If you’re working on, over, or under railroad facilities, you’ll need prior approval from the railroad company to do so. Railroads define work as field edits, surveying, soil tests, storing of materials or equipment, the use of access roads, boring and blasting, the operation of vehicles, and conducting construction or demolition operations of any sort.

Railroads are rightly cautious about any work being performed on their property. As a condition of your permit, you’ll likely be assigned a railroad flagger while you’re on site or working within the Railroad Area.

A railroad flagger’s job is to ensure that trains and on-track equipment pass safely through the work site without delays. This person will communicate and coordinate train schedules with you and let you know when construction equipment can work on or near active tracks. They will ask for advance notice on your schedule and do their best to be available when you need them. Good communication is paramount on both sides.

Here are some tips:

• As part of the permit process, provide the railroad with enough details and as soon as possible so they can analyze impacts and identify mitigation measures.
• Provide written notice on your schedule at least a month in advance of operations. Check your permit however, as more or less time may be required.
• Submit your requested track time and notify the railroad of any changes as soon as you are aware of them. Your flagger will do their
  best to fulfill your needs. Track time may not be available if it overlaps with train run time.
• Once on site, it’s your responsibility to coordinate the presence of your staff, equipment, and material, and the duration of work, with the flagger.
• Mark out the Railroad Area beforehand and let your staff know the procedures and communication protocol for working in this area.
• Conduct a meeting with your staff and flagger at the start of each work day and shift to ensure that operations are coordinated.
• Notify the flagger every time you’re within the Railroad Area, then proceed only when the flagger indicates it’s safe to do so.
• Quickly clear the track any time the flagger tells you to do so.
• Everyone must know the warning signals that the flagger will use. Take advantage of your daily meeting to remind everyone of the meaning of the signs being used.
• No one should enter the work area if the railroad flagger and signal aren’t visible or if the intent of the flagger signals isn’t clear.
• If you have concerns about the actions of the flagger, or believe that the safety of your workers or the public is being jeopardized, clear the Railroad Area and contact flagger’s supervisor to address your concerns.

By following the above tips, you should be able to avoid down time and complete your construction operations as quickly as possible. This is important because the railroad will likely charge you for the use of the flagger. The less time you occupy the Railroad Area or right-of-way, the lower your bill will be and the less chance you’ll have for a safety incident.

For more information on coordinating with railroads, contact Dennis Judson at 585-334-1310 or at djudson@fisherassoc.com