Amtrak 2011 Annual Report Download - page 8

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 Los Angeles—A new “flash” CFT was set up in short order with the task of
addressing new equipment and processes associated with the occupancy of
the new Preventive Maintenance Facility (PMF) at the Eighth Street Yard. This
team began identifying hazards and risks associated with powering up cars at
the new building. A systems analysis has been completed for the PMF facility.
 Seattle—The CFT met to identify risk levels, and a new team was established
to identify solutions to the problem of climbing on and off rail equipment. A 67
percent risk reduction was achieved following successful implementation of the
team’s recommendations. A CFT Training Program was conducted to educate
new members of the team on the CFT and risk-reduction process.
Confidential Close Call Reporting System
The Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C3RS) is an example of risk reduction
efforts at Amtrak. The program has been operational in the East since February 1,
2011, and since February 22, 2011, in the West. C3RS is an FRA pilot project to
improve operational safety practices. It is a voluntary partnership between the FRA,
Amtrak, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), and the
United Transportation Union (UTU). This pilot program covers yard movement, and
target locations include Southampton Yard in Boston; New Haven, CT Parcel G;
Sunnyside Yard in Long Island City, NY.; Penn Coach Yard and Race Street Engine
House in Philadelphia; Ivy City, Washington, D.C.; Miami; Los Angeles; Chicago;
Seattle; and Oakland, Calif. Amtrak is working to expand the program in 2012 to
include additional locations and a possible broader scope of coverage.
The purpose of the project is to improve the safety of railroad operations by providing
a voluntary, confidential method of reporting close calls that might have otherwise
gone unreported and/or resulted in discipline. A close call can be defined as a
situation or incident that has the potential for more serious consequences. For
reported close call events to remain anonymous, the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA) provides third-party oversight of the program and serves as the
contact and owner of information reported by Amtrak employees.
Amtrak’s East and West Peer Review Teams (PRTs), which include members from
labor, management, and the FRA, had analyzed 100 reports as of December of 2011.
Corrective actions developed by the PRTs are forwarded to the C3RS Support Team,
consisting of a Superintendent of Operations from each division and co-chaired by the
Transportation department Senior Director of Operation Practices and the EHS
department Superintendent of Safety. The Support Team has begun receiving PRT
recommendations for corrective action and is working on implementation. Statistics
compiled by NASA on cases received to date show: