Security & Safety Briefs - Sept. 15 - Sept. 21
The Latest Headlines:
- FMCSA Issues Relief Effort Waivers
- TSA Names Deputy Administrator
- Rail Safety Improved Over '04, FRA Says
- Court to Hear Railroad Hazmat Case
- W.Va. to Require Cameras on Large Mining Trucks
- TSA Names Deputy Administrator
FMCSA Issues Relief Effort Waivers
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration issued a new waiver to ease some safety rules, including truck drivers’ hours of service, in the Eastern and Southern United States in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.The Sept. 14 waiver only applies to drivers involved in “the emergency transportation of gasoline, diesel, jet fuel propane, natural gas and ethanol,” FMCSA said.
The agency had earlier granted a nationwide waiver, but pared that back to just 26 states, from Oklahoma and Texas in the west to the East Coast, plus the District of Columbia.
TSA Names Deputy Administrator
The Transportation Security Administration said last week that Robert Jamison had been named TSA’s deputy administrator.Prior to joining TSA, Jamison was deputy administrator for the Federal Transit Administration. At FTA, Jamison led the agency’s security program, including the lower Manhattan transportation recovery operation established after 9/11.
Prior to his work with FTA, Jamison held positions at the Federal Railroad Administration, the American Red Cross and UPS Inc., TSA said. Transport Topics
Rail Safety Improved Over '04, FRA Says
The safety performance of the nation's railroads improved during the first half of 2005 as the overall number of rail-related accidents and incidents declined by 12%, according to preliminary data issued by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).Statistics compiled over the first six months of 2005 show that when compared to the first half of 2004, train accidents have declined by 10.1%, highway-rail grade crossing incidents are down 9.1%, and the number of people killed as a result of train-vehicle collisions at grade crossings has dropped by 11.7%.
In addition, railroad employee injuries fell by 16.3%. However, the number of trespassers struck and killed by trains increased by 13%during the same six-month comparison period, FRA said.
“We are moving in the right direction," said FRA Administrator Joseph Boardman. “The trend is positive and encouraging, but will require continued vigilance by railroads, motorists, pedestrians and government at every level to maintain this momentum the rest of the year.” Transport Topics
Court to Hear Railroad Hazmat Case
A hearing on a petition by CSX Transportation Inc. seeking to overturn a District of Columbia law that would restrict shipments of ultra-hazardous materials near the U.S. Capitol has been set for Wednesday.CSX Transportation is the railroad subsidiary of CSX Corp.
The case is scheduled to be heard by U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
W.Va. to Require Cameras on Large Mining Trucks
West Virginia state officials said that, starting Oct. 2, video cameras will be required on large surface-mining trucks to help prevent accidents, the Associated Press reported.The Safety Devices on Surface Haulage Equipment regulation applies apply to trucks weighing more than 230 tons, said Kenny Dickens, executive director of the West Virginia Board of Coal Mine Health and Safety, AP reported.
The intent of the new regulation is to allow truck drivers to see anything that would normally be in blind spots, he said.
Dickens said the regulation, filed Sept. 2 with the Secretary of State’s office, included additional safety devices for different types of surface haulage equipment and other rules and regulations governing surface areas, AP reported. Transport Topics
