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The UTU has no higher priority
than fighting for laws, regulations and work rules that
ensure our members go home to their families in one piece.
We know that the railroad
industry is one of the most dangerous, where accidents too
often result in career ending injuries or death. Danger
similarly lurks for bus, commuter and transit workers, and
that is why our efforts include fighting for safer bus and
passenger car construction, and increased training in the
handling of unruly passengers.
In addition to the UTU’s
efforts before Congress, state legislatures and regulatory
agencies, as well as the negotiating table, to advance
workplace safety, we have several dedicated teams that study
safety issues and make recommendations -- the Switching
Operations Fatalities Analysis (SOFA) working group, the UTU
Transportation Safety Team, and the UTU Rail Safety Task
Force.
The Switching
Operations Fatalities Analysis(SOFA) working group
is a coordinated effort with the Federal Railroad
Administration, carriers and labor organizations to develop
safe practices that reduce fatalities and career ending
injuries in yard switching operations.
The 13-member
UTU
Transportation Safety Team assists National
Transportation Safety Board investigators in ascertaining
facts relating to rail accidents.
The
UTU Rail Safety Task Force works with general
chairpersons, state legislative directors, local officers
and members to develop safe practices and techniques to
improve – and keep at its highest level -- situational
awareness in yard and road operations. |
