provide Protection
2.A derail capable of restricting access to the track wherework will occur must be locked in derailing positionwith an effective locking device and:
a.Positioned at least 150 feet from the rollingequipment to be protected, OR
a.Positioned at least 50 feet from the end of rollingequipment on a designated engine servicing trackor car shop repair track where speed is limited tonot more than 5 mph. A blue signal must bedisplayed at each derail.
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C. Blue Signal Readily Visible to Engineer
In addition to providing protection as required in “On A Main Track”and “On Other Than A Main Track”, when workmen are on,under or between an engine or rolling equipment coupled to anengine:
1.A blue signal must be attached to the controlling engine and bevisible to the engineer or employee controlling the engine.
2.Engines equipped for remote control operation must be in manual.
3.The engine must not be moved.
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5.13 – D. Protection forWorkmen Inspecting Markers
Blue signal protection mustbe provided for workmenwhen they are Replacing,repositioning or repairingBlue signal protection mustbe provided for workmenwhen they are Replacing,repositioning or repairing
a marker and the rear ofthe train is on any track,a marker and the rear ofthe train is on any track,
OROR
Inspecting a marker byrepositioning theactivation switch orcovering the photoelectriccell, and the rear of thetrain is on other than amain track.Inspecting a marker byrepositioning theactivation switch orcovering the photoelectriccell, and the rear of thetrain is on other than amain track.
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5.13 – E. Protection for Emergency RepairWork on a Main Track
If a blue signal is not available for employees performingemergency repairs on, under, or between an engine orrolling equipment coupled to an engine on a main track, theemployee controlling the engine must be notified andappropriate measures taken to provide protection for theemployees.If a blue signal is not available for employees performingemergency repairs on, under, or between an engine orrolling equipment coupled to an engine on a main track, theemployee controlling the engine must be notified andappropriate measures taken to provide protection for theemployees.
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5.13 – F. Movement in Engine Servicing Area
An engine must not enter a designated engine servicing area until theblue signal protection is removed from the entrance. The enginemust stop short of coupling to another engine.
An engine must not leave a designated engine servicing areaunless the blue signal is removed from the engine and the track inthe direction of movement.
Blue signal protection removed to let engines enter or leave theengine servicing area must be restored immediately after theengine enters or clears the area.
An engine protected by blue signals may be moved on a designatedengine servicing area track when:
1.An authorized employee operates the engine under the directionof the employee in charge of workmen.
2.The blue signal has been removed from the controlling engine tobe repositioned.
3.Workmen have been warned of the movement.
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When rolling equipment on car shop repair tracks is protected
by blue signals, a car mover may reposition the equipmentif:
1.Workmen have been warned of the movement.
2.An authorized employee operates the car mover underthe direction of the employee in charge of workmen.
5.13 – G. Movement in Car Shop Repair Area
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Does everything look proper here?
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Effective locking device, and switchlined away??
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What tracks are accessible bytransportation?