NTSB: Railroads Must Equip Rail Maintenance Vehicles With Collision Avoidance Technology
The recommendation, NTSB says, stems from the agency’s investigation of the Aug. 4, 2023, accident in Great Burlington, Mass., that resulted in the death of a worker after a Middlesex Corporation maintenance machine struck the machine operator, who “had no safety devices beyond a wide-angle mirror to look for hazards,” according to the investigation.
According to NTSB, investigators also found communication and oversight failures in the Great Barrington investigation. The Housatonic Railroad Company roadway worker-in-charge was unaware of the full scope of work, “leading to an inadequate safety briefing and the absence of a second qualified supervisor.” The NTSB concluded that “stronger supervision and communication would likely have reduced risk.”
As a result of the investigation, the NTSB issued six new safety recommendations addressing “unsafe machine operation, the need for collision avoidance technology and stronger Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) oversight of railroads with poor safety performance.” Recommendations were issued to the FRA, all Class I railroads, the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA), the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC), the Housatonic Railroad Company, and Middlesex Corporation.
The NTSB’s final report, including findings, probable cause, and safety recommendations, is available here and to download below.
