[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 49, Volume 4]

[Revised as of October 1, 2005]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 49CFR218.29]



[Page 200-201]

 

                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION

 

       CHAPTER II--FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF 

                             TRANSPORTATION

 

PART 218_RAILROAD OPERATING PRACTICES--Table of Contents

 

               Subpart B_Blue Signal Protection of Workers

 

Sec. 218.29  Alternate methods of protection.



    Instead of providing blue signal protection for workers in 

accordance with Sec. 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



[[Page 201]]



must be notified and effective measures must be taken to protect the 

workers making the repairs.



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