Among stakeholders who soon will be asked to assist are UTU officers and members, rail carriers, and UTU Designated Legal Counsel.

In just the first three months of 2009, 11 railroad employees died in on-duty accidents (five of them UTU members), which could translate -- if this dreadful trend continues -- to 44 for the year. This would be a 76 percent increase over 2008, when there were 25 employee on-duty fatalities for the year, which itself was a 56 percent increase over 2007.

The task force soon will unveil a dedicated interactive Web page to allow UTU members to contribute documented events, opinions and suggestions.

The task force also will be in attendance at the UTU regional meetings in San Francisco and New Orleans this summer, creating a dialogue with attendees, who will be asked to return to their properties and encourage member involvement in crafting best-practices to reduce the risk of fatal and serious on-duty accidents.

Additionally, the task force will engage UTU Designated Legal Counsel to develop a guide to assist local officers with proper techniques in investigating fatalities and injuries.

Leading the task force is UTU Arizona State Legislative Director Scott Olson. Other members of the task force are Arkansas State Legislative Director Steve Evans, Michigan State Legislative Director Jerry Gibson and Arizona Assistant State Legislative Director Greg Hynes.

Olson said, "The UTU can change, through fellowship, communication and peer intervention, this alarming trend of employee on-duty fatalities and career-ending injuries. We have a responsibility to look out for our brothers and sisters and help them avoid at-risk behavior. No UTU member wants to experience the pain and sorrow of a fallen brother or sister.

"Leadership in finding a solution to these horrific accidents is up to us -- those who move America’s freight, pound the ballast and pull the throttle," Olson said. "Each of us is affected on a personal level when a brother or sister is killed or injured on the job. The overwhelming consensus seems to be a lapse in focus."